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Selected Verse: Romans 11:7 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ro 11:7 |
King James |
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
What then?--How stands the fact?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for--better, "What Israel is in search of (that is, Justification, or acceptance with God--see on Rom 9:31); this he found not; but the election (the elect remnant of Israel) found it, and the rest were hardened," or judicially given over to the "hardness of their own hearts." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
What then? - What is the proper conclusion from this argument? "Israel hath not obtained." That is, the Jews as a people have not obtained what they sought. They sought the favor of God by their own merit; and as it was impossible to obtain it in that manner, they have, as a people, failed of obtaining his favor at all, and will be rejected.
That which he seeketh for - To wit, salvation by their own obedience to the Law.
The election hath - The purpose of choosing on the part of God has obtained, or secured, what the seeking on the part of the Jews could not secure. Or the abstract here may be put for the concrete, and the word "election" may mean the same as the elect. The elect, the reserved, the chosen part of the people, have obtained the favor of God.
Hath obtained it - That is, the favor, or mercy, of God.
The rest - The great mass of the people who remained in unbelief, and had rejected the Messiah.
Were blinded - The word in the original means also were hardened ἐπωρώθησαν epōrōthēsan. It comes from a word which signifies properly to become hard, as bones do which are broken and are then united; or as the joints sometimes do when they become callous or stiff. It was probably applied also to the formation of a hard substance in the eye, a cataract; and then means the same as to be blinded. Hence, applied to the mind, it means what is "hard, obdurate, insensible, stupid." Thus, it is applied to the Jews, and means that they were blind and obstinate; see Mar 6:52, "Their heart was hardened;" Mar 8:17; Joh 12:40. The word does not occur in any other place in the New Testament. This verse affirms simply that "the rest were hardened," but it does not affirm anything about the mode by which it was done. In regard to "the election," it is affirmed that it was of God; Rom 11:4. Of the remainder, the fact of their blindness is simply mentioned, without affirming anything of the cause; see Rom 11:8. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Obtained (ἐπετυχεν)
The simple verb τυγχάνω means originally to hit the mark; hence to fall in with, light upon, attain.
The election (ἡ ἐκλογὴ)
Abstract for concrete. Those elected; like ἡ περιτομή the circumcision for those uncircumcised (Eph 2:11. Compare τὴν κατατομήν the concision, Phi 3:3).
Were blinded (ἐπωρώθησαν)
Rev., correctly, hardened, though the word is used of blindness when applied to the eyes, as Job 17:7, Sept. See on hardness, Mar 3:5. Compare σκληρύνει hardeneth, Rom 9:18. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| What then - What is the conclusion from the whole? It is this: that Israel in general hath not obtained justification; but those of them only who believe. And the rest were blinded - By their own wilful prejudice. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| What then? - What is the real state of the case before us? Israel - the body of the Jewish people, have not obtained that which they so earnestly desire, i.e. to be continued, as they have been hitherto, the peculiar people of God; but the election hath obtained it - as many of them as have believed in Jesus Christ, and accepted salvation through him: this is the grand scheme of the election by grace; God chooses to make those his peculiar people who believe in his Son, and none other shall enjoy the blessings of his kingdom. Those who would not receive him are blinded; they have shut their eyes against the light, and are in the very circumstances of those mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah, Isa 29:10. |
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
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.
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.