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11 I say then, Has God cast away his people? Far be the thought. For *I* also am an Israelite, of [the] seed of Abraham, of [the] tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in [the history of] Elias, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and *I* have been left alone, and they seek my life.

But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal.

Thus, then, in the present time also there has been a remnant according to election of grace.

But if by grace, no longer of works: since [otherwise] grace is no more grace.

What [is it] then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded,

according as it is written, God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day.

And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:

10 let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall [there is] salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.

12 But if their fall [be the] world's wealth, and their loss [the] wealth of [the] nations, how much rather their fulness?

13 For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as *I* am apostle of nations, I glorify my ministry;

14 if by any means I shall provoke to jealousy [them which are] my flesh, and shall save some from among them.

15 For if their casting away [be the] world's reconciliation, what [their] reception but life from among [the] dead?

16 Now if the first-fruit [be] holy, the lump also; and if the root [be] holy, the branches also.

17 Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and *thou*, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

18 boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, [it is] not *thou* bearest the root, but the root thee.

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The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.(C) God did not reject his people,(D) whom he foreknew.(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]?(F) And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b](G) So too, at the present time there is a remnant(H) chosen by grace.(I) And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.(K) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,(L) as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,(M)
to this very day.”[c](N)

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,(O)
    and their backs be bent forever.”[d](P)

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!(Q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(R) to make Israel envious.(S) 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,(T) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(U) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(V) and save(W) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(X) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(Y) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(Z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(AA) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(AB) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(AC)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14
  2. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18
  3. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
  4. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23