Romans 10 21

Romans 10:21 kjv

But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans 10:21 nkjv

But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people."

Romans 10:21 niv

But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."

Romans 10:21 esv

But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

Romans 10:21 nlt

But regarding Israel, God said, "All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious."

Romans 10 verses

Romans 10 21 Meaning

Romans 10:21 is a poignant expression of God's persistent and compassionate appeal to Israel throughout its history, lamenting their consistent and active rejection of His overtures. It conveys a deep divine sorrow over the unresponsiveness and hard-heartedness of His chosen people, despite His unwavering patience and gracious invitation extended to them continuously.

Romans 10 21 Context

Romans 10:21 concludes a passage (Romans 9-11) where Paul addresses the pressing question of Israel's status within God's redemptive plan, particularly in light of their widespread rejection of Jesus as Messiah. In chapter 10, Paul expresses his deep yearning for Israel's salvation (Rom 10:1) and explains that they have stumbled because they pursued righteousness through law-keeping rather than by faith in Christ (Rom 10:2-4). He emphasizes that the gospel message has been universally proclaimed and is accessible to all who believe, both Jew and Gentile (Rom 10:8-13, 17-18). Before verse 21, Paul explicitly contrasts Gentile receptiveness to the gospel with Israel's unresponsiveness by quoting Isaiah 65:1 (Rom 10:20), which speaks of God being found by those who did not seek Him (interpreted as the Gentiles). Immediately following this, he presents verse 21, quoting Isaiah 65:2, to explain why Israel did not receive this righteousness by faith: not because God neglected them, but because they continually resisted His invitations.

Historically, this passage reflects the reality of the early church, where many Gentiles embraced Christianity while a significant portion of the Jewish population rejected it. Paul, a Jew himself, wrestled with this theological dilemma, reaffirming God's faithfulness despite Israel's current state, while also holding Israel accountable for their choices.

Romans 10 21 Word analysis

• πρὸς δὲ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ (pros de ton Israēl) - "But to Israel" or "But concerning Israel." The "δὲ" (de) serves as a contrast or transition from the previous thought (God being found by Gentiles, Rom 10:20). It shifts the focus specifically to Israel, marking a distinction between their response and that of the Gentiles.
• λέγει (legei) - "he says." This present tense verb indicates that the source (God speaking through Isaiah) continues to speak, or that this statement is timeless truth. It emphasizes that Paul is not offering his personal opinion but presenting God's own lament from Scripture.
• Ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν (Holēn tēn hēmeran) - "All day long" or "the whole day." This phrase denotes continuity, duration, and persistence. It signifies that God's outreach to Israel was not a momentary or sporadic event but an ongoing, relentless effort, spanning their entire history.
• ἐξεπέτασα (exepetasa) - "I have held out," "I have stretched out," or "I have spread out." This verb paints a vivid image of open, welcoming hands. It can signify an invitation, an appeal for reconciliation, an act of embrace, or even a gesture of lament or yearning. The aorist tense implies a past action with continuing relevance.
• τὰς χεῖράς μου (tas cheiras mou) - "My hands." These are God's own hands, highlighting divine personal involvement and deep desire. The outstretched hands are a metaphor for God's gracious and open offer of relationship and salvation.
• πρὸς λαὸν (pros laon) - "to a people." This term, "λαὸν" (laon), refers specifically to "God's people," the nation of Israel, affirming their unique, covenantal identity even in their unresponsiveness.
• ἀπειθοῦντα (apeithounta) - "disobedient" or "unbelieving." This is a present participle, signifying an ongoing state. It means to be unpersuadable, to refuse belief or obedience. It captures Israel's inward disposition of stubborn rejection. This word often carries the dual sense of disobedience and unbelief, as in the biblical worldview, unbelief in God's word often leads to disobedience.
• καὶ (kai) - "and." This conjunction links two reinforcing descriptions of Israel's persistent negative response.
• ἀντιλέγοντα (antilegonta) - "obstinate" or "gainsaying" or "contradicting." Also a present participle, indicating an active and continuous state. This term suggests not merely passive refusal (ἀπειθοῦντα) but an active speaking against, contradicting, or resisting. It conveys open defiance and resistance to God's will and message.

Romans 10 21 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Romans 10:21 lies in Paul's strategic use of Israel's own Scriptures. By quoting Isaiah, he demonstrates that Israel's rejection of Christ aligns with historical patterns of their relationship with God and prophetic forewarning, making his argument more difficult for Jewish audiences to dismiss. This highlights Paul's consistent method throughout Romans 9-11: appealing to the Hebrew Bible to interpret the unfolding events of salvation history. The two terms "disobedient" and "obstinate" complement each other to convey the full scope of Israel's rebellion. "Disobedient" points to an internal lack of persuasion or faith leading to disobedience, while "obstinate" suggests an external, active contradiction or defiance, signifying an entrenched and multifaceted resistance to God's call.

Romans 10 21 Commentary

Romans 10:21 serves as a profound summary of God's interaction with Israel, highlighting divine love, patience, and persistent outreach set against human rebellion and unresponsiveness. Quoting Isaiah 65:2, Paul attributes Israel's current partial hardening not to divine oversight or neglect, but to their long history of being a "disobedient and obstinate people." This verse carries immense pathos, as God's tireless gesture of "holding out His hands" for "all day long" – symbolizing continuous grace and invitation – has been met with persistent "unbelief" (ἀπειθοῦντα) and "active opposition" (ἀντιλέγοντα). It underscores the sovereign choice and free will of humanity, emphasizing that even in the face of limitless divine compassion, rejection is possible. Despite this historical pattern, this lament also sets the stage for Paul's assurance in Rom 11 that God has not permanently abandoned His people, foreshadowing a future restoration.