'Perceive' in the Bible

Opening his mouth, Peter said:“Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing],

So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects.

“And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see me again.

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth.

King Agrippa, do you believe the [writings of the] Prophets [their messages and words]? I know that you do.”

saying, “Men, I sense [after careful thought and observation] that this voyage will certainly be a disaster and with great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

‘Go to this people and say,“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand,You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

“For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has become dull (calloused),And with their ears they scarcely hear,And they have shut their eyes [to the truth];Otherwise they might see with their eyes,And hear with their ears,And understand with their heart and return [to Me],And I would heal them.”’