Romans 10 20

Romans 10:20 kjv

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

Romans 10:20 nkjv

But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me."

Romans 10:20 niv

And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."

Romans 10:20 esv

Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."

Romans 10:20 nlt

And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, "I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me."

Romans 10 verses

Romans 10 20 Meaning

Romans 10:20 signifies God's sovereign and unprompted revelation of Himself and His salvation to the Gentiles. Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah to underscore that God intended to be found by those who were not actively seeking Him, demonstrating His mercy extends beyond those who presumed a special right to salvation through the law or heritage. This verse highlights God's initiative in drawing people to Himself, particularly contrasting with Israel's failure to respond despite having the law and prophets.

Romans 10 20 Context

Romans 10:20 stands within Paul's extensive discourse in Romans 9-11 concerning God's faithfulness to Israel despite their widespread unbelief, and the inclusion of the Gentiles. In chapter 10, Paul expresses his deep desire for Israel's salvation, highlighting their pursuit of righteousness through law-keeping rather than faith (v. 3). He argues that salvation is available to "everyone who believes" (v. 4, 11-13). After establishing that faith comes by hearing the preached word (v. 14-17), Paul raises a rhetorical question: "But have they not heard?" (v. 18). He concludes that they have heard, yet did not obey. This leads to the pivotal questions in verses 19-21: "Did Israel not know?" and "Isaiah is very bold." Verse 20 directly answers by quoting Isaiah 65:1, illustrating that God was indeed revealing Himself, but to those previously considered outsiders (the Gentiles), thus underlining Israel's failure to respond even as the message went to others. The surrounding verses in Isaiah 65 (especially v. 2, not quoted here, "All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people...") highlight God's long-suffering appeal to Israel, further intensifying the contrast. Paul's use of Isaiah here provides a strong prophetic backing for the dramatic shift of God's saving work from exclusive focus on Israel to the broader inclusion of Gentiles, while also gently indicting Israel for their unbelief.

Romans 10 20 Word analysis

• And: de (δὲ) - A connective particle, often translated "but" or "and." Here, it marks a transition, introducing a further proof from Isaiah that supports Paul's argument about Israel's knowledge and response (or lack thereof).
• Isaiah: Hēsaias (Ἠσαΐας) - The Greek name for the prophet Isaiah. Paul cites his prophetic authority. His prophecies are frequently used by Paul to support his theological arguments, establishing continuity between Old Testament promises and New Testament realities.
• is very bold: apotolma (ἀποτολμᾷ) - This Greek verb means "to dare completely," "to be very daring or courageous," "to speak out unhesitatingly." Paul uses this strong term to emphasize the audacious and direct nature of Isaiah's prophecy. It suggests that Isaiah spoke with prophetic conviction, without fear of human disapproval, addressing a truth that would challenge the prevalent understanding of God's exclusive covenant with Israel. This term indicates the prophetic utterance was startling or counter-cultural in its original context.
• and says: kai legei (καὶ λέγει) - Introduces the direct quotation.
• ‘I was found: Heurethēn (Εὑρέθην) - The Greek aorist passive indicative, meaning "I was found" or "I have been discovered." The passive voice is crucial: it signifies God as the subject who is being found, but the action of being found originates from Him, not from the seekers. This highlights God's divine initiative in revelation, rather than human effort. It speaks to a sovereign act of grace.
• by those who did not seek me: tois eme mē zētousin (τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ζητοῦσιν) - Literally "to those Me not seeking." This refers to the Gentiles, who were outside the covenant and not actively pursuing the God of Israel. Their lack of seeking emphasizes the unmerited nature of God's revelation to them.
• I became manifest: Emphanēs egenēthēn (Ἐμφανὴς ἐγενήθην) - This phrase means "I became evident," "I appeared clearly," or "I was made visible." Emphanēs (manifest) speaks of clear visibility, while egenēthēn (became) denotes a historical, definite event. This reinforces the proactive and undeniable nature of God's self-revelation. It implies that God clearly revealed Himself to those who had no prior connection or expectation.
• to those who did not ask for me: tois eme mē eperōtōsin (τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ἐπερωτῶσιν) - Literally "to those Me not asking" or "not inquiring." Similar to "did not seek," this emphasizes their spiritual apathy or unawareness of the true God. The parallelism with the previous phrase intensifies the point that God chose to reveal Himself to the spiritually disengaged, which refers to the Gentiles who previously worshipped other gods or lived outside the knowledge of the one true God.

Romans 10 20 Bonus section

The selection of Isaiah 65:1, when followed immediately in the original context by Isaiah 65:2 ("I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people"), subtly reinforces Paul's full argument in Romans 9-11. While Romans 10:20 highlights God's reception of the Gentiles who didn't seek Him, the unquoted Isaiah 65:2 underscores God's persistent efforts to reach Israel, who, despite being actively pursued, remained disobedient. This strategic truncation by Paul allows him to focus on the grace shown to the Gentiles in verse 20, but the astute Jewish reader (or Paul's contemporary audience) would likely recall the full passage, thus implicitly completing the picture of Israel's rejection. This juxtaposition highlights divine justice and sovereignty: mercy extended where it was not sought (Gentiles) and grace spurned where it was diligently offered (Israel).

Romans 10 20 Commentary

Romans 10:20 provides a foundational biblical argument for the inclusion of the Gentiles into God's salvific plan, asserting it is not a New Testament innovation but a deeply rooted prophetic truth from Isaiah. Paul’s use of "Isaiah is very bold" emphasizes the striking nature of this prophecy; it was audacious for its original context as it presented God extending salvation beyond Israel's boundaries. The verse highlights God’s sovereign initiative, particularly through the phrases "I was found" and "I became manifest." The passive voice and declarative nature demonstrate that God unilaterally makes Himself known to those who previously made no effort to find or inquire about Him. This refers primarily to the Gentiles, illustrating divine grace freely given, not earned by human pursuit. The phrase "did not seek me" and "did not ask for me" profoundly contrasts with Israel's privileged position and continuous prophetic engagement, subtly highlighting their failure to embrace the Messiah despite having been sought after. This prophecy not only explains why Gentiles are receiving salvation but also stands as a gentle yet firm rebuke to Jewish believers who might question God's methods, showing God's overarching plan for all humanity has always included those who seemingly had no claim on Him.