Romans 11:4

Romans 11:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
• New International Version (NIV)And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Context of Romans 11:4

2God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3“Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Romans 11:4 word by word

ἀλλὰ τί λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ χρηματισμός; κατέλιπον ἐμαυτῷ ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας οἵτινες οὐκ ἔκαμψαν γόνυ τῇ Βάαλ.Read the interlinear

• But whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• is the divineχρηματισμόςchrēmatismos · proclamationG5538
• I have keptκαταλείπωkataleipō · to leave behindG2641
• for Myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• sevenἑπτακισχίλιοιheptakischilioi · seven thousandG2035
• menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• have not bowedκάμπτωkamptō · to bend/bowG2578
• the kneeγόνυgonu · a kneeG1119
• to BaalΒάαλBaal · BaalG896

Cross-references for Romans 11:4

• 1 Kings 19:18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
• Numbers 25:3So Israel became followers of Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry with Israel.
• Deuteronomy 4:3Your eyes have seen what the Lord has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, the Lord your God has destroyed them from among you.
• Judges 2:13They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
• 1 Kings 16:31And as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
• 2 Kings 10:19Now, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one go missing, because I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in deception, in order to eliminate the worshipers of Baal.
• Jeremiah 19:5and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, a thing which I did not command nor speak of, nor did it ever enter My mind;
• Hosea 2:8“Yet she does not know that it was I myself who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal.
• Hosea 13:1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he incurred guilt and died.
• Zephaniah 1:4“So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will eliminate the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the other priests.

Commentaries on Romans 11:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4But what saith the answer of God - The answer which God made assured him that there were seven thousand, that is, several or many thousands; for so we must understand the word seven, a certain for an uncertain number. These had continued faithful to God; but, because of Jezebel's persecution, they were obliged to conceal their attachment to the true religion; and God, in his providence, preserved them from her sanguinary rage. Who have not bowed the knee…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The answer of God - ̔ ́ ho chrēmatismosThis word is used no where else in the New Testament. It means an oracle, a divine response. It does not indicate the manner in which it was done, but implies only that it was an oracle, or answer made to his complaint by God. Such an answer, at such a time, would be full of comfort, and silence every complaint. The way in which this answer was in fact given, was not in a storm, or an earthquake, but in a still…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-32n this section, Paul addresses a serious question. Many Jews did not believe in Jesus. If God had promised salvation to Israel, how could Jesus truly fulfill God’s plan when so few Jews believed (9:1–5)? In response, Paul uses the Old Testament to show that God always planned to save only a remnant, that is, a smaller group within Israel (9:6–29). Paul also explains that many Jews did not accept Christ because they refused to trust in him (9:30–10:21)…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. God hath--"did" not cast away his people--that is, wholly which he foreknew--On the word "foreknew," see on Ro 8:29. Wot--that is, "Know" ye not that the scripture saith of--literally, "in," that is, in the section which relates to Elias? how he maketh intercession--"pleadeth" against Israel--(The word "saying," which follows, as also the particle "and" before "digged down," should be omitted, as without manuscript authority).Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 11:4

• Quotations and Allusions
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Baal
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Cast
• Conclude
• Dark
• Depth
• Election
• Election of Grace
• Emulation

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