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. 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? 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![a](F) But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.[b](G) In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.(H) Now if by grace,(I) then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.[c]

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,(J) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,(K) as it is written,

God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
to this day.[d](L)

And David says,

Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a pitfall and a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and their backs be bent continually.[e](M)

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(N) to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!(O)

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,(P) I magnify my ministry, 14 if I might somehow make my own people[f](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 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[g] of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—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 because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.(Z) Do not be arrogant, but beware,[h](AA) 21 because 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 tree 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 I don’t want you to be ignorant(AF) of this mystery,(AG) brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:(AH) A partial hardening has come upon Israel(AI) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.(AJ) 26 And in this way all[i] Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this will be my covenant with them[j](AK)
when I take away their sins.[k](AL)

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.[l](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 may now[m] 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)
and 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 And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?[n](AV)
36 For from him and through him
and to him are all things.(AW)
To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 11:3 1Kg 19:10,14
  2. 11:4 1Kg 19:18
  3. 11:6 Other mss add But if of works it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
  4. 11:8 Dt 29:4; Is 29:10
  5. 11:9–10 Ps 69:22–23
  6. 11:14 Lit flesh
  7. 11:17 Other mss read the root and the richness
  8. 11:20 Lit fear
  9. 11:26 Or And then all
  10. 11:26–27 Is 59:20–21
  11. 11:27 Jr 31:31–34
  12. 11:29 Or are not taken back
  13. 11:31 Other mss omit now
  14. 11:34–35 Jb 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18

El remanente de Israel

11 Digo entonces: ¿Acaso ha desechado Dios a su pueblo(A)? ¡De ningún modo(B)! Porque yo también soy israelita, descendiente[a] de Abraham(C), de la tribu de Benjamín. Dios no ha desechado a su pueblo(D), al cual conoció con anterioridad(E). ¿O no sabéis(F) lo que dice la Escritura en el pasaje sobre Elías, cómo suplica a Dios contra Israel: Señor, han dado muerte a tus profetas, han derribado tus altares; y yo solo he quedado y atentan contra[b] mi vida(G)? Pero, ¿qué le dice la respuesta divina?: Me he reservado siete mil hombres que no han doblado la rodilla a Baal(H). Y[c] de la misma manera, también ha quedado[d] en el tiempo presente un remanente(I) conforme a la elección de la gracia de Dios. Pero si es por gracia, ya no es a base de obras(J), de otra manera la gracia ya no es gracia. [e]Y si por obras, ya no es gracia; de otra manera la obra ya no es obra. Entonces ¿qué? Aquello que Israel busca(K) no lo ha alcanzado, pero los que fueron escogidos lo alcanzaron[f] y los demás fueron endurecidos(L); tal como está escrito:

Dios les dio un espíritu de estupor, ojos con que no ven y oídos con que no oyen, hasta el día de hoy(M).

Y David dice:

Su banquete[g] se convierta en lazo y en trampa,
y en piedra de tropiezo y en retribución para ellos(N).
10 Oscurézcanse sus ojos para que no puedan ver,
y dobla sus espaldas para siempre(O).

La salvación de los gentiles

11 Digo entonces(P): ¿Acaso tropezaron para caer? ¡De ningún modo(Q)! Pero por su transgresión ha venido la salvación a los gentiles(R), para causarles celos(S). 12 Y si su transgresión es riqueza para el mundo, y su fracaso es riqueza para los gentiles, ¡cuánto más será su plenitud(T)! 13 Pero a vosotros hablo, gentiles. Entonces, puesto que yo soy apóstol de los gentiles(U), honro mi ministerio, 14 si en alguna manera puedo causar celos(V) a mis compatriotas[h](W) y salvar a algunos de ellos(X). 15 Porque si el excluirlos a ellos es la reconciliación(Y) del mundo, ¿qué será su admisión, sino vida de entre los muertos(Z)? 16 Y si el primer pedazo de masa(AA) es santo, también lo es toda la masa; y si la raíz es santa, también lo son las ramas. 17 Pero si algunas de las ramas fueron desgajadas, y tú, siendo un olivo silvestre(AB), fuiste injertado entre ellas y fuiste hecho participante con ellas de la rica savia de la raíz[i] del olivo, 18 no seas arrogante para con las ramas; pero si eres arrogante, recuerda que tú no eres el que sustenta la raíz, sino que la raíz es la que te sustenta a ti(AC). 19 Dirás entonces(AD): Las ramas fueron desgajadas para que yo fuera injertado. 20 Muy cierto; fueron desgajadas por su incredulidad, pero tú por la fe te mantienes firme[j](AE). No seas altanero(AF), sino teme; 21 porque si Dios no perdonó a las ramas naturales, tampoco a ti te perdonará. 22 Mira, pues, la bondad y la severidad de Dios; severidad para con los que cayeron, pero para ti, bondad de Dios(AG) si permaneces en su bondad(AH); de lo contrario también tú serás cortado(AI). 23 Y también ellos, si no permanecen en su incredulidad(AJ), serán injertados, pues poderoso es Dios para injertarlos de nuevo. 24 Porque si tú fuiste cortado de lo que por naturaleza es un olivo silvestre, y contra lo que es natural fuiste injertado en un olivo cultivado, ¿cuánto más estos, que son las ramas naturales, serán injertados en su propio olivo?

