en_tn/mat/13/15.md

# Connecting Statement:

Jesus finishes quoting the prophet Isaiah.

# For the heart of this people ... I would heal them

God describes the people of Israel as if they had physical diseases that cause them to be unable to learn, to see, and to hear. God wants them to come to him so he will heal them. This is all a metaphor describing the people's spiritual condition. It means the people are stubborn and refuse to receive and understand God's truth. If they would, then they would repent and God would forgive them and welcome them back as his people. If the meaning is clear, keep the metaphor in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# the heart of this people has become dull

Here "heart" refers to the mind. Alternate translation: "these people's minds are slow to learn" or "these people can no longer learn" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# with their ears they hardly hear

They are not physically deaf. Here "hardly hear" means they refuse to listen and learn God's truth. Alternate translation: "they refuse to use their ears to listen" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# they have shut their eyes

This means they refuse to understand, not that they have literally closed their eyes. Alternate translation: "they refuse to use their eyes to see" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# understand with their heart

The word "heart" here is a metonym for people's innermost being. You may need to use the word in your language for the source of people's thinking and feelings. Alternate translation: "understand with their minds" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# turn again

"turn back to me" or "repent"

# I would heal them

"have me heal them." This means God would heal them spiritually by forgiving their sins and receiving them again as his people. Alternate translation: "have me receive them again" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])