Romans 11:25 kjv
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Romans 11:25 nkjv
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:25 niv
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,
Romans 11:25 esv
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:25 nlt
I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
Romans 11 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 11:25 | "...a hardening in part has happened to Israel..." | Gen 6:3 (stubbornness of heart); Deut 29:4 (spirit of stupor) |
| Romans 11:25 | "...until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in." | Luke 21:24 (Jerusalem trodden down until times of Gentiles are fulfilled) |
| Romans 11:25 | "And so all Israel will be saved..." | Isa 59:20 (a Redeemer will come to Zion for those in Jacob) |
| Romans 11:26 | "As it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion...'" | Psa 14:7; Psa 53:7 (from Zion); Isa 27:9 (for this is My covenant) |
| Romans 11:26 | "...He will remove ungodliness from Jacob." | Jer 31:34 (forgive their iniquity); Mic 7:19 (cast sins into depths) |
| Romans 9:27-28 | "Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, 'Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.'" | Isa 10:22-23 (fulfillment of prophecy) |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | Great Commission, initial gospel spread. |
| John 12:40 | "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them.” | Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. |
| 2 Cor 3:14 | "But their minds were hardened. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because it is taken away in Christ." | Continued spiritual blindness over Old Covenant writings. |
| Acts 28:26-27 | "saying, ‘Go, say to this people: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For your hearts have become terribly insensitive, And their ears are dull of hearing, And they have closed their eyes, Lest at any time they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And should understand with their hearts, And then should be converted, and I should heal them.’”" | Direct quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10, applied to Israel's rejection of Paul. |
| Romans 1:18-32 | Discussion of God's wrath against sin, including ungodliness. | |
| Romans 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" | Universal sinfulness. |
| Romans 11:32 | "For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." | God's overarching plan of mercy. |
| Acts 13:46 | "Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”" | Paul's ministry shift due to rejection by some Jews. |
| Romans 9:1-33 | Explanation of God's sovereign choice in election, including Israel's partial hardening. | The theological framework for the verse. |
| Romans 11:17 | "And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree..." | Gentiles being grafted into God's olive tree. |
| Ephesians 2:11-22 | Gentiles who were strangers to Israel are now fellow citizens and part of God's household. | Unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ. |
| Revelation 7:9-10 | A great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue worshipping God. | The ultimate fulfillment of salvation across all nations. |
| Jeremiah 30:10 | "‘For I am with you to save you,’ says the Lord, ‘Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, I will not make a full end of you. But I will correct you in measure, And will not let you go unpunished.’" | God's promise of future restoration for Israel. |
| Zechariah 12:10 | "“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and in bitterness for Him as oneSuppose someone mourns for a firstborn." | Prophecy of Israel's future repentance and recognition of Christ. |
| Matthew 10:22 | "“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”" | The reality of persecution for believers, including Jewish believers. |
Romans 11 verses
Romans 11 25 Meaning
This verse explains that a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. This is a divinely permitted blindness affecting a portion of the Jewish people, preventing them from fully grasping the Gospel of Christ, which will continue until God's plan for Gentile salvation is completed.
Romans 11 25 Context
Romans chapter 11 addresses the question of Israel's place in God's redemptive plan, particularly in light of their widespread rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. The preceding verses discuss how some Israelites stumbled and fell, leading to salvation for the Gentiles. However, Paul strongly cautions the Gentile believers against arrogance, reminding them that they stand by faith and are grafted into the cultivated olive tree (representing God's people) of which the true root is Christ. The chapter culminates in a profound statement of hope for Israel's eventual salvation, contingent on the fullness of Gentile inclusion. This verse serves as a critical explanatory link, detailing the reason for Israel's current spiritual condition and the timeframe for their ultimate restoration. The immediate historical context is the period following the ascension of Jesus, where the gospel was presented to Israel, but many rejected it, leading to diaspora and a hardened heart among many.
Romans 11 25 Word Analysis
de ( δὲ): "but," "and." A conjunctive particle, indicating a continuation of the argument, a contrast, or an amplification. Here, it signifies a transition, linking the discussion of Gentile salvation to Israel's present state.
aeos (αἰῶνος): "age," "eternity," "world." Refers to a period of time or an epoch.
plērōma (πλήρωμα): "fullness," "completion." This significant word implies not merely a numerical totality but the full complement or intended scope. It's used in Ephesians 1:23 for Christ filling all in all, and in Colossians 1:19 for the fullness of God dwelling in Christ.
tōn (τῶν): The definite article "the" (genitive plural), showing possession or relationship.
ethne (ἐθνῶν): "nations," "Gentiles." In the New Testament, it often refers to non-Israelites.
eiselthē (εἰσέλθῃ): "comes in," "enters." From eiserchomai, meaning to enter into, come in. The subjunctive mood indicates a potential future event.
group: "until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in" (ἄχρις οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ - achris hou to plērōma tōn ethnōn eiselthē): This phrase encapsulates a key element of God's salvific timeline. It points to a designated period or a complete number of non-Jews who will believe in Christ, after which a significant turn will occur for Israel. The "fullness" suggests the completion of God's program for Gentile salvation, not necessarily the conversion of every single Gentile, but reaching the prophesied extent of Gentile inclusion in God's kingdom. This aligns with passages like Luke 21:24 where the "times of the Gentiles" are mentioned in relation to Jerusalem being trampled underfoot.
Romans 11 25 Bonus Section
The concept of Israel's partial, temporary hardening is not presented as a punishment without a purpose, but rather as a means to fulfill a larger redemptive plan, ultimately leading to mercy for all (Romans 11:32). This doctrine of God's sovereignty in history underscores His ability to use even rejection and hardness of heart to bring about His ultimate purposes, including the salvation of both Gentiles and the remnant of Israel. It highlights the intricate working of God's grace and justice throughout salvation history. The "all Israel" that will be saved includes those from Abraham's line who have believed throughout history and will believe in the future.
Romans 11 25 Commentary
Paul is clarifying the ongoing national rejection of Jesus by many in Israel. This is not a permanent state of condemnation for all Israel, but a temporary blindness for a portion of the nation. This hardening is a divinely permitted allowance that continues until God's specific plan for the Gentile nations is fully realized, meaning until the full number of Gentiles chosen for salvation have entered into faith in Christ. Following this, Paul reveals a profound future truth: "and so all Israel will be saved." This implies a future collective turning of Israel to Christ. The ultimate salvation of "all Israel" should be understood in the context of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendants. This does not negate individual responsibility or judgment but points to a corporate national salvation after the completion of the Gentile age. The imagery is that of God controlling the pace and extent of both Gentile inclusion and Israel's national response.