This verse sums up the contents of Paul’s discussion in verses 2-6. What they were looking for is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure, though Paul does not explain what he means by this phrase. Nevertheless, in light of the context, it is clear that the Jews were looking for a way to be put in a right relation with God.
In some languages the introductory question What then? may be related to what follows as “obviously the people of Israel did not find what they were looking for.”
It was the small group that God chose who found it is literally “the chosen found it” (Revised Standard Version “the elect obtained it”). “The chosen” has reference to the “people that God chose,” while the context (see v. 5) indicates that this was only a small number (v. 5) or a small group (v. 7), and so the Good News Translation makes the information clear.
In indicating the contrast between the first and second sentences of verse 7, one may place a contrastive particle at the beginning of the second sentence—for example, “but a small group whom God chose found it.”
Grew deaf is literally “were hardened” (Revised Standard Version; New English Bible “were made blind”; An American Translation* “became callous”; New American Bible “became blind”). This is an aorist tense in Greek, and as can be seen from the various translations, its force is generally felt to be inceptive; that is, it places the emphasis upon the beginning of the action.
Not all authorities are agreed in regard to the significance of the passive in this passage. Normally in such a construction it would be assumed that God is the agent (“God hardened them”), and this observation is supported by what is said in verses 8-10. On the other hand, in light of what is said in verse 11, some hesitate to go this far. The Good News Translation gives this passive a middle force, and makes clear what it was that they grew deaf to, that is, to God’s call (the Jerusalem Bible uses the passive and supplies an object: “the rest were not allowed to see the truth”). It is best to take this verb form as a genuine passive and to assume that the act of hardening is God’s judgment upon these people who have refused him. That is what Paul seems to be saying in the verses following, but he evidently looks upon this action as one aspect of God’s mercy. The passive relation in the final clause of verse 7 may be expressed as “God caused the rest of the people to become deaf to his call” or “… to be unable to hear his call.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .