Romans 11
English Standard Version
The Remnant of Israel
11 I ask, then, (A)has God rejected his people? By no means! For (B)I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,[a] a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 (C)God has not rejected his people whom he (D)foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 (E)“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? (F)“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is (G)a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 (H)But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? (I)Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest (J)were hardened, 8 as it is written,
(K)“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
(L)eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
(M)“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
Gentiles Grafted In
11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass (N)salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion[b] mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as (O)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and (P)thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means (Q)the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 (R)If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if (S)some of the branches were broken off, and you, (T)although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root[c] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you (U)stand fast through faith. So (V)do not become proud, but (W)fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, (X)provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise (Y)you too will be cut off. 23 And (Z)even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
25 (AA)Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:[d] (AB)a partial hardening has come upon Israel, (AC)until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
(AD)“The Deliverer will come (AE)from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my (AF)covenant with them
(AG)when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are (AH)beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and (AI)the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as (AJ)you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now[e] receive mercy. 32 For God (AK)has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and (AL)wisdom and knowledge of God! (AM)How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For (AN)who has known the mind of the Lord,
or (AO)who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or (AP)who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For (AQ)from him and through him and to him are all things. (AR)To him be glory forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 11:1 Or one of the offspring of Abraham
- Romans 11:12 Greek their fullness
- Romans 11:17 Greek root of richness; some manuscripts richness
- Romans 11:25 Or brothers and sisters
- Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts omit now
Romans 11
New American Standard Bible
Israel Has Not Been Rejected
11 I say then, God has not (A)rejected His people, has He? [a](B)Far from it! For (C)I too am an Israelite, [b]a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God (D)has not rejected His people whom He (E)foreknew. (F)Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, (G)they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what [c]is the divine response to him? “(H)I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time (I)a remnant according to God’s [d]gracious choice. 6 But (J)if it is by grace, it is no longer [e]on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.
7 What then? What (K)Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but [f]those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were (L)hardened; 8 just as it is written:
“(M)God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
“(N)May their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 (O)May their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs continually.”
11 (P)I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? [g](Q)Far from it! But by their wrongdoing (R)salvation has come to the Gentiles, to (S)make them jealous. 12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [h](T)fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as (U)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 if somehow I may (V)move (W)my [i]own people to jealousy and (X)save some of them. 15 For if their rejection proves to be the (Y)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but (Z)life from the dead? 16 If the (AA)first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.
17 But if some of the (AB)branches were broken off, and (AC)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the [j]rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that (AD)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 (AE)You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you (AF)stand by your faith. (AG)Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s (AH)kindness, (AI)if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too (AJ)will be cut off. 23 And they also, (AK)if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For (AL)I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this (AM)mystery—so that you will not be (AN)wise in your own estimation—that a partial (AO)hardening has happened to Israel until the (AP)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:
“(AQ)The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “(AR)This is [k]My covenant with them,
(AS)When I take away their sins.”
28 In relation to the gospel they are (AT)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved (AU)on account of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the (AV)calling of God (AW)are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For (AX)God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.
33 Oh, the depth of (AY)the riches, [l]both of the (AZ)wisdom and knowledge of God! (BA)How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For (BB)who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or (BC)who has first given to Him, [m]that it would be paid back to him? 36 For (BD)from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. (BE)To Him be the glory [n]forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 11:1 Lit May it never happen!
- Romans 11:1 Lit of the seed of Abraham
- Romans 11:4 Lit says
- Romans 11:5 Lit choice of grace
- Romans 11:6 Lit out of
- Romans 11:7 Lit the election
- Romans 11:11 Lit May it never happen!
- Romans 11:12 Or fullness
- Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
- Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness
- Romans 11:27 Lit the covenant from Me
- Romans 11:33 Or and the wisdom
- Romans 11:35 Lit and it will be paid back
- Romans 11:36 Lit to the ages
Romans 11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Israel’s Rejection Not Total
11 I ask, then, has God rejected His people?(A) Absolutely not!(B) For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,(C) from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.(D) Or don’t you know(E) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel?
3 Lord, they have killed Your prophets
and torn down Your altars.
I am the only one left,
and they are trying to take my life!(F)[a]
4 But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.(G)[b] 5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.(H) 6 Now if by grace,(I) then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.[c]
7 What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,(J) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,(K) 8 as it is written:
God gave them a spirit of insensitivity,[d]
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
to this day.(L)[e]
9 And David says:
Let their feasting[f] become a snare and a trap,
a pitfall and a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.(M)[g]
Israel’s Rejection Not Final
11 I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling,[h] salvation has come to the Gentiles(N) to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their stumbling[i] brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!(O)
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles,(P) I magnify my ministry, 14 if I can somehow make my own people[j](Q) jealous and save some of them.(R) 15 For if their rejection brings reconciliation(S) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?(T) 16 Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy,(U) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 Now if some of the branches were broken off,(V) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them(W) and have come to share in the rich root[k] of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.(X) 19 Then you will say,(Y) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith.(Z) Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.(AA) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness(AB) toward you—if you remain in His kindness.(AC) Otherwise you too will be cut off.(AD) 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,(AE) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from your native wild olive and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 So that you will not be conceited,(AF) brothers, I do not want you to be unaware(AG) of this mystery:(AH) A partial hardening has come to Israel(AI) until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.(AJ) 26 And in this way all[l] Israel will be saved, as it is written:
The Liberator will come from Zion;
He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.
27 And this will be My covenant with them(AK)[m]
when I take away their sins.(AL)[n]
28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,(AM) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,(AN) 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling(AO) are irrevocable.[o](AP) 30 As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now[p] may receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience,(AQ) so that He may have mercy on all.
A Hymn of Praise
33 Oh, the depth of the riches(AR)
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!(AS)
How unsearchable His judgments(AT)
and untraceable His ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?(AU)
Or who has been His counselor?
35 Or who has ever first given to Him,
and has to be repaid?(AV)[q]
36 For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.(AW)
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 11:3 1Kg 19:10,14
- Romans 11:4 1Kg 19:18
- Romans 11:6 Other mss add But if of works it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
- Romans 11:8 Lit stupification
- Romans 11:8 Dt 29:4; Is 29:10
- Romans 11:9 Lit table
- Romans 11:10 Ps 69:22-23
- Romans 11:11 Or transgression
- Romans 11:12 Or transgression
- Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
- Romans 11:17 Other mss read the root and the richness
- Romans 11:26 Or And then all
- Romans 11:27 Is 59:20-21
- Romans 11:27 Jr 31:31-34
- Romans 11:29 Or are not taken back
- Romans 11:31 Other mss omit now
- Romans 11:35 Jb 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.