Romans 11
In this passage, Paul emphasizes God's faithfulness to His people, underlining that, despite Israel's unbelief, God has preserved a remnant. He illustrates the divine sovereignty in salvation, showcasing how grace cannot be earned through works. The grafting of Gentiles into the covenant community highlights God's mercy and the inclusivity of His plan for redemption. Ultimately, we are reminded of God’s unsearchable wisdom and the irrevocable nature of His gifts and calling, urging humility in our understanding of His ways. Through this, Paul glorifies God's purpose in history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises.
Core Bible study
Romans 11:1
I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Original language
λεγω ουν μη απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου μη γενοιτο και γαρ εγω ισραηλιτης ειμι εκ σπερματος αβρααμ φυλης βενιαμιν
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Romans 11:2
God didn’t reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
Original language
ουκ απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου ον προεγνω η ουκ οιδατε εν ηλια τι λεγει η γραφη ως εντυγχανει τω θεω κατα του ισραηλ λεγων
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Romans 11:3
“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
Original language
κυριε τους προφητας σου απεκτειναν και τα θυσιαστηρια σου κατεσκαψαν καγω υπελειφθην μονος και ζητουσιν την ψυχην μου
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Romans 11:4
But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Original language
αλλα τι λεγει αυτω ο χρηματισμος κατελιπον εμαυτω επτακισχιλιους ανδρας οιτινες ουκ εκαμψαν γονυ τη βααλ
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Romans 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Original language
ουτως ουν και εν τω νυν καιρω λειμμα κατ εκλογην χαριτος γεγονεν
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Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Original language
ει δε χαριτι ουκετι εξ εργων επει η χαρις ουκετι γινεται χαρις ει δε εξ εργων ουκετι εστιν χαρις επει το εργον ουκετι εστιν εργον
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Romans 11:7
What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
Original language
τι ουν ο επιζητει ισραηλ τουτου ουκ επετυχεν η δε εκλογη επετυχεν οι δε λοιποι επωρωθησαν
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Romans 11:8
According as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
Original language
καθως γεγραπται εδωκεν αυτοις ο θεος πνευμα κατανυξεως οφθαλμους του μη βλεπειν και ωτα του μη ακουειν εως της σημερον ημερας
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Romans 11:9
David says, “Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.
Original language
και δαβιδ λεγει γενηθητω η τραπεζα αυτων εις παγιδα και εις θηραν και εις σκανδαλον και εις ανταποδομα αυτοις
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Romans 11:10
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always.”
Original language
σκοτισθητωσαν οι οφθαλμοι αυτων του μη βλεπειν και τον νωτον αυτων διαπαντος δια παντος συγκαμψον
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Romans 11:11
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
Original language
λεγω ουν μη επταισαν ινα πεσωσιν μη γενοιτο αλλα τω αυτων παραπτωματι η σωτηρια τοις εθνεσιν εις το παραζηλωσαι αυτους
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Romans 11:12
Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
Original language
ει δε το παραπτωμα αυτων πλουτος κοσμου και το ηττημα αυτων πλουτος εθνων ποσω μαλλον το πληρωμα αυτων
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Romans 11:13
For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
Original language
υμιν γαρ λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω
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Romans 11:14
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
Original language
ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων
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Romans 11:15
For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?
Original language
ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσληψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων
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Romans 11:16
If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
Original language
ει δε η απαρχη αγια και το φυραμα και ει η ριζα αγια και οι κλαδοι
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Romans 11:17
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree;
Original language
ει δε τινες των κλαδων εξεκλασθησαν συ δε αγριελαιος ων ενεκεντρισθης εν αυτοις και συγκοινωνος της ριζης και της πιοτητος της ελαιας εγενου
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Romans 11:18
don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
Original language
μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλ η ριζα σε
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Romans 11:19
You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”
Original language
ερεις ουν εξεκλασθησαν οι κλαδοι ινα εγω εγκεντρισθω
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Romans 11:20
True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
Original language
καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλοφρονει αλλα φοβου
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Romans 11:21
for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Original language
ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο μηπως ουδε σου φεισηται
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Romans 11:22
See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Original language
ιδε ουν χρηστοτητα και αποτομιαν θεου επι μεν τους πεσοντας αποτομιαν επι δε σε χρηστοτητα εαν επιμεινης τη χρηστοτητι επει και συ εκκοπηση
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Romans 11:23
They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Original language
και εκεινοι δε εαν μη επιμεινωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ εστιν ο θεος παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους
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Romans 11:24
For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Original language
ει γαρ συ εκ της κατα φυσιν εξεκοπης αγριελαιου και παρα φυσιν ενεκεντρισθης εις καλλιελαιον ποσω μαλλον ουτοι οι κατα φυσιν εγκεντρισθησονται τη ιδια ελαια
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Romans 11:25
For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
Original language
ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη
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Romans 11:26
and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
Original language
και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ
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Romans 11:27
This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins.”
