Romans 11:7

Romans 11:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
• New International Version (NIV)What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,
• English Standard Version (ESV)What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
• New King James Version (NKJV)What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Context of Romans 11:7

5So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness. 6If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness. So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed, 8as Scripture says, “To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep. Their eyes don’t see, and their ears don’t hear!” 9And David says, “Let the table set for them become a trap and a net, a snare and a punishment for them.

Romans 11:7 word by word

τί οὖν; ὃ ἐπιζητεῖ Ἰσραήλ, τοῦτο οὐκ ἐπέτυχεν, ἡ δὲ ἐκλογὴ ἐπέτυχεν· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ ἐπωρώθησανRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
• hathἐπιτυγχάνωepitugchanō · to obtainG2013
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he seeketh forἐπιζητέωepizēteō · to seek afterG1934
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the electionἐκλογήeklogē · selectingG1589
• the restλοιπόςloipoi · remainingG3062
• were blindedπωρόωpōroō · to hardenG4456

Cross-references for Romans 11:7

• Romans 3:9What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin,
• Romans 6:15Then what is the implication? Should we sin because we are not controlled by God’s laws but by God’s favor? That’s unthinkable!
• 1 Corinthians 10:19Do I mean that an offering made to a false god is anything, or that a false god itself is anything?
• Philippians 1:18But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, people are told the message about Christ, whether with honest or dishonest motives, and I’m happy about that. Yes, I will continue to be happy
• Romans 9:31The people of Israel tried to gain God’s approval by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings, but they did not reach their goal.
• Romans 10:3They don’t understand ⌞how to receive⌟ God’s approval. So they try to set up their own way to get it, and they have not accepted God’s way for receiving his approval.
• Proverbs 1:28“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me,
• Luke 13:24“Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed.
• Hebrews 12:17You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn’t do anything to change what had happened.
• Romans 11:5So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.
• Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
• Romans 9:23Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory?
• Ephesians 1:4Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. You are loved by the Lord and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through a life of spiritual devotion and faith in the truth.
• 1 Peter 1:2God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with the Spirit’s help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. May good will and peace fill your lives!
• Isaiah 6:10Make these people close-minded. Plug their ears. Shut their eyes. Otherwise, they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds, and return and be healed.”

Commentaries on Romans 11:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7What then? - What is the real state of the case before us? Israel - the body of the Jewish people, have not obtained that which they so earnestly desire, i.e. to be continued, as they have been hitherto, the peculiar people of God; but the election hath obtained it - as many of them as have believed in Jesus Christ, and accepted salvation through him: this is the grand scheme of the election by grace; God chooses to make those his peculiar people who…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7What then? - What is the proper conclusion from this argument? “Israel hath not obtained.” That is, the Jews as a people have not obtained what they sought. They sought the favor of God by their own merit; and as it was impossible to obtain it in that manner, they have, as a people, failed of obtaining his favor at all, and will be rejected. That which he seeketh for - To wit, salvation by their own obedience to the Law. The election hath - The purpose of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8The others were hardened: Scripture describes this hardening as something God allows or brings about as part of his judgment. God permits people to remain unresponsive when they persist in rejecting his message. See Acts 13:46–48; 18:6.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-107-10. What then?--How stands the fact? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for--better, "What Israel is in search of (that is, Justification, or acceptance with God--see on Ro 9:31); this he found not; but the election (the elect remnant of Israel) found it, and the rest were hardened," or judicially given over to the "hardness of their own hearts."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 11:7

• Predestination
• Reprobacy
• Salvation
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Cast
• Conclude
• Dark
• Depth
• Election
• Emulation
• Grace

Commentaries on Romans 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings