# But if it is by grace

Paul continues to explain how God's mercy works. AT: "But since God's mercy works by grace" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# What then?

"What should we conclude?" Paul asks this question to move his reader to his next point. You can translate this as a statement. AT: "This is what we need to remember" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# God has given them a spirit of dullness, eyes so that they should not see, and ears so that they should not hear

This is a metaphor about the fact that the people are spiritually dull. They are not able to hear or receive spiritual truth. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# spirit of

Here this means "having the characteristics of," such as the "spirit of wisdom."

# eyes so that they should not see

The concept of seeing with one's eyes was considered to be equivalent to gaining understanding.

# ears so that they should not hear

The concept of hearing with the ears was considered to be equivalent to obedience.

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/works]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/israel]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/written]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/god]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/spirit]]