Original language
και αυτη αυτοις η παρ εμου διαθηκη οταν αφελωμαι τας αμαρτιας αυτων
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Romans 11:28
Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
Original language
κατα μεν το ευαγγελιον εχθροι δι υμας κατα δε την εκλογην αγαπητοι δια τους πατερας
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Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Original language
αμεταμελητα γαρ τα χαρισματα και η κλησις του θεου
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Romans 11:30
For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
Original language
ωσπερ γαρ και υμεις ποτε ηπειθησατε τω θεω νυν δε ηλεηθητε τη τουτων απειθεια
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Romans 11:31
even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
Original language
ουτως και ουτοι νυν ηπειθησαν τω υμετερω ελεει ινα και αυτοι ελεηθωσιν
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Romans 11:32
For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
Original language
συνεκλεισεν γαρ ο θεος τους παντας εις απειθειαν ινα τους παντας ελεηση
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Romans 11:33
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
Original language
ω βαθος πλουτου και σοφιας και γνωσεως θεου ως ανεξερευνητα τα κριματα αυτου και ανεξιχνιαστοι αι οδοι αυτου
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Romans 11:34
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
Original language
τις γαρ εγνω νουν κυριου η τις συμβουλος αυτου εγενετο
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Romans 11:35
“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”
Original language
η τις προεδωκεν αυτω και ανταποδοθησεται αυτω
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Commentary
The rhetorical question posed in Romans 11:35 highlights God's sovereignty and the futility of thinking we can offer something to Him that would compel a repayment. The Greek phrase "προεδωκεν αυτω" (proedōken auto) implies an act of giving, suggesting that human contributions to God’s grace and mercy are non-existent, as He is the ultimate source of all goodness. This verse underlines the theological principle that God is self-sufficient and does not owe anything to His creation. Therefore, any notion that we can initiate a relationship with Him through our works or offerings is misguided. Instead, it is a reminder of God's grace, which is given freely and abundantly without expectation of a return.
The rhetorical question posed in Romans 11:35 highlights God's sovereignty and the futility of thinking we can offer something to Him that would compel a repayment. The Greek phrase "προεδωκεν αυτω" (proedōken auto) implies an act of giving, suggesting that human contributions to God’s grace and mercy are non-existent, as He is the ultimate source of all goodness.
This verse underlines the theological principle that God is self-sufficient and does not owe anything to His creation. Therefore, any notion that we can initiate a relationship with Him through our works or offerings is misguided. Instead, it is a reminder of God's grace, which is given freely and abundantly without expectation of a return.
Romans 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
Original language
οτι εξ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα αυτω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην
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Commentary
This verse encapsulates the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation. The phrase "of him" signifies that all things originate from God, affirming Him as the source of existence. "Through him" indicates that God is also the sustaining force, demonstrating His active involvement in creation's ongoing maintenance. The expression "to him" emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of all things is to glorify God, reflecting His eternal nature and glory. The doxology at the end, "To him be the glory for ever! Amen," serves as a fitting conclusion to Paul's exposition of God's mercy and providence, reinforcing the belief that all glory belongs to God eternally.
This verse encapsulates the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation.
The phrase "of him" signifies that all things originate from God, affirming Him as the source of existence. "Through him" indicates that God is also the sustaining force, demonstrating His active involvement in creation's ongoing maintenance. The expression "to him" emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of all things is to glorify God, reflecting His eternal nature and glory.
The doxology at the end, "To him be the glory for ever! Amen," serves as a fitting conclusion to Paul's exposition of God's mercy and providence, reinforcing the belief that all glory belongs to God eternally.