Romans 11:7

Romans 11:7

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

a. 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. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

 

b. 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, [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

 

c. YLT: What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,

 

d. Amplified Bible Classic: What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to obtain what it sought [God’s favor by obedience to the Law]. Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it, while the rest of them became callously indifferent (blinded, hardened, and made insensible to it). [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

 

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: What then? Israel has not obtained that which he sought; but the elected ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded in their hearts. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

1. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for…”

a. 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.]

 

b. then [Strong: 3767 oun oon apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

 

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

 

d. [hath] 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.]

 

e. obtained [Strong: 2013 epitugchano ep-ee-toong-khan'-o from 1909 and 5177; to chance upon, i.e. (by implication) to attain:--obtain.]

   

f. That [Strong: 5127 toutou too'-too genitive case singular masculine or neuter of 3778; of (from or concerning) this (person or thing):--here(-by), him, it, + such manner of, that, thence(-forth), thereabout, this, thus.]

 

g. which [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

 

h. he seeketh for [Strong: 1934 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

 

2. “...but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”

a. but [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

 

b. [the] election [Strong: 1589 ekloge ek-log-ay' from 1586; (divine) selection (abstractly or concretely):--chosen, election.]

 

c. [hath] obtained it [Strong: 2013 epitugchano ep-ee-toong-khan'-o from 1909 and 5177; to chance upon, i.e. (by implication) to attain:--obtain.]

d. and [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

 

e. [the] rest [Strong: 3062  loipoy loy-poy' masculine plural of a derivative of 3007; remaining ones:--other, which remain, remnant, residue, rest.]

   

f. [were] blinded [Strong: 4456 poroo po-ro'-o apparently from poros (a kind of stone); to petrify, i.e. (figuratively) to indurate (render stupid or callous):-- blind, harden.]

1). The sense of this passage is often compared with another passage in Isaiah. It gives the impression that God is sovereignly causing these people to sin. 

a). Isaiah 6:9, 10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

2). The Isaiah 6 passage is quoted by Jesus when he is teaching about the Parable of the Sower sowing the Word and it is there we find the explanation for the mistaken view that God is causing their sin. 

a). Matthew 13:13-15 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

b). Jesus goes on to explain in Matthew 13:13-15, that the effect of not understanding on the part of the people is a fulfillment of a passage in Isaiah. This explanation also clears up a misunderstanding of Isaiah 6:9, 10. In looking at the passage in Isaiah 6,  it appears that God out of sovereign choice is the one making the people to not understand, because he says make their heart fat, make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes. But Jesus clears it up by saying the people themselves caused their own inability to hear or see, through their own disobedience.