## But if it is by grace ##

Paul is continuing to explain how God's mercy works. AT: "But since God's mercy works by grace"

## What then? ##

"What should we conclude?" AT: "This is what we need to remember." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

## God gave 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 they are spiritually dull. They are not able to see or hear spiritual truth.

## 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.