Rom 11:7-8, 25 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 7. What then ? What is the proper conclusion from this argument? Israel hath not obtained . That is, the Jews as a people have not obtained that which they sought. They sought the favour 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 favour 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, that which 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 favour of God. Hath obtained it . That is, the favour 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 , (επωρωθησαν). 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 that which is hard, obdurate , insensible, stupid . Thus it is applied to the Jews, and means that they were blind and obstinate. See , "Their heart was hardened." . 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 , . Of the remainder, the fact of their blindness is simply mentioned, without affirming anything of the cause. See . (h) "Israel hath not obtained" (1) "blinded" or, "hardened".

Romans 11:7-8

Verse 7. What then? What is the proper conclusion from this argument?

Israel hath not obtained. That is, the Jews as a people have not obtained that which they sought. They sought the favour 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 favour 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, that which 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 favour of God.

Hath obtained it. That is, the favour 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, (επωρωθησαν). 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 that which is hard, obdurate, insensible, stupid. Thus it is applied to the Jews, and means that they were blind and obstinate. See Mk 6:52, "Their heart was hardened." Rom 8:17, Jn 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.

(h) "Israel hath not obtained" Rom 9:31 (1) "blinded" or, "hardened". Verse 8. According as it is written. That is, they are blinded in accordance with what is written. The fact and the manner accord with the ancient declaration. This is recorded in Isa 29:10, and in De 29:4. The same sentiment is found also substantially in Isa 6:9,10. The principal place referred to here, however, is doubtless Isa 29:10, "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep

sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your

rulers hath he covered."

The quotation is not, however, literally made either from the Hebrew or the Septuagint; but the sense is preserved. The phrase "according as" means, upon the same principle, or in the same manner.

God hath given. Expressions like this are common in the Scriptures, where God is represented as having an agency in producing the wickedness and stupidity of sinners. See Rom 9:17,18. Mt 13:16; Mk 4:11, Mk 4:12; also 2Thes 2:11. This quotation is not made literally. The Hebrew in Isaiah is, God has poured upon them the spirit of slumber. The sense, however, is retained.

The spirit of slumber. The spirit of slumber is not different from slumber itself. The word spirit is often used thus. The word slumber here is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The Greek word, however, (κατανυξεως), implies also the notion of compunction; and hence in the margin is is rendered remorse. It means any emotion, or any influence whatever, that shall benumb the faculties, and make them insensible. Hence it here means simply insensibility.

Eyes that they should not see, etc. This expression is not taken literally from any single place in the Old Testament; but expresses the general sense of several passages, Isa 6:10, De 29:4. It denotes a state of mind not different from a spirit of slumber. When we sleep, the eyes are insensible to surrounding objects, and the ear to sounds. Though in themselves the organs may be perfect, yet the mind is as though they were not; and we have eves which then do not see, and ears which do not hear. Thus with the Jews. Though they had all the proper faculties for understanding and receiving the gospel, yet they rejected it. They were stupid, and insensible to its claims and its truths.

Unto this day. Until the day that Paul wrote. The characteristic of the Jews that existed in the time of Isaiah, existed also in the time of Paul. It was a trait of the people; and their insensibility to the demands of the gospel developed nothing new in them.

(1) "slumber" or, "remorse" (i) "eyes" Isa 29:10 (k) "should not see" De 29:4

Romans 11:25

Verse 25. Ignorant of this mystery. The word mystery means, properly, that which is concealed, hidden, or unknown. And it especially refers, in the New Testament, to the truths or doctrines which God had reserved to himself, or had not before communicated. It does not mean, as with us often, that there was anything unintelligible or inscrutable in the nature of the doctrine itself, for it was commonly perfectly plain when it was made known. Thus the doctrine, that the division between the Jews and the Gentiles was to be broken down, is called a mystery, because it had been, to the times of the apostles, concealed, and was then revealed fully for the first time, Rom 16:25, Col 1:26,27. Comp. 1Cor 15:51, Mk 4:11, Eph 1:9, 3:3. Thus the doctrine which the apostle was stating was one that until then had been concealed, or had not been made known. It does not mean that there was anything unintelligible or incomprehensive in it, but until then it had not been made known.

Lest ye should be wise in your own conceits. Paul communicated the truth in regard to this, lest they should attempt to inquire into it; should speculate about the reason why God had rejected the Jews; and should be elated with the belief that they had, by their own skill and genius, ascertained the cause. Rather than leave them to vain speculations and self-gratification, he chose to cut short all inquiry, by stating the truth about their present and future state.

Blindness. Or hardness. Rom 11:7.

In part. Not totally, or entirely. They are not absolutely or completely blinded. This is a qualifying expression; but it does not denote what part or portion, or for what time it is to continue. It means, that the blindness in respect to the whole nation was only partial. Some were then enlightened, and had become Christians; and many more would be.

To Israel. To the Jews.

Until the fulness of the Gentiles, etc. The word fulness, in relation to the Jews, is used in Rom 11:12. It means, until the abundance or the great multitude of the Gentiles shall be converted. The word is not elsewhere used in respect to the Gentiles; and it is difficult to fix its meaning definitely. It doubtless refers to the future spread of the gospel among the nations; to the time when it may be said that the great mass, the abundance of the nations, shall be converted to God. At present they are, as they were in the times of the apostle, idolaters, so that the mass of mankind are far from God. But the Scriptures have spoken of a time when the gospel shall spread and prevail among the nations of the earth; and to this the apostle refers, he does not say, however, that the Jews may not be converted until all the Gentiles become Christians; for he expressly supposes (Rom 11:12-15) that the conversion of the Jews will have an important influence in extending the gospel among the Gentiles. Probably the meaning is, that this blindness is to continue until great numbers of the Gentiles shall be converted; until the gospel shall be extensively spread; and then the conversion of the Jews will be a part of the rapid spread of the gospel, and will be among the most efficient and important aids in completing the work. If this is the ease, then Christians may labour still for their conversion. They may seek that in connexion with the effort to convert the heathen; and they may toil with the expectation that the conversion of the Jews and Gentiles will not be separate, independent, and distinct events; but will be intermingled, and will be perhaps simultaneous. The word fulness may denote such a general turning to God, without affirming that each individual shall be thus converted to the Christian faith.

(1) "blindness" or, "hardness" (x) "is happened" Rom 11:7, 2Cor 3:14 (y) "of the Gentiles" Lk 21:24