Romans 11 26

Romans 11:26 kjv

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Romans 11:26 nkjv

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

Romans 11:26 niv

and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

Romans 11:26 esv

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";

Romans 11:26 nlt

And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, "The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.

Romans 11 verses

Romans 11 26 Meaning

Romans 11:26 declares a future salvation for the nation of Israel. It states that "all Israel" will be saved through the redemptive work of the "Deliverer" (the Messiah), who will come from Zion to remove ungodliness from the descendants of Jacob. This verse indicates a definitive future event in God's redemptive plan, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy regarding Israel's spiritual restoration and national turning to Christ. It implies that following the full inclusion of Gentiles into the Church, there will be a divinely orchestrated, widespread salvation among the Jewish people, cleansing them spiritually from sin.

Romans 11 26 Context

Romans 11:26 concludes a three-chapter discourse (Romans 9-11) where Paul addresses God's continuing plan for Israel. Following the introduction in chapters 1-8 about the Gospel's power and justification by faith, Paul tackles the perplexing question of Israel's current unbelief and rejection of the Messiah, which might seem to contradict God's promises.

Chapter 11 specifically argues against the idea that God has completely rejected His people (Rom 11:1-2) or that the Gentile church has replaced Israel. Paul uses the analogy of an olive tree (Rom 11:16-24), showing that Gentile believers are wild branches grafted into Israel's cultivated olive tree, while unbelieving Jewish branches were broken off. He warns Gentiles not to be arrogant, as God is able to graft the natural branches (Israel) back in. Verse 25 then introduces a "mystery": a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Romans 11:26 directly follows this, explaining how this divine sequence culminates, asserting that "and so all Israel will be saved," revealing the glorious end of this mystery. The verse highlights God's faithfulness to His ancient covenants and His ultimate plan for both Jews and Gentiles within salvation history.

Romans 11 26 Word analysis

• And so (καὶ οὕτως - kai houtōs): This phrase indicates a consequential connection or "in this manner" rather than a mere temporal sequence. It means "in this way" or "consequently." It connects Israel's future salvation directly to the "fullness of the Gentiles" coming in (Rom 11:25). It is not just "then," but "thus," suggesting a divine ordering of events.

• all Israel (πᾶς Ἰσραήλ - pas Israēl): This is a critical theological phrase. "All" signifies the nation of Israel as a corporate entity, suggesting a national, collective turning to God rather than necessarily every single Jewish individual throughout history or every Jew alive. It represents a spiritual restoration of the nation as a whole, when the hardened heart (Rom 11:7-8, 25) is removed, and they acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. This implies a large body or majority within the nation. "Israel" here refers to the ethnic descendants of Jacob.

• will be saved (σωθήσεται - sōthēsetai): Future passive indicative, a divine act. This is not mere physical preservation but spiritual salvation – deliverance from sin and eternal condemnation through faith in Jesus Christ, just as Gentiles are saved. It speaks of a future spiritual transformation for Israel.

• as it is written (καθὼς γέγραπται - kathōs gegraptai): Perfect passive indicative. "As it stands written," emphasizes the enduring authority and certainty of the prophetic word. It signals that this future salvation is not Paul's new idea but a fulfillment of God's revealed plan in the Old Testament. Paul draws upon a combined quote/paraphrase primarily from Isaiah 59:20-21 (LXX) and potentially incorporating elements of Isaiah 27:9 and Jeremiah 31:31-34.

• The Deliverer (ὁ ῥυόμενος - ho rhuomenos): A substantive participle, "the one who delivers" or "the Rescuer." This is a clear Messianic title, referring to Jesus Christ, the promised redeemer who alone can provide salvation from sin. It echoes the title used for God Himself in the Old Testament.

• will come (ἥξει - hēksei): Future active indicative. This signifies a future arrival or appearance of the Deliverer. While Christ came once in humility, this arrival speaks of His second coming, His glorious return to exercise His role as redeemer and judge.

