Romans 11 8

Romans 11:8 kjv

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Romans 11:8 nkjv

Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day."

Romans 11:8 niv

as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day."

Romans 11:8 esv

as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."

Romans 11:8 nlt

As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear."

Romans 11 verses

Romans 11 8 Meaning

This verse states that God has given them a "spirit of stupor," closing their eyes and hardening their hearts. This divine act prevents them from perceiving truth and understanding with their hearts, rendering them incapable of repentance and belief in God's Messiah. It speaks to a judicial hardening by God, a consequence of persistent rejection.

Romans 11 8 Context

Romans 11 deals with the place of Israel in God's plan, following the rejection of Jesus by many in Israel. Paul argues that Israel's stumbling has brought salvation to the Gentiles. He then reassures the Gentile believers that God has not abandoned Israel entirely, predicting a future restoration. Verse 8 directly addresses the current spiritual state of many Jews, explaining why they have not believed in Jesus as the Messiah. It quotes Old Testament passages that describe this spiritual blindness as a consequence of their actions and, from a divine perspective, God's allowance or decree.

Romans 11 8 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and." A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding thought.

• ἔδωκεν (edōken): "has given." The perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing results. God has given this spiritual condition.

• ὁ θεὸς (ho theos): "God." Emphasizes the divine source of the described state.

• πνεῦμα (pneuma): "spirit." Refers to the non-corporeal part of a person, or a disposition or power. Here, it signifies a divine endowment or influence that affects the mind and spiritual perception.

• καταχύσεως (katachuseōs): "a spirit of stupor," "a pouring out," "a thick infusion." This Greek word can mean "a great pouring out," implying an overwhelming measure. It describes a state of being rendered spiritually senseless or dazed, unable to comprehend.

• καὶ (kai): "and." Connects the spirit of stupor to the following points.

• ὄμματα (ommata): "eyes." Plural of ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos). Refers to the physical organs of sight.

• ἵνα (hina): "that," "so that." Indicates purpose or result.

• μὴ (mē): "not." A negative particle.

• βλέπωσι (blepōsi): "they might see." From βλέπω (blepō), "to see." It refers to physical sight, but in context, it implies the inability to perceive spiritual truth.

• καὶ (kai): "and." Connects the closing of eyes to the hardening of hearts.

• ἀκούωσι (akousōsi): "they might hear." From ἀκούω (akouō), "to hear." Similar to "see," it implies a lack of true comprehension, not just physical hearing.

• καρδίᾳ (kardiạ): "with their heart." Refers to the seat of understanding, will, and emotion.

• συνιῶσιν (suniōsin): "they might understand." From συνίημι (syniēmi), "to understand," "to comprehend," "to perceive." This is a crucial verb emphasizing cognitive understanding, which is withheld.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "a spirit of stupor" (πνεῦμα καταχύσεως): This phrase conveys a powerful sense of divine judgment where God withdraws spiritual clarity, leaving a people mentally dulled and unresponsive to truth. It’s not merely a passive state but an active divine judgment described in prophetic passages.
  • "eyes that they may not see and ears that they may not hear" (ὄμματα, ἵνα μὴ βλέπωσιν καὶ ἀκούωσιν καρδίᾳ): This idiomatic expression from the Old Testament, quoted by Isaiah and applied by Jesus and Paul, signifies a profound lack of spiritual discernment. Their physical senses are functional, but their capacity to truly grasp divine reality, especially concerning God's Messiah, is impaired due to their spiritual condition. The inclusion of "with their heart" underscores that the problem is not just physical senses but the inward comprehension.

Romans 11 8 Bonus Section

The concept of God giving a "spirit of stupor" is not about God forcing someone into sin, but about His righteous judgment where He withdraws His illuminating grace from those who have persistently rejected Him. This aligns with the principle that God "gives over" those who have already turned away from Him to the natural consequences of their sin, which includes spiritual dullness (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). The passages quoted (Isaiah 6, Deuteronomy 29) were familiar to the Jewish audience, grounding this New Testament assertion in their own heritage. It's a complex doctrine of God's sovereignty and human responsibility, illustrating that while humans choose to turn away, God's judgment can indeed be to "blind" their eyes and "harden" their hearts as a consequence of that persistent choice.

Romans 11 8 Commentary

The verse explains a deep-seated spiritual inability within a portion of the Jewish people regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This inability is not presented as a fault of the Gospel itself, but as a divinely permitted or enacted state of "stupor" and blindness. This judgment aligns with prophetic pronouncements about the consequences of persistent rebellion and rejection of God's truth, specifically concerning the Messiah. It highlights that spiritual understanding is a gift, and when stubbornly refused, God can, in His sovereignty, withdraw this gift. The consequences described are comprehensive, affecting their ability to see spiritual realities, hear spiritual truth, and understand with their hearts, thereby preventing repentance and faith. This is a difficult but consistent theme in Scripture: God’s judgment can manifest as a hardening of the heart and a withdrawal of spiritual perception when His grace is repeatedly rejected.