Romans 11:4

Romans 11:4

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

a. NLT: And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

b. NIV: And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

c. YLT: But what saith the divine answer to him? 'I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal!

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: And it was said to him in a vision: Behold, I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not knelt on their knees to worship Baal.

1. “But what saith the answer of God unto him?...”

a.  But [Strong: 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. what [Strong: 5101 tis tis probably emphatic of 5100; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.]

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. [the] answer of God [Strong: 5538 chrematismos khray-mat-is-mos' from 5537; a divine response or revelation:--answer of God.]

e. [unto] him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

2. “...I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.”

a. [I have] reserved [Strong: 2641 kataleipo kat-al-i'-po from 2596 and 3007; to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining:--forsake, leave, reserve.]

b. [to] myself [Strong: 1683 emautou em-ow-too' genitive case compound of 1700 and 846; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton' :--me, mine own (self), myself.]

c. seven thousand [Strong: 2035 heptakischilioi hep-tak-is-khil'-ee-oy from 2034 and 5507; seven times a thousand:--seven thousand.]

d. men [Strong: 435 aner an'-ayr a primary word (compare 444); a man (properly as an individual male):--fellow, husband, man, sir.]

e. who [Strong: 3748 hostis hos'-tis, including the feminine hetis hay'-tis, and the neuter ho,ti hot'-ee from 3739 and 5100; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).]

f. [have] not [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.]

g. bowed [Strong: 2578 kampto kamp'-to apparently a primary verb; to bend:--bow.]

h. [the] knee [Strong: 1119 gonu gon-oo' of uncertain affinity; the "knee":--knee(X -l).]

i. [to the image of] Baal [Strong: 896 Baal bah'-al of Hebrew origin (1168); Baal, a Phoenician deity (used as a symbol of idolatry):--Baal.]

1). 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

a). Baal worship involved kneeling before Baal and kissing the image.