Romans 11:7 kjv
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:7 nkjv
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:7 niv
What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,
Romans 11:7 esv
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
Romans 11:7 nlt
So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have ? the ones God has chosen ? but the hearts of the rest were hardened.
Romans 11 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 9:30 | What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness attained it... | Israel's pursuit and failure |
| Rom 2:12 | For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. | Law and judgment |
| Gal 5:4 | You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. | Law vs. grace |
| John 1:11 | He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. | Rejection of Messiah |
| Luke 19:42 | "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes." | Spiritual blindness |
| Acts 13:45 | But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict... | Jealousy and opposition |
| Deut 29:4 | But the Lord has not given you a heart to understand and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this day. | Lack of understanding |
| Isa 53:1 | Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? | Israel's disbelief |
| Isa 8:14 | And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel... | Messiah as a stumbling stone |
| Luke 2:34 | and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel..." | Cause of rise and fall |
| 1 Cor 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and a foolishness to Gentiles... | Stumbling block |
| Matt 11:6 | And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. | Avoiding offense |
| John 7:48 | Do any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believe in him? | Elite disbelief |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiffnecked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Resistance to the Spirit |
| Rom 10:3 | For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. | Seeking own righteousness |
| Phil 3:9 | and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. | Righteousness from faith |
| 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 seek him. | Necessity of faith |
| Ps 118:22 | The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. | Rejected cornerstone |
| Matt 21:42 | Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone...' " | Cornerstone fulfillment |
| 1 Pet 2:7 | So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not, "The very stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," | Belief and rejection |
| Acts 2:22 | "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him... | God's attestation |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Love for God |
| Lev 18:5 | You must keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. | Living by statutes |
Romans 11 verses
Romans 11 7 Meaning
Israel failed to obtain righteousness through faith, but pursued it through works, and thus stumbled over Christ. This failure was not absolute rejection, but a specific rejection of the Messiah by the nation as a whole, a rejection that allowed Gentiles to be grafted in. The chosen people's pursuit of a righteousness based on Law, rather than through faith in Christ, was the root cause of their stumbling.
Romans 11 7 Context
In Romans 11, Paul is addressing the apparent rejection of Jesus Christ by the nation of Israel. He asserts that not all Israel has fallen away. There is a remnant chosen by grace, and the rejection of the majority is not final. This verse explains why Israel, as a national entity, stumbled. They were seeking a righteousness that stemmed from their adherence to the Law of Moses, rather than a righteousness received through faith in Jesus. This focus on works obscured their vision of Messiah, leading them to reject Him, even though He was the embodiment of God's righteousness. This allows for a discussion about God's faithfulness to His covenant people and the inclusion of Gentiles.
Romans 11 7 Word Analysis
so(G4693 - houtos): Thus; in this manner. It signifies a consequence or result of what was previously stated or understood.Israel(G2474 - Israēl): Jacob's name changed by God. Refers here to the nation of Israel collectively.but(G1161 - alla): But, yet. Introduces a strong contrast.that(G3739 - hotí): Because; that. Introduces the subordinate clause explaining why Israel stumbled.which(G3739 - hoti): Refers to the quality or characteristic of the following statement.Israel(G2474 - Israēl): The nation.did(G1802 - exetázeō): To seek out, examine, search after. Implies a diligent and continuous pursuit.not(G3756 - ouchi): Not. Strong negation.attain(G2192 - heurískō): To find, discover. Implies coming into possession of something.to(G846 - autos): It; thereof. Refers to the "righteousness."that(G3588 - ho): The; referring to a specific, definite righteousness.which(G3748 - ek): From; out of. Denotes the origin or source.is(G1510 - eimi): Is; to be.by(G1223 - dia): Through; by. Indicates the means or agency.faith(G4102 - pístis): Faith, belief, trust. The core concept of reliance on God.but(G1161 - alla): But, yet. Continues the contrast.that(G3739 - hoti): But. Another contrast.which(G3739 - hoti): Refers to the source of the following statement.is(G1510 - eimi): Is; to be.by(G1537 - ek): From; out of. Denotes the origin or source.works(G2041 - érgon): Work, deed, action. Refers to human efforts and adherence to Law.
Phrase Group Analysis:
Israel sought that which is by faith, but Israel did not attain to that which is by works: This phrasing, in some English versions, clarifies the contrast: Israel searched for righteousness through faith, but failed to gain righteousness by performing works. The Greek text is structured to highlight Israel's failure in attaining righteousness through faith, and contrasts it with their pursuit of righteousness by works.stumbled over the stone of stumbling: This idiom connects the failure of Israel to a specific prophecy (Isaiah 8:14) concerning the Messiah who would be a "stone of stumbling."
Romans 11 7 Bonus Section
The concept of "stumbling" here signifies not a mere error, but a definitive rejection and stumbling-block leading to ruin. The "stone of stumbling" is a direct reference to Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16), indicating that Jesus himself was the cause of their fall, not an accidental mishap. His identity and salvific work, when presented to a nation unprepared by grace to receive it in its intended spiritual dimension, became a point of offensive opposition for the majority of Israel. The rejection was a spiritual blindness, a failure to grasp the deeper meaning of God's plan that transcended mere ritual observance.
Romans 11 7 Commentary
Israel, as a nation, was divinely chosen. Their national identity was intrinsically linked to obedience to God's Law. This Law, given by God, was intended to be a guide to holiness and a pathway to relationship with Him. However, with time and cultural influence, Israel developed a system of righteousness centered on meticulous performance of the Law's stipulations. They relied on their ethnic identity and outward religious observances.
The arrival of Jesus presented a different kind of righteousness—one received by grace through faith, not earned by legalistic performance. This was the righteousness God Himself provided in Christ. Israel, by and large, was so focused on their own system of works and on upholding the outward form of the Law that they failed to recognize or accept Jesus as their Messiah and the source of true righteousness. They were looking for a deliverer who would conform to their expectations based on their understanding of the Law and the Prophets, but Jesus fulfilled their scriptures in ways they did not anticipate. Therefore, the very foundation of their religious practice—their diligent adherence to the Law—became the very reason they "stumbled" over Jesus. They expected a righteousness of works, and found themselves presented with a righteousness of faith, which they rejected, thus missing the divine provision of salvation.