La salvación de Israel al fin de los tiempos

25 Porque no quiero, hermanos, que ignoréis(AK) este misterio(AL), para que no seáis sabios en vuestra propia opinión(AM): que a Israel le ha acontecido un endurecimiento parcial(AN) hasta que haya entrado la plenitud de los gentiles(AO); 26 y así, todo Israel será salvo; tal como está escrito:

El Libertador vendrá de Sión;
apartará la impiedad de Jacob(AP).
27 Y este es mi pacto[k] con ellos(AQ),
cuando yo quite sus pecados(AR).

28 En cuanto al evangelio[l], son enemigos(AS) por causa de vosotros; pero en cuanto a la elección[m] de Dios, son amados por causa de los padres(AT); 29 porque los dones y el llamamiento de Dios(AU) son irrevocables(AV). 30 Pues así como vosotros en otro tiempo fuisteis desobedientes a Dios, pero ahora se os ha mostrado misericordia por razón de la desobediencia de ellos, 31 así también ahora estos han sido desobedientes, para que por la misericordia mostrada a vosotros, también a ellos ahora les sea mostrada misericordia. 32 Porque Dios ha encerrado a todos en desobediencia para mostrar misericordia a todos(AW).

La insondable sabiduría de Dios

33 ¡Oh, profundidad de las riquezas(AX) y de la sabiduría y del conocimiento de Dios(AY)! ¡Cuán insondables son sus juicios e inescrutables sus caminos(AZ)! 34 Pues, ¿quién ha conocido la mente del Señor?, ¿o quién llego a ser su consejero(BA)?, 35 ¿o quién le ha dado a Él primero para que se le tenga que recompensar[n](BB)? 36 Porque de Él, por Él y para Él son todas las cosas(BC). A Él sea la gloria para siempre(BD). Amén.

Footnotes

  1. Romanos 11:1 Lit., de la simiente
  2. Romanos 11:3 Lit., y buscan
  3. Romanos 11:5 Lit., Pues
  4. Romanos 11:5 O, ha llegado a haber
  5. Romanos 11:6 Muchos mss. antiguos no incluyen el resto del vers.
  6. Romanos 11:7 Lit., pero la elección lo alcanzó
  7. Romanos 11:9 O, mesa
  8. Romanos 11:14 Lit., los de mi carne; i.e., israelitas
  9. Romanos 11:17 Lit., raíz de la grosura
  10. Romanos 11:20 Lit., estás en pie
  11. Romanos 11:27 Lit., el pacto de mi parte
  12. Romanos 11:28 Lit., Según el evangelio
  13. Romanos 11:28 Lit., según la elección
  14. Romanos 11:35 Lit., y se le recompensará

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.

22 Consider therefore the kindness(AG) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(AH) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(AI) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(AJ) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(AK) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant(AL) of this mystery,(AM) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:(AN) Israel has experienced a hardening(AO) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,(AP) 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved.(AQ) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[g](AR)

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(AS) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(AT) 29 for God’s gifts and his call(AU) are irrevocable.(AV) 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient(AW) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience(AX) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches(AY) of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God!(AZ)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!(BA)
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”[j](BB)
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”[k](BC)
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.(BD)
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.(BE)

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
  5. Romans 11:26 Or and so
  6. Romans 11:27 Or will be
  7. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34
  8. Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now.
  9. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
  10. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13
  11. Romans 11:35 Job 41:11