Romans 11 31

Romans 11:31 kjv

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Romans 11:31 nkjv

even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

Romans 11:31 niv

so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

Romans 11:31 esv

so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

Romans 11:31 nlt

Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy.

Romans 11 verses

Romans 11 31 Meaning

Romans 11:31 is part of Paul's profound discourse on God's mysterious plan for Israel and the Gentiles. It declares that just as the Gentiles' past disobedience allowed God to extend mercy to Israel, Israel's current disobedience serves a divine purpose: through the mercy shown to the Gentiles, Israel itself will ultimately receive mercy. The verse underscores God's intricate and sovereign plan, where cycles of disobedience and the outpouring of mercy ultimately aim to encompass all in His redemptive grace, ensuring no human boasts in their own merit. It highlights a divine reversal where one group's initial rejection leads to the inclusion of another, which then becomes instrumental in the first group's eventual restoration.

Romans 11 31 Context

Romans Chapter 11 stands as the culmination of Paul's defense of God's faithfulness to Israel, even in their present rejection of Messiah. The apostle grapples with the question of whether God has abandoned His chosen people (Israel) now that the Gentiles are being incorporated into the church. Paul emphatically states, "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew" (v.1). He illustrates this through the remnant, the grafting of wild olive branches (Gentiles) into the cultivated olive tree (Israel), and the possibility of natural branches (Israel) being grafted back in.

Verse 31 specifically mirrors the structure of verse 30, creating a cyclical or reciprocal pattern of mercy. In verses 28-29, Paul reaffirms God's covenant faithfulness to Israel, explaining that while "as far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake, but as far as God's election is concerned, they are beloved on account of the fathers." Then, verses 30-32 bring this complex theological argument to a crescendo, demonstrating God's sovereign wisdom in bringing salvation to both groups through their respective periods of "disobedience" and God's overarching "mercy."

Historically and culturally, the early church faced significant tension between Jewish Christians and Gentile converts regarding the status and identity of God's people. Jewish believers might have questioned God's promises to Israel given the widespread Jewish rejection of Christ, while Gentile believers might have become boastful of their inclusion, potentially despising the Jews. Paul confronts this potential "anti-Judaism" head-on, warning against Gentile arrogance (v.18-21). Romans 11:31 functions as part of a theological framework to foster humility among Gentiles and hope among Jews, showcasing God's impartial, yet complex, redemptive plan for all humanity. There are no direct polemics here, but a correction of misperceptions and potential pride by both parties, especially the Gentiles.

