New International Version
Romans 10:20
20And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
Romans 10:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
Context of Romans 10:20
18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” 19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Read all of Romans 10Romans 10:20 word by word
Ἠσαΐας δὲ ἀποτολμᾷ καὶ λέγει· εὑρέθην ἐν τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ζητοῦσιν, ἐμφανὴς ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ἐπερωτῶσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- EsaiasἩσαΐαςHēsaias · IsaiahG2268
- is very boldἀποτολμάωapotōlmaō · be boldG662
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- I was foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- of themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- that soughtζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- notμήmē · notG3361
- I was madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- manifestἐμφανήςemphanēs · revealedG1717
- that askedἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905
Cross-references for Romans 10:20
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Isaiah 58:1“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
- Ephesians 6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Romans 9:30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- Isaiah 65:1“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
- Isaiah 49:6he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
- Isaiah 52:15so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
- Isaiah 55:4See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
- Matthew 20:16“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Matthew 22:9So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’
- Luke 14:23“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- 1 John 4:19We love because he first loved us.
Commentaries on Romans 10:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But Esaias (the Greek orthography for Isaiah) is very bold - Speaks out in the fullest manner and plainest language, Isaiah 65:1, notwithstanding the danger to which such a declaration exposed him, among a crooked, perverse, and dangerous people: I was found of them that sought me not; I put my salvation in the way of those (the Gentiles) who were not seeking for it, and knew nothing of it: thus, the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20But Esaias - Isaiah 65:1-2. Is very bold - Expresses the doctrine openly, boldly, without any reserve. The word ̓́ apotolmaōmeans to dare, to be venturesome, to be bold. It means here that however unpopular the doctrine might be, or however dangerous it was to avow that the Jews were extremely wicked, and that God for their wickedness would cast them off, yet that Isaiah had long since done it. This was the point which Paul was establishing; and against…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 Did not the Jews know that the Gentiles were to be called in? They might have known it from Moses and Isaiah. Isaiah speaks plainly of the grace and favour of God, as going before in the receiving of the Gentiles. Was not this our own case? Did not God begin in love, and make himself known to us when we did not ask after him? The patience of God towards provoking sinners is wonderful. The time of God's patience is called a day, light as day…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20This quotation is from Isaiah 65:1. In the book of Isaiah, the phrase "those who did not seek Me" refers to the people of Israel. As in Romans 9:25–26 Paul applies them to the Gentiles to show that God has made it possible for them to be a part of the people of God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. But Esaias is very bold, and saith--that is, is still plainer, and goes even the length of saying. I was found of them that sought me not--until I sought them. I was made--"became" manifest unto them that asked not after me--until the invitation from Me came to them. That the calling of the Gentiles was meant by these words of the prophet (Is 65:1) is manifest from what immediately follows, "I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 10:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 10
- 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
- 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
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