New Living Translation
Romans 10:20
20And 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.”
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.”
- 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.”
Context of Romans 10:20
18But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: “The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.” 19But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.” 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.” 21But regarding Israel, God said, “All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
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 run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.
- Isaiah 58:1“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!
- Ephesians 6:19And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
- Romans 9:30What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
- Isaiah 65:1The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.
- Isaiah 49:6He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Isaiah 52:15And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
- Isaiah 55:4See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations.
- Matthew 20:16“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
- Matthew 22:9Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’
- Luke 14:23So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
- 1 John 4:19We love each other because he loved us first.
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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