Romans 11:30
in Romans 11Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
KJV
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
10 notes on this versePaul shows that both Jews and Gentiles were guilty of the same thing and that they were likewise cleansed by one and the same grace.
This site's exposition
you who formerly disobeyed God
on Romans 11:30-32
Mercy ran to the Gentiles through Israel's disobedience, and it runs back to Israel through the mercy the Gentiles received. Verse 32 puts the whole account in one line, with everyone consigned to disobedience and mercy held out to everyone. The Greek verb sunkleio means to shut up together.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"According to the Gospel indeed they are enemies for your sake: but according to the election they are most dear for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. For as you also once did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy because of their unbelief: so these also have now not believed, that through the mercy shown to you they too may obtain mercy."
"For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they may also obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all." He shows here that those of the Gentiles were called first. Then, as they would not come, the Jews were elected, and the same result occurred again. For when the Jews would not believe, again the Gentiles were brought over. And he does not stop here, nor does he draw the whole to a conclusion at their rejection, but at their having mercy shown them again. See how much he gives to those of the Gentiles, as much as he did to the Jews before. For when ye, he would say, "in times past did not obey," being of the Gentiles, then the Jews came in. Again, when these did not obey, ye have come. However, they will not perish forever. "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief," that is, hath convinced them, hath shown them disobedient; not that they may remain in disobedience, but that He may save the one by the captiousness of the other, these by those and those by these. Now consider; ye were disobedient, and they were saved. Again, they have been disobedient, and ye have been saved. Yet ye have not been so saved as to be put away again, as the Jews were, but so as to draw them over through jealousy while ye abide.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, for as you also, he gives the reason for the future salvation of the Jews after their unbelief. First, he shows a similarity between the salvation of both people; second, the cause of this similarity, at for God has concluded. First, …
You, he says, who were formerly called Gentiles, did not wish to obey: therefore the Jews were chosen and received the law. Again, when the Jews were called and did not obey Christ, you were chosen and shown mercy.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This would help to soften our censures of those that still continue in unbelief, and quicken our prayers for them. He argues further from the occasion of the Gentiles' call, that is, the unbelief of the Jews; thence it took rise: " You have obtained mercy through their unbelief; much more shall they obtain mercy through your mercy.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For as ye in times past have not believed God,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For as ye in times past - The apostle pursues his argument in favor of the restoration of the Jews. As ye, Gentiles, in times past - for many ages back. Have not believed - Were in a state of alienation from God, yet not so as to be totally and for ever excluded, Have now obtained mercy - For ye are now taken into the kingdom of the Messiah; through their unbelief - by that method which, in destroying the Jewish peculiarity, and fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant, has occasioned the unbelief and obstinate opposition of the Jews.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For as ye - You who were Gentiles. In times past - Before the gospel was preached. This refers to the former idolatrous and sinful state of the pagan world; compare Eph 2:2; Act 14:16. Have not believed God - Or have not obeyed God. This was the character of all the pagan nations. Yet have now obtained mercy - Have been pardoned and admitted to the favor of God. Through their unbelief - By means of the unbelief and rejection of the Jews; see the note at Rom 11:11.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥσπερ | hosper | Just as | G5618 → | 36 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ποτε | pote | once | G4218 → | 54 times |
| ἠπειθήσατε | epeithesate | were disobedient | G544 → | 14 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεῷ | theo | to God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἠλεήθητε | eleethete | were shown mercy | G1653 → | 32 times |
| τῇ | tea | to them | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τούτων | touton | through their | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἀπειθείᾳ, | apeitheia | disobedience, | G543 → |
ὥσπερJust as
hosperG5618 →36 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ποτεonce
poteG4218 →54 times
ἠπειθήσατεwere disobedient
epeithesateG544 →14 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
θεῷto God
theoG2316 →1312 times
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἠλεήθητεwere shown mercy
eleetheteG1653 →32 times
τῇto them
teaG3588 →19766 times
τούτωνthrough their
toutonG3778 →1381 times
ἀπειθείᾳ,disobedience,
apeitheiaG543 →
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
2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Ephesians 3:13
So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
- Revelation 2:3
Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Through
Colossians 3:7When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
it leads to
- Ephesians 2:2
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the…
- 1 Peter 4:3–4
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
- Romans 6:19–20
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now…
- Ephesians 2:2
Through
1 Corinthians 7:25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
- 1 Corinthians 7:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Romans
This page draws on 11 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); Cyril of Alexandria, EXPLANATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.