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 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 65:1-2 | God speaks of extending His hand to a rebellious people who continually offend Him. | Direct fulfillment of rejection |
| Rom 9:30-33 | Israel pursued righteousness by works, not by faith, stumbling over Christ. | Explanation of the rejection |
| John 1:11 | Jesus came to His own, but His own people did not receive Him. | Non-reception of Christ |
| Matt 15:8 | Quoting Isaiah, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their lip service but hearts far from God. | Israel's spiritual blindness |
| Luke 11:46 | Jesus condemns the religious leaders for laying heavy burdens but not helping carry them. | Burden of the law without faith |
| Acts 7:51 | Stephen confronts the religious leaders with their resistance to the Holy Spirit and ancestors' pattern. | Repeated rejection of God's messengers |
| Deut 4:29 | Seeking God with all the heart and soul leads to finding Him. | Condition for finding God |
| Jer 29:13 | You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. | Seeking God with sincerity |
| John 7:17 | If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching has its origin with God. | Doing God's will to discern truth |
| Prov 1:28-29 | Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me. | Consequence of not seeking knowledge |
| Ps 18:41 | They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord—but he did not answer them. | God not answering unfaithfulness |
| Prov 28:9 | Whoever turns away his ear from hearing instruction will make even his prayer an abomination. | Prayer without obedience |
| Matt 7:7-8 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. | General promise to the faithful |
| Matt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father. | True discipleship |
| 1 John 3:21-22 | If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask. | Confidence and answered prayer |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. | Necessity of faith in seeking |
| Mark 11:24 | Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. | Faith in prayer |
| 1 Peter 3:12 | For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. | God's response to the righteous |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love. | Faith's active nature |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Christ as the exclusive way to God |
Romans 10 verses
Romans 10 21 Meaning
The verse states that Israel, despite continually reaching out towards God, has not been heard. This is presented as a direct consequence of their lack of faith in God's appointed Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Romans 10 21 Context
This verse concludes the argument Paul is making in Romans chapter 10 about Israel's rejection of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The preceding verses describe the outstretched hand of God and the nation's continuous disregard for Him. The chapter contrasts the simplicity of receiving righteousness through faith in Christ with the complex system of works derived from the Law, which Israel pursued instead. This pursuit led them to stumble over the "stumbling stone," which is Christ, failing to recognize Him as the fulfillment of the Law and the ultimate object of faith. Paul's focus is on the historical and ongoing reality of Israel's hardened hearts, despite their outward religiosity.
Romans 10 21 Word Analysis
- "But" (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, contrasting the previous description with the reality of their situation.
- "Israel" (Ἰσραὴλ - Israel): Refers to the chosen people of God, the descendants of Jacob, encompassing both the historical nation and those who are true Israelites in faith.
- "stretched out" (ἐξεπέτασεν - exepeptasen): From ἐκπετάω (ekpetáō), meaning "to spread out" or "stretch out." This signifies a continuous and earnest offering or extension of oneself.
- "its hands" (τὰς χεῖρας - tas cheiras): Refers to hands in a way that symbolizes active outreach, entreaty, or reception. It personifies Israel's continuous efforts.
- "all the day" (ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν - holēn tēn hēmeran): Indicates a consistent, unceasing action throughout the entire period, emphasizing persistence in their endeavors.
- "disobedient" (ἀπειθοῦντα - apeithounta): From ἀπειθέω (apeitheō), meaning "to be disobedient," "not persuade," or "disobey." It describes a deliberate refusal to yield to persuasion or commands. It's a participle describing Israel's characteristic behavior.
Romans 10 21 Bonus Section
The imagery of stretching out hands signifies active pursuit or reaching, yet when directed by a disobedient heart, it becomes futile. This is a recurring theme in scripture, where outward actions are rendered meaningless without an obedient and faithful inward disposition. The "disobedient" (ἀπειθοῦντα) here implies not just a failure to obey commands but a willful resistance to the divine will concerning His Son. This echoes God's lament in Isaiah 65:2 where He says, "I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people." Paul clearly draws from this Old Testament passage to underscore Israel's persistent rejection.
Romans 10 21 Commentary
Israel persistently reached out to God with their religious efforts and obedience to the Law. However, their approach was marked by a fundamental disobedience – the refusal to accept God's Son, Jesus Christ. This ongoing "stretching out of hands" was not a posture of humble submission but one of self-sufficiency and pride, failing to recognize that true access to God is exclusively through faith in Christ. Their sincere desire for God, though perhaps present in some individuals, was ultimately misdirected because it was not centered on the divinely appointed Savior. This highlights the critical difference between performing religious duties and possessing genuine faith.