Romans 11:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

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,

NASB: What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

CSB: What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

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.

KJV: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

NKJV: What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Paul begins this verse with the simple question, "What then?" He is asking about the implication of his teaching in the previous verses: that a small portion—a remnant—of Israelites have come to God by faith in Christ. How does this fit with what Paul has written about God's grace and Israel earlier in Romans?

He repeats that Israel, meaning both the nation and the clear majority of the Jewish people, failed to obtain what was sought. This echoes what Paul wrote in Romans 9:31: that Israel pursued a law that would lead to righteousness but failed in reaching or keeping that law. In other words, they failed to reach God's righteousness.

The "elect," on the other hand, did obtain the righteousness of God. Paul describes those who have come to God by faith in Christ as the elect. This term, in general, refers to both Jews and Gentiles, but Paul here seems to be talking about the Jews who have become believers as the elect. This group obtained righteousness by their faith in Christ and not by obeying the law (Romans 9:30).

Although the elect obtained righteousness by God's grace, Paul now writes that the rest of the Israelites were hardened by God. This is consistent with what Paul has already written about those whom God allows to stand in their sin of unbelief. He addressed the issue of whether this is fair or not in Romans 9:14–29, including the statement that God will have mercy on and harden whomever He chooses (Romans 9:18).

Paul will show in the following verses that God has hardened most Israelites for a specific purpose.

Romans 11:1–10 finds Paul insisting that God has not rejected Israel forever, despite her refusal to come to Christ. For one thing, Paul himself and a remnant of Jewish people have trusted in Christ by God's grace. God has hardened the rest of Israel in her unbelief, causing her to trip over the stumbling block that is Jesus Christ. They remain unable, for now, to see that following the law will not bring them to God's righteousness. But the story isn't over.

In Romans 11, Paul concludes his exploration of God's plan for His chosen people Israel. It's true that as a nation, Israel has rejected faith in Christ, but a remnant of Israelites has believed in Jesus. God has hardened the rest in unbelief, but will bring Israel back to faith when enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then many Israelites will trust in Christ, as well, and God will renew His covenant with His people. Paul concludes this section with a powerful poem or hymn about God's independence and how He is beyond our full comprehension.

Romans 11 concludes Paul's discussion about God's plan for the Israelites begun in Romans 9 and 10. Paul insists that, though Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, a remnant of Jewish Christians exists by God's grace. God has hardened the rest in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then God will release Israel to believe in Christ and restore His covenant with her as many individual Jews come to faith in Christ, as well. Paul stands in awe of God's vast and unknowable mind and complete ownership of all things.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.