New Living Translation
Romans 11:8
8As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”
Romans 11:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
- New International Version (NIV)as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”
Context of Romans 11:8
6And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” 9Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. 10Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”
Read all of Romans 11Romans 11:8 word by word
καθὼς γέγραπται· ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς πνεῦμα κατανύξεως, ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν καὶ ὦτα τοῦ μὴ ἀκούειν ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- According asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- of slumberκατάνυξιςkatanuxis · stuporG2659
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
- that they shouldβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- notμήmē · notG3361
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- earsοὖςous · earG3775
- that they shouldἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- untoἕωςheōs · untilG2193
- thisσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
- dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
Cross-references for Romans 11:8
- Isaiah 29:10For the Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.
- Deuteronomy 29:4But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!
- Isaiah 6:9And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
- Jeremiah 5:21Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.
- Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.
- Mark 4:11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
- Luke 8:10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’
- Acts 28:26‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
- 2 Kings 17:34And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.
Commentaries on Romans 11:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8God hath given them the spirit of slumber - As they had wilfully closed their eyes against the light, so God has, in judgment, given them up to the spirit of slumber. The very word and revelation of God, which should have awakened their consciences, and opened their eyes and ears, have had a very different effect; and because they did not receive the truth in the love thereof, that which would otherwise have been the savour of life unto life, has become…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8According as it is written - That is, they are blinded in accordance with what is written. The fact and the manner accord with the ancient declaration. This is recorded in Isaiah 29:10, and in Deuteronomy 29:4. The same sentiment is found also substantially in Isaiah 6:9-10. The principal place referred to here, however, is doubtless Isaiah 29:10, “For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and…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 11:8
In the dictionaries
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries