Romans 10:19

Romans 10:19

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealously by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

1. “But I say, Did not Israel know?”

a. But [Strong: 235 alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. [I] say [Strong: 3004 lego leg'-o a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

c. [Did] not [Strong: 3378 me ouk may ook i.e. 3361 and 3756; as interrogative and negative, is it not that?:--neither (followed by no), + never, not.]

d. Israel [Strong: 2474 Israel is-rah-ale' of Hebrew origin (3478); Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively):--Israel.]

e. Know [Strong: 1097 ginosko ghin-oce'-ko a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.]

2. “...First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealously by them that are no people…”

a. First [Strong: 4413 protos pro'-tos contracted superlative of 4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):--before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.]

b. Moses [Strong: 3475 Moseus moce-yoos' or Moses mo-sace', or Mouses mo-oo-sace' of Hebrew origin; (4872); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses.]

c. saith [Strong: 3004 lego leg'-o a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

d. I [will provoke] [Strong: 1473 ego eg-o' a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

e. you [Strong: 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

f. [to] jealously [Strong: 3863 parazeloo par-ad-zay-lo'-o from 3844 and 2206; to stimulate alongside, i.e. excite to rivalry:--provoke to emulation (jealousy).] [Zodhiates: parazeloo; para-implying movement toward a certain point; zeloo-be jealous). To make jealous, provoke to jealously or emulation.]

g. by [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

h. [them that are] no [Strong: 3756 ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

i. people [Strong: 1484  ethnos eth'-nos probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

3. “...and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”

a. [and] by [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

b. [a] foolish [Strong: 801 asunetos as-oon'-ay-tos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 4908; unintelligent; by implication, wicked:--foolish, without understanding.]

c. nation [Strong: 1484  ethnos eth'-nos probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

d. [I will] anger [Strong: 3949 parorgizo par-org-id'-zo from 3844 and 3710; to anger alongside, i.e. enrage:--anger, provoke to wrath.] [Zodhiates: parargizo; para-implying movement toward a certain point; orgizo-anger).To provoke to anger, irritation, or resentment.]

e. you [Strong: 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

1). At first glimpse it appears that Moses is doing the talking but Moses was writing what God was giving him to write. In this verse the Apostle Paul is quoting Deuteronomy.

a). Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealously with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealously with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

b). This verse is fascinating because God himself is saying he will do this to Israel.

He will provoke them to jealousy and anger. The context shows that what God uses to provoke Israel with is the gospel. The “foolish nation” who are “no people” that God uses to provoke Israel with is the Gentiles, i.e., non Jews. We can see this in a number of places within the Book of Acts.

c). Acts 13:44-50 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many were ordained to eternal life believed.

13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout the region.

13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

(1). envy [Strong: 2205 zelos dzay'-los from 2204; properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice):--emulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.] [Zodhiates: To be hot, fervent. Used in a good sense but more often used in an evil sense. Vines: “…is always translated “jealously” in the R.V.”]

(2). Acts 13:45 New Revised Standard Version: But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealously; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.

(3). We can see this prophecy of the Lords becoming reality in the following passages: Acts 17:5-9; Acts 17:12-13; and Acts 28:17-29.

(4). This prophetic event was spoken of in the Law and in the Prophets: See Jeremiah 16:19-21.