Matthew 13:15

Is waxed gross [ε π α χ υ ν θ η]. Lit., was made fat. Wyc., enfatted.

Are dull of hearing [τ ο ι ς ω σ ι ν β α ρ ε ω ς η κ ο υ σ α ν]. Lit., They heard heavily with their ears.

They have closed [ε κ α μ μ υ σ α ν], kata, down, muw, to close, as in musthria above. Our idiom shuts up the eyes. The Greek shuts them down. The Hebrew, in Isaiah 6:10, is besmear. This insensibility is described as a punishment. Compare Isaiah 29:10; Isaiah 44:18; in both of which the closing of the eyes is described as a judgment of God. Sealing up the eyes was an oriental punishment. Cheyne (" Isaiah ") cites the case of a son of the Great Mogul, who has his eyes sealed up three years by his father as a punishment. Dante pictures the envious, on the second cornice of Purgatory, with their eyes sewed up :

"For all their lids an iron wire transpierces, And sews them up, as to a sparhawk wild Is done, because it will not quiet stay." Purg., 13 70 - 72.

Be converted [ε π ι σ τ ρ ε ψ ω σ ι ν]. Rev., turn again; ejpi, to or toward, strefw, to turn; with the idea of their turning from their evil toward God.