• from Zion (ἐκ Σιών - ek Siōn): This specifies the origin or direction of the Deliverer's redemptive work or appearance. Zion often refers to Jerusalem, the city of David, or metaphorically, to God's heavenly dwelling and the spiritual center of His activity. It points to a locus of divine action from where salvation emanates or is fulfilled.

• He will banish (ἀφελέσθαι - aphelésthai): From aphaireō, meaning "to take away," "remove," "cut off." This describes a decisive action by the Deliverer to eliminate or set aside. It is an act of purification.

• ungodliness (ἀσεβείας - asebeias): This refers to impiety, irreverence, wickedness, or active hostility toward God. It encapsulates sin and rebellion against divine law. The removal of ungodliness implies a profound spiritual transformation and moral cleansing.

• from Jacob (ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ - apo Iakōb): "Jacob" is an older, often more intimate name for Israel, here interchangeable with "Israel," reinforcing the national scope. It signifies the people as an ethnic and national entity. The banishing of ungodliness is a direct spiritual purification of this people group.

• "And so all Israel will be saved": This phrase expresses the certain culmination of God's redemptive plan, linking the preceding 'fullness of Gentiles' as a precursor or mechanism for Israel's widespread future conversion. It asserts the ultimate triumph of God's covenant promises to His people.

• "as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion...'": This declaration undergirds the entire statement with divine authority, drawing from the prophetic traditions of the Old Testament. It grounds Israel's future salvation in the foretold work of their Messiah, specifically tying it to a return from Zion, the place of God's dwelling and source of salvation.

• "He will banish ungodliness from Jacob": This clause describes the specific nature of Israel's salvation—not merely political or physical deliverance, but a profound spiritual purging and moral transformation, a fulfillment of the New Covenant's promise of an inward heart change for the nation of Israel.

Romans 11 26 Bonus section

• Relationship to New Covenant: The "banishing of ungodliness" from Jacob (Israel) directly echoes the promises of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:26-27), where God's law would be written on hearts, and their sins remembered no more. This suggests that the salvation of "all Israel" involves their entry into this covenant relationship through Christ.
• Paul's Quote (LXX Influence): Paul's citation in Rom 11:26-27 is a dynamic paraphrase combining elements primarily from the Septuagint (LXX) version of Isaiah 59:20-21 ("The Redeemer will come to Zion...and turn away ungodliness from Jacob") and Isaiah 27:9 ("...he will cleanse away his iniquity"). This highlights how Paul interpreted Old Testament prophecies through a Christ-centered lens and applied them to Israel's future. The blending of prophecies underscores the multi-faceted nature of God's promise.
• Contrast with Gentile Arrogance: This entire section (Romans 9-11) strongly pushes back against Gentile triumphalism, reminding believers from the nations that God still has a plan for Israel and their salvation will bring even greater blessings. This serves as a vital lesson in humility and recognition of God's complex and sovereign ways.

Romans 11 26 Commentary

Romans 11:26 presents a pivotal truth in Paul's theology: the future national salvation of Israel. It serves as a strong counter-narrative to any notion that God has permanently discarded His chosen people. The "And so" links this outcome to the preceding "fullness of the Gentiles," indicating a specific, divinely ordained sequence in salvation history. Once Gentile inclusion reaches its predetermined measure, God will turn His redemptive focus to Israel, resulting in widespread belief.

"All Israel" refers to a significant, collective turning of the nation of Israel to Christ, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His unconditional covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This salvation is not an exemption from faith but a genuine spiritual conversion, mirrored by the Deliverer's promise to "banish ungodliness from Jacob." This transformation echoes Old Testament prophecies about a New Covenant, where God would remove the stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh, writing His laws on their hearts (Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:26-27).

The identity of "The Deliverer" is unequivocally Jesus Christ. His coming "from Zion" suggests His glorious, powerful return, His second advent, distinct from His first coming. This future coming will initiate the promised cleansing and national repentance for Israel. This passage profoundly impacts eschatological understanding, positing a distinct future role for ethnic Israel in God's overall plan that will be completed through Christ's return and their subsequent turning to Him. Paul’s point underscores God's intricate and unwavering purpose to save both Jews and Gentiles, ultimately displaying the grandeur of His grace to all who believe.