Joh 12:37-41 | RWP | e4.org | Though he had done so many signs before them ( τοσαυτα αυτου σημεια πεποιηκοτος εμπροσθεν αυτων ). Genitive absolute with perfect active participle in concessive sense of ποιεω . Yet they believed not on him ( ουκ επιστευον εις αυτον ). No "yet" in the Greek. Negative imperfect active of πιστευω , "they kept on not believing on him," stubborn refusal in face of the light (verse ).

‏ John 12:37-41

Though he had done so many signs before them ( τοσαυτα αυτου σημεια πεποιηκοτος εμπροσθεν αυτων ). Genitive absolute with perfect active participle in concessive sense of ποιεω.

Yet they believed not on him ( ουκ επιστευον εις αυτον ). No "yet" in the Greek. Negative imperfect active of πιστευω, "they kept on not believing on him," stubborn refusal in face of the light (verse 35).

That might be fulfilled ( ινα πληρωθη ). It is usually assumed that ινα here with the first aorist passive subjunctive of πληροω has its full telic force. That is probable as God's design, but it is by no means certain since ινα is used in the N.T. with the idea of result, just as ut in Latin is either purpose or result, as in Joh 6:7; 9:2; 1Th 5:4; Ga 5:17; Ro 11:11 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 998). Paul in Ro 10:16 quotes Isa 53:1 as John does here but without ινα. See Ro 10:16 for discussion of the quotation. The next verse adds strength to the idea of design.

For this cause they could not believe ( δια τουτο ουκ εδυναντο πιστευειν ). Τουτο (this) seems to have a double reference (to what precedes and to what follows) as in 8:47. The negative imperfect (double augment, εδυναντο ) of δυναμα. John is not absolving these Jews from moral responsibility, but only showing that the words of Isaiah "had to be fulfilled, for they were the expression of Divine foreknowledge " (Bernard).

He hath blinded ( τετυφλωκεν ). Perfect active indicative of τυφλοω, old causative verb to make blind (from τυφλος, blind), in N.T. only here, 2Co 4:4; 1Jo 2:11.

He hardened ( επωρωσεν ). First aorist active indicative of πωροω, a late causative verb (from πωρος, hard skin), seen already in Mr 6:52, etc. This quotation is from Isa 6:10 and differs from the LXX.

Lest they should see ( ινα μη ιδωσιν ). Negative purpose clause with ινα μη instead of μηποτε (never used by John) of the LXX. Matthew (Mt 13:15) has μηποτε and quotes Jesus as using the passage as do Mark (Mr 4:12) and Luke (Lu 8:10). Paul quotes it again (Ac 28:26) to the Jews in Rome. In each instance the words of Isaiah are interpreted as forecasting the doom of the Jews for rejecting the Messiah. Matthew (Mt 13:15) has συνωσιν where John has νοησωσιν (perceive), and both change from the subjunctive to the future ( κα ιασομα ), "And I should heal them." John has here στραφωσιν (second aorist passive subjunctive of στρεφω ) while Matthew reads επιστρεψωσιν (first aorist active of επιστρεφω ).

Because he saw his glory ( οτ ειδεν την δοξαν αυτου ). Correct reading here οτ (because), not οτε (when). Isaiah with spiritual vision saw the glory of the Messiah and spoke ( ελαλησεν ) of him, John says, whatever modern critics may think or say. So Jesus said that Abraham saw his day (8:56). Cf. Heb 11:13.