Romans 11 31 Word analysis

• even so (οὕτως - houtōs):
  • Significance: This adverb establishes a direct parallel and logical connection to the preceding verse (v.30). It signals a reciprocal pattern. Just as something happened for one group, a similar, divinely orchestrated sequence will occur for the other.
• these also (καὶ οὗτοι - kai houtoi):
  • Significance: Refers explicitly to Israel, the Jewish people. It reinforces that God's plan extends to them, even in their current state, mirroring the "you" (Gentiles) from v.30.
• have now been disobedient (νῦν ἠπείθησαν - nyn ēpeithēsan):
  • νῦν (nyn - now): Denotes the current period, a present reality of Israel's widespread rejection of the Messiah. It highlights a specific time within God's larger redemptive chronology.
  • ἠπείθησαν (ēpeithēsan - have been disobedient): From apeitheō, meaning "to refuse to be persuaded, disbelieve, disobey." Here, it specifically refers to Israel's non-belief and rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah and the Gospel message. This disobedience, while real, is understood within God's sovereign plan.
• that through the mercy (ἵνα τῷ ὑμῶν ἐλέει - hina tō hymōn eleei):
  • ἵνα (hina - that): Introduces a purpose clause, showing God's intentional design behind Israel's disobedience. It's not a mere consequence, but a strategic move by God.
  • τῷ ὑμῶν ἐλέει (tō hymōn eleei - the mercy of you): This refers to the mercy God has shown to the Gentiles. The Gentiles, who were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel" (Eph 2:12), have received salvation through faith in Christ, demonstrating God's undeserved favor.
• shown to you (no direct separate Greek word, implied by ὑμῶν - hymōn - of you):
  • Significance: "You" unequivocally refers to the Gentiles, the primary recipients of Paul's letter in Rome, who now stand as examples of God's extended grace.
• they also may now obtain mercy (κἀκεῖνοι νῦν ἐλεηθῶσιν - kakeinoi nyn eleēthōsin):
  • κἀκεῖνοι (kakeinoi - and those ones, they also): Refers back to Israel, underscoring their eventual reception of mercy.
  • νῦν (nyn - now): While grammatically referring to the point of Israel receiving mercy, in the broader context of Romans 11, it points to a future time, subsequent to "the fullness of the Gentiles" coming in (v.25-26). This "now" isn't strictly present but signals a decisive turning point in God's unfolding plan.
  • ἐλεηθῶσιν (eleēthōsin - may obtain mercy): From eleeō, meaning "to show compassion, have mercy on." This indicates the final spiritual restoration and salvation of Israel, which will be entirely due to God's undeserved grace.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "even so these also have now been disobedient": This phrase highlights Israel's current state of rejecting the Messiah, placing it in parallel with the Gentiles' past disobedience (v.30). The "now" emphasizes this as the present reality within God's salvific timeline, but it's not a permanent or final state for Israel.
• "that through the mercy shown to you": This clarifies the purpose behind Israel's current disobedience from God's perspective. It's a purposeful withholding of direct national acceptance for a time, so that Gentile salvation (the "mercy shown to you") can become the means to bring Israel back into God's full grace. It is a divine mechanism.
• "they also may now obtain mercy": This phrase points to Israel's ultimate destiny. Their current state of disobedience, in conjunction with the mercy extended to Gentiles, serves as an intricate path leading to their own eventual reception of mercy and salvation. The future "now" suggests an anticipated, specific moment or period in God's prophetic calendar. This completes the divine paradox where God uses one group's unfaithfulness to ultimately display His faithfulness to all.

Romans 11 31 Bonus section

Paul's use of "mercy" (ἔλεος - eleos) in this section (v.30, 31, 32) is central. It underscores that neither Gentile inclusion nor Israel's eventual restoration is based on their righteousness but solely on God's undeserved compassion. The divine reversal outlined—Gentiles' past disobedience leading to Israel's mercy, then Israel's current disobedience leading to Gentile mercy, and through that, to Israel's future mercy—reveals a pattern where God intentionally allows sin to abound (Rom 5:20) not to condemn, but to showcase the overwhelming abundance of His grace to all (Rom 11:32). This concept culminates in Paul's doxology (Rom 11:33-36), praising the unsearchable depths of God's wisdom and knowledge in these intricate plans. The purpose is not merely parallel but progressive, leading to a comprehensive manifestation of God's merciful character.

Romans 11 31 Commentary

Romans 11:31 presents a theological marvel, revealing the stunning depth of God's wisdom and mercy. It dismantles any notion of human merit or exclusion by illustrating a divine economy where past and present disobedience, by both Jews and Gentiles, are woven into a tapestry of ultimate redemption. The verse demonstrates that God does not abandon His promises to Israel, nor does He forget the Gentiles. Instead, He orchestrates history in a way that allows His mercy to reach both, making each group's experience a catalyst for the other's salvation.

Israel's present "disobedience" is not a mark of permanent rejection but part of a strategic pause in their national acceptance, serving to allow "the fullness of the Gentiles" to come in (Rom 11:25). The mercy extended to Gentiles becomes an instrumental factor in eventually bringing Israel back. This could be through their "envy" (Rom 11:11, 14) seeing the spiritual blessings on the Gentiles, or simply as part of God's predetermined sovereign timing. Ultimately, the verse emphasizes that all, both Jew and Gentile, depend solely on God's mercy for salvation, thus giving Him all the glory (Rom 11:32-36). It calls believers to humility, recognizing that no one can boast in their standing before God; all are recipients of undeserved favor.

Practical examples might include:

• The Power of Witness: When those who were once far off (like the Gentiles) passionately embrace faith, it can stir a sense of curiosity, reflection, and even "envy" (in the good sense) in those who feel they have an inherited claim but have neglected it.
• Interdependence in God's Plan: It highlights that even in diverse parts of the body of Christ or in different ethnic groups, God's work for one group often intricately relates to and benefits another, demonstrating a grand, interconnected design.