Romans 11:12
in Romans 11But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
KJV
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
14 notes on this verseNow if the fall of them - The English reader may imagine that, because fall is used in both these verses, the original word is the same. But their fall, and the fall of them, is παραπτωμα, the same word which we render offense, Rom 5:15, Rom 5:17, Rom 5:18, and might be rendered lapse. Whereas that they should fall (Rom 11:11) is, ινα πεσωσι. Now, πιπτω, to fall, is used in a sense so very emphatical as to signify being slain.
This site's exposition
did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery
on Romans 11:11-12
Paul refuses the reading that makes the stumble final. Their trespass brought salvation to the Gentiles, and the aim stated is to make Israel jealous, which runs Deuteronomy 32:21 in reverse. Verse 12 weighs their trespass against their fullness, which was still ahead when Paul wrote.
This site's exposition
how much greater riches will their fullness bring
Trespass renders paraptoma, the word Adam Clarke traces to the offense of Romans 5:15 to 18. John Wesley reads their fullness as the full conversion of Israel, which verses 23 to 26 take up. The argument runs from less to greater.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It is clear that if their offense benefited the world, while their loss brought benefit to the Gentiles, then the world must have gained more from their loss. This is because there are many more Gentiles than Jews. And if their loss, which is the …
"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness?" Here he is speaking to gratify them. For even if these had fallen a thousand times, the Gentiles would not have been saved unless they had shown faith. As the Jews likewise would not have perished unless they had been unbelieving and disputatious. But as I said, he is solacing them now they are laid low, giving them so much the more ground to be confident of their salvation if they altered. For if when they stumbled, he says, so many enjoyed salvation, and when they were cast out so many were called, just consider what will be the case when they return. But he does not put it thus, When they return. Now he does not say "how much more their" return, or their altering, or their well-doing, but "how much more their fulness," that is, when they are all about coming in. And this he said to show that then also grace and God's gift will do the larger part, or almost the whole.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
"But if their transgression is the riches of the world, and their diminishment the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?"
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, now if the offense of them, he answers the question as interpreted in the second way and shows that the fall of the Jews is reparable. He does this in three ways: first, from its usefulness; second, from the Apostle's intention, …
If, he says, the Jews, having stumbled, prepared salvation for the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were accepted when the Jews were rejected, and the fall of the Jews became the riches of the Gentiles, then how much more their "fullness," that is, when they, having …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
(2.) It is called the receiving of them. The conversion of a soul is the receiving of that soul, so the conversion of a nation. They shall be received into favour, into the church, into the love of Christ, whose arms are stretched out for the receiving of all those that will come to him.
), The fall of them was the riches of the world, that is, it hastened the gospel so much the sooner into the Gentile world. The gospel is the greatest riches of the place where it is; it is better than thousands of gold and silver.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The first part of this verse is treated of, ver. 13, &c.; the latter, How much more their fulness, (that is, their full conversion,) ver. 23, &c. So many prophecies refer to this grand event, that it is surprising any Christian can doubt of it.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-23-anchored-12-12
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
I speak--"am speaking" to you Gentiles--another proof that this Epistle was addressed to Gentile believers. I magnify--"glorify" mine office--The clause beginning with "inasmuch" should be read as a parenthesis.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If the fall of them - If their lapse, or falling. If their temporal rejection and being cast off for a time has already accomplished so much. Be the riches of the world - The word “riches” means wealth, abundance of property; more than is necessary to the supply of our needs. Hence, it means also anything that may promote our comfort or happiness, as wealth is the means of securing our welfare. The gospel is called riches, as it is the means of our highest enjoyment, and eternal welfare. It is the means of conferring numberless spiritual blessings on the Gentile world; and as this was done by the fall of the Jews, so it could be said that their fall was the riches of the world. It was the occasion or means without which the blessings of the gospel could not be conferred on the world. The diminishing of them - Margin, “Decay.” “Loss” ἥττημα hēttēma. This word means diminution, defect, what is lacked or missing. Hence, also judgment, condemnation. Here it means their degradation; the withdrawing of their special privileges; their rejection. It stands opposed to “their fulness.” The riches of the Gentiles - The means of conferring important blessings on the Gentiles. How much more their fulness - The word “fulness” πλήρωμα plērōma means what fills up, or completes anything. Thus, it is applied to what fills a vessel or cup; also to the piece of cloth which is put in to fill up the rent in a garment; Mat 9:16. To the fragments which were left when Christ had fed the five thousand; Mar 8:20; Rom 13:10. “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” that is, it is the filling up of the law, or what renders the obedience complete; see Gal 5:14. Here it stands opposed to their fall, and their diminution, and evidently means their complete restoration to the favor of God; their recovery from unbelief and apostasy. That there will be such a recovery, the apostle proceeds to show. […]
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παράπτωμα | paraptoma | trespass | G3900 → | 19 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πλοῦτος | ploutos | [is] riches | G4149 → | 22 times |
| κόσμου | kosmou | of [the] world | G2889 → | 185 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἥττημα | hettema | failure | G2275 → | |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πλοῦτος | ploutos | [is the] riches | G4149 → | 22 times |
| ἐθνῶν, | ethnon | of [the] Gentiles, | G1484 → | 161 times |
| πόσῳ | poso | how much | G4214 → | |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | more | G3123 → | 81 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλήρωμα | pleroma | fullness | G4138 → | 17 times |
| αὐτῶν;¶ | auton | of them? | G846 → | 5565 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
παράπτωμαtrespass
paraptomaG3900 →19 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
πλοῦτος[is] riches
ploutosG4149 →22 times
κόσμουof [the] world
kosmouG2889 →185 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἥττημαfailure
hettemaG2275 →
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
πλοῦτος[is the] riches
ploutosG4149 →22 times
ἐθνῶν,of [the] Gentiles,
ethnonG1484 →161 times
πόσῳhow much
posoG4214 →
μᾶλλονmore
mallonG3123 →81 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πλήρωμαfullness
pleromaG4138 →17 times
αὐτῶν;¶of them?
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 1:27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
it leads to
- John 14:20
On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
- Romans 8:10
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
- Ephesians 3:16–17
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- John 14:20
Through
Romans 11:25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles…
it leads to
- Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14–16
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Romans 16:25
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
- Luke 21:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About Romans
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, Commentary on Romans; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Robert Haldane, Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.