For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
For ... their eyes have they closed; lest they ... should be converted, [epistrepsoosin (G1994)] - or, 'and return,'
And I should heal them. See the notes at Matthew 13:13-15 , and John 12:38-40 . With what pain would this stern word be wrung from him whose "heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel was that they might be saved," and who "had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart" on their account! ( Romans 9:2; Romans 10:1 .)