Romans 11:10

⁸ as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

⁹ And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

¹¹ I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

¹² But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”
KJV: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
WEB: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Always keep their backs bent.”
ASV: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.
DARBY: let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.
BLB: May their eyes be darkened not to see, and their backs bent over through all [time].”

ÅB: La øynene deres bli formørket, så de ikke ser, og bøy alltid deres rygg!»
OTB: Måtte deres øyne bli formørket så de ikke kan se,
og deres rygg bli bøyd stadig."
B1930: la deres øine bli formørket, så de ikke ser, og bøi alltid deres rygg!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 69:23
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:64–68
Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.
Read in context
2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
Read in context
Romans 11:8
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Read in context
Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
Read in context
Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Read in context
Zechariah 11:17
Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”
Read in context
Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
Read in context