John 6:60

6:60 Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, ¹  said, “This is a difficult ²  saying! ³  Who can understand it?” ⁴ 

Isaiah 6:9

6:9 He said, “Go and tell these people:

‘Listen continually, but don’t understand!

Look continually, but don’t perceive!’

Jeremiah 6:10

6:10 I answered, ⁵ 

“Who would listen

if I spoke to them and warned them? ⁶ 

Their ears are so closed ⁷ 

that they cannot hear!

Indeed, ⁸  what the Lord says is offensive to them.

They do not like it at all. ⁹ 

Acts 7:51

7:51 “You stubborn ¹⁰  people, with uncircumcised ¹¹  hearts and ears! ¹²  You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors ¹³  did!

Romans 8:7-8

8:7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[6:60]  ¹ tn The words “these things” are not present in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the English reader.

[6:60]  ² tn Or “hard,” “demanding.”

[6:60]  ³ tn Or “teaching”; Grk “word.”

[6:60]  ⁴ tn Or “obey it”; Grk “hear it.” The Greek word ἀκούω (akouw) could imply hearing with obedience here, in the sense of “obey.” It could also point to the acceptance of what Jesus had just said, (i.e., “who can accept what he said?” However, since the context contains several replies by those in the crowd of hearers that suggest uncertainty or confusion over the meaning of what Jesus had said (6:42; 6:52), the meaning “understand” is preferred here.

[6:10]  ⁵ tn These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[6:10]  ⁶ tn Or “To whom shall I speak? To whom shall I give warning? Who will listen?” Heb “Unto whom shall I speak and give warning that they may listen?”

[6:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “are uncircumcised.”

[6:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “Behold!”

[6:10]  ⁹ tn Heb “They do not take pleasure in it.”

[7:51]  ¹⁰ sn Traditionally, “stiff-necked people.” Now the critique begins in earnest.

[7:51]  ¹¹ tn The term ἀπερίτμητοι (aperitmhtoi, “uncircumcised”) is a NT hapax legomenon (occurs only once). See BDAG 101-2 s.v. ἀπερίτμητος and Isa 52:1.

[7:51]  ¹² tn Or “You stubborn and obstinate people!” (The phrase “uncircumcised hearts and ears” is another figure for stubbornness.)

[7:51]  ¹³ tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”