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. 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? “Lord, (G)they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 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.” 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. But (J)if it is by grace, it is no longer [e]on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

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; 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.”

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:1 Lit May it never happen!
  2. Romans 11:1 Lit of the seed of Abraham
  3. Romans 11:4 Lit says
  4. Romans 11:5 Lit choice of grace
  5. Romans 11:6 Lit out of
  6. Romans 11:7 Lit the election
  7. Romans 11:11 Lit May it never happen!
  8. Romans 11:12 Or fullness
  9. Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
  10. Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.(C) God did not reject his people,(D) whom he foreknew.(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]?(F) And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b](G) So too, at the present time there is a remnant(H) chosen by grace.(I) And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.(K) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,(L) as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,(M)
to this very day.”[c](N)

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,(O)
    and their backs be bent forever.”[d](P)

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!(Q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(R) to make Israel envious.(S) 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,(T) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(U) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(V) and save(W) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(X) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(Y) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(Z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(AA) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(AB) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(AC) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(AD) Do not be arrogant,(AE) but tremble.(AF) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14
  2. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18
  3. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
  4. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23

11 Therefore remember that (A)previously (B)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “(C)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “(D)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, [a](E)excluded from [b]the people of Israel, and strangers to (F)the covenants of the promise, having (G)no hope and (H)without God in the world. 13 But now in (I)Christ Jesus you who (J)previously were (K)far away [c]have (L)been brought near [d](M)by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is (N)our peace, (O)who made both groups into one and broke down the [e]barrier of the dividing wall, 15 [f]by (P)abolishing [g]in His flesh the hostility, which is (Q)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might [h](R)make the two (S)one new person, in this way establishing (T)peace; 16 and that He might (U)reconcile them both in (V)one body to God through the cross, [i]by it having (W)put to death the hostility.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:12 Or alienated
  2. Ephesians 2:12 Or citizenship in Israel
  3. Ephesians 2:13 Lit became; or were made
  4. Ephesians 2:13 Or in
  5. Ephesians 2:14 Lit the dividing wall of the barrier
  6. Ephesians 2:15 Or the hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the Law
  7. Ephesians 2:15 I.e., by His death
  8. Ephesians 2:15 Lit create
  9. Ephesians 2:16 Or in Himself

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly(A) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)(B) 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners(C) to the covenants of the promise,(D) without hope(E) and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once(F) were far away have been brought near(G) by the blood of Christ.(H)

14 For he himself is our peace,(I) who has made the two groups one(J) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh(K) the law with its commands and regulations.(L) His purpose was to create in himself one(M) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,(N) by which he put to death their hostility.

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Jesus Teaches at the Feast

After these things Jesus (A)was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because (B)the Jews (C)were seeking to kill Him. Now the feast of the Jews, (D)the Feast of Booths, was near. So His (E)brothers said to Him, “Move on from here and go into Judea, so that Your (F)disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret [a]when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His (G)brothers believed in Him. So Jesus *said to them, (H)My time is not yet here, but your time is always ready. (I)The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that (J)its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, because (K)My time has not yet fully arrived.” Now having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.

10 But when His (L)brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as though in secret. 11 (M)So the Jews (N)were looking for Him at the feast and saying, “Where is He?” 12 And there was a great deal of talk about Him in secret among the crowds: (O)some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He is misleading the people.” 13 However, no one was speaking openly about Him, for (P)fear of [b]the Jews.

14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple area, and began to (Q)teach. 15 (R)The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man (S)become learned, not having been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, (T)My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. 17 (U)If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. 18 The one who speaks from himself (V)seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

19 (W)Did Moses not give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why are you (X)seeking to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “(Y)You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did (Z)one [c]deed, and you all are astonished. 22 For this reason (AA)Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from (AB)the fathers), and even on a Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 (AC)If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at Me because I made an entire man well on a Sabbath? 24 Do not (AD)judge by the outward appearance, but judge [d]with righteous judgment.”

25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this man not the one whom they are seeking to kill? 26 And yet look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. (AE)The rulers do not really know that this is the [e]Christ, do they? 27 However, (AF)we know where this man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, (AG)teaching and saying, (AH)You both know Me and you know where I am from; and (AI)I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 (AJ)I do know Him, because (AK)I am from Him, and (AL)He sent Me.” 30 So they (AM)were seeking to arrest Him; and yet no one laid a hand on Him, because His (AN)hour had not yet come. 31 But (AO)many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “(AP)When the [f]Christ comes, He will not perform more [g](AQ)signs than those which this man has done, will He?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent (AR)officers to (AS)arrest Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, (AT)For a little while longer I am going to be with you, and then (AU)I am going to Him who sent Me. 34 (AV)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 (AW)The Jews then said to one another, “(AX)Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He does not intend to go to (AY)the Dispersion among (AZ)the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, does He? 36 What is this statement that He said, (BA)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

37 Now on (BB)the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, (BC)If anyone is thirsty, [h]let him come to Me and drink. 38 The one who believes in Me, (BD)as the Scripture said, ‘[i]From his innermost being will flow rivers of (BE)living water.’” 39 But this He said (BF)in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for (BG)the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet (BH)glorified.

People’s Division over Jesus

40 Some of the people therefore, after they heard these words, were saying, “This truly is (BI)the Prophet.” 41 Others were saying, “This is the [j]Christ.” But others were saying, “(BJ)Surely the [k]Christ is not coming from Galilee, is He? 42 Has the Scripture not said that the Christ comes from (BK)the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So (BL)a dissension occurred in the crowd because of Him. 44 And (BM)some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

45 The (BN)officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 46 The (BO)officers answered, “(BP)Never has a man spoken in this way!” 47 The Pharisees then replied to them, “(BQ)You have not been led astray too, have you? 48 (BR)Not one of (BS)the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49 But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed!” 50 (BT)Nicodemus (the one who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 51 (BU)Our Law does not judge the person unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” 52 They answered and said to him, “(BV)You are not from Galilee as well, are you? Examine the Scriptures, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” 53 [[[l]And everyone went to his home.

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Footnotes

  1. John 7:4 Lit and
  2. John 7:13 I.e., the Jewish leaders
  3. John 7:21 Or work
  4. John 7:24 Lit the righteous judgment
  5. John 7:26 I.e., Messiah
  6. John 7:31 I.e., Messiah
  7. John 7:31 I.e., confirming miracles
  8. John 7:37 Or come to Me and drink
  9. John 7:38 Lit Out of his belly
  10. John 7:41 I.e., Messiah
  11. John 7:41 I.e., Messiah
  12. John 7:53 Later mss add the story of the adulterous woman, numbering it as John 7:53-8:11

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home,

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Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”