ROM 11:1-10

A Remnant Chosen by Grace

1I ask then: did God cast off His people? Never would it be! For I myself am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. [11:2] God did not cast off His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying: [11:3] "Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone was left, and they are seeking my life." [11:4] But what does the divine answer say to him? "I have left to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." [11:5] Thus then also in the present time a remnant according to the election of grace has come to be. [11:6] If now by grace, no longer from works — otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if from works, it is no longer grace — otherwise the work is no longer work. [11:7] What then? What Israel is seeking, this it has not obtained — but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened, [11:8] even as it has been written: "God gave to them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to see and ears not to hear, unto this very day." [11:9] And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution to them; [11:10] let their eyes be darkened so as not to see, and their backs bent over for all time."

In the world it was spoken into

In Romans 11:1-10, Paul addresses Jewish and Gentile listeners in Rome, grappling with the tension between God’s covenant faithfulness and the apparent rejection of Israel. For Jewish listeners, Paul’s assertion that God has not rejected His people would resonate deeply, as it affirms God’s enduring commitment to Israel despite widespread unbelief. The mention of Elijah and the remnant of 7,000 who did not bow to Baal (1 Kings 19:18) underscores this continuity, evoking the prophetic tradition of a faithful minority preserved by God. Gentile listeners, unfamiliar with Jewish covenantal theology, would hear Paul’s emphasis on divine foreknowledge and grace as a challenge to any sense of superiority. The term (divine oracle) highlights the sacred authority behind this remnant theology, while (spiritual stupor) reflects the Jewish understanding of divine judgment as a hardening of hearts, a theme present in Isaiah 6:9-10. Paul’s argument hinges on God’s sovereign choice, a concept familiar to both Jewish and Greco-Roman audiences, though interpreted differently.

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How other translations render this

ROM 11:1

KJV: I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
BSB: I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Koinōnos: I ask then: did God cast off His people? Never would it be! For I myself am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

ROM 11:2

KJV: God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
BSB: God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
Koinōnos: God did not cast off His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying:

ROM 11:3

KJV: Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
BSB: “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?
Koinōnos: Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone was left, and they are seeking my life.

ROM 11:4

KJV: But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
BSB: And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Koinōnos: But what does the divine answer say to him? "I have left to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

ROM 11:5

KJV: Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
BSB: In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Koinōnos: Thus then also in the present time a remnant according to the election of grace has come to be.

ROM 11:6

KJV: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
BSB: And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
Koinōnos: If now by grace, no longer from works — otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if from works, it is no longer grace — otherwise the work is no longer work.

ROM 11:7

KJV: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
BSB: What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
Koinōnos: What then? What Israel is seeking, this it has not obtained — but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened,

ROM 11:8

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.
BSB: 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.”
Koinōnos: even as it has been written: "God gave to them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to see and ears not to hear, unto this very day.

ROM 11:9

KJV: And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
BSB: And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
Koinōnos: And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution to them;

ROM 11:10

KJV: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
BSB: May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”
Koinōnos: let their eyes be darkened so as not to see, and their backs bent over for all time.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ROM 11:1

did reject:The word translated 'did reject' implies a decisive and permanent act of casting off or repudiating, suggesting a complete severance of relationship or favor.

ROM 11:2

He foreknew.:The phrase 'He foreknew' carries the sense of knowing or choosing in advance, often implying a pre-determined relationship or purpose rather than just intellectual foresight.

ROM 11:4

divine answer?:The term translated 'divine answer' refers to an oracle or a divine communication, often a formal pronouncement from God, rather than a simple reply to a question.

ROM 11:8

of stupor,:The word translated 'of stupor' describes a state of spiritual dullness or insensitivity, a numbing of the senses that prevents understanding or responsiveness.