Rom 2:28, 9:6-7, 11:1-31 | ESV | STEP | For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly , nor is circumcision outward and physical .

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham ^cbecause they are his offspring, but ^d“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Romans 11:1-31

The Remnant of Israel

1 I ask, then, ^ehas God rejected his people? By no means! For ^fI myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, ^{▼▼Or one of the offspring of Abraham} a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 ^hGod has not rejected his people whom he ⁱforeknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 ^j“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? ^k“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is ^la remnant, chosen by grace. 6 ^mBut if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? ⁿIsrael failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest ^owere hardened, 8 as it is written,

^p“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
^qeyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,

^r“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”

Gentiles Grafted In

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass ^ssalvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion ^{▼▼Greek their fullness} mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as ^uI am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and ^vthus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means ^wthe reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 ^xIf the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if ^ysome of the branches were broken off, and you, ^zalthough a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root ^{▼▼Greek root of richness; some manuscripts richness} of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you ^abstand fast through faith. So ^acdo not become proud, but ^adfear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, ^aeprovided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise ^afyou too will be cut off. 23 And ^ageven they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation

25 ^ahLest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} ^aja partial hardening has come upon Israel, ^akuntil the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

^al“The Deliverer will come ^amfrom Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my ^ancovenant with them
^aowhen I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are ^apbeloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and ^aqthe calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as ^aryou were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now ^{▼▼Some manuscripts omit now} receive mercy.