^4:10When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. ^4:11He said to them, “The secret¹² of the kingdom of God has been given¹³ to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

^4:12so that although they look they may look but not see,

and although they hear they may hear but not understand,

so they may not repent and be forgiven.”¹⁴

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Footnotes

12 Grk “the mystery.” The key term secret (μυστήριον, mustērion) can mean either (1) a new revelation or (2) a revealing interpretation of existing revelation as in Dan 2:17–23, 27–30. Jesus seems to be explaining how current events develop old promises, since the NT consistently links the events of Jesus’ ministry and message with old promises (Rom 1:1–4; Heb 1:1–2). The traditional translation of this word, “mystery,” is misleading to the modern English reader because it suggests a secret which people have tried to uncover but which they have failed to understand (L&N 28.77).
13 This is an example of a “divine passive,” with God understood to be the source of the revelation (see ).
14 A quotation from Isa 6:9–10. Thus parables both conceal or reveal depending on whether one is open to hearing what they teach.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that

“ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive,

and may indeed hear but not understand,

lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,

“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,

and ever hearing but never understanding;

otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that

they may indeed look,

and yet not perceive;

they may indeed listen,

and yet not understand;

otherwise, they might turn back

and be forgiven.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,

they will learn nothing.

When they hear what I say,

they will not understand.

Otherwise, they will turn to me

and be forgiven.’”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And when he was alone, those around him together with the twelve began asking him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables, so that

‘they may look closely and not perceive,

and they may listen carefully and not understand,

lest they turn and it be forgiven them.’ ”

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

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