But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But х alla (G235)] - in strong contrast to "which none of the princes of this world knew." Paul says, "But God hath revealed them unto us." Instead of using his own words he quotes God's.
As it is written, Eye hath not seen ... The Greek is, 'We speak (supplied from 1 Corinthians 2:8) things which eye saw not (heretofore), etc., things which [A B read "as many things soever as:" hosa (G3745). Delta G f g, Vulgate, read, as the English version] God prepared, etc. But' х de (G1161), not so strong an adversative as the former "but," which contrasts the two main opposites. This latter "but" puts a slight contrast between the two subordinate clauses, "God hath prepared" from everlasting, but now "hath revealed the things to us."] The quotation is not verbatim, but an inspired exposition of the "wisdom" (1 Corinthians 2:6) from Isaiah 64:4 (cf. Isaiah 52:15; Isaiah 65:17). The exceptive words, "O God, beside (i:e., except) thee," are not quoted directly, but virtually expressed in the exposition (1 Corinthians 2:10). "None but thou, O God, sees these mysteries: God hath revealed them to us by His spirit. God's seeing the mysteries ensures His revealing them to His people.
Entered - literally, come up into the heart: 'alah 'al leeb: the rising of an earnest desire in the heart. A Hebraism (cf. margin, Jeremiah 3:16). In Isaiah 64:1-12 it is, "Prepared (literally, 'will do') for him that waiteth for him;" here, "for them that love Him." For Isaiah spake to them who waited for Messiah as future; Paul, to them who love Him as having appeared (1 John 4:19: cf. verse 12, end). 'Love conducts to a far richer world of knowledge than earthly means could open to the conception' (Olshausen).