Romans 11:31
in Romans 11so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.
KJV
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"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."
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.
This site's exposition
through the mercy shown to you
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown call this an entirely new idea. Theophylact reads it through the jealousy of verse 11, with Israel stirred to believe by the mercy the Gentiles received. Ambrosiaster adds that Paul recalls Gentile unbelief so the Gentiles will rejoice at Israel's return instead of mocking it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul recalls the unbelief of the Gentiles so that being ashamed of it they may not insult the Jews who have not believed but rejoice when they accept the promise of God.
"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
But the mercy shown to you will also be their mercy: they will emulate you and believe, and thus will be deemed worthy of your mercy.
So these also, i.e., the Jews, now, i.e., in the time of grace, have not believed, namely, in Christ: why do you not believe in me? (John 8:46). And this is what he adds: for your mercy, i.e., in Christ's grace, by which you have …
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
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Even so have these also now not believed,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Even so have these ... - That is, the Jews. That through your mercy ... - The immediate effect of the unbelief of the Jews was to confer salvation on the Gentiles, or to open the way for the preaching of the gospel to them. But its remote effect would be to secure the preaching of the gospel again to the Jews.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Even so have these--the Jews. now not believed--or, "now been disobedient" that through your mercy--the mercy shown to you. they also may obtain mercy--Here is an entirely new idea.
Even so have these also - In like manner the Jews are, through their infidelity, shut out of the kingdom of God: - That through your mercy - But this exclusion will not be everlasting; but this will serve to open a new scene when, through farther displays of mercy to you Gentiles, they also may obtain mercy - shall be received into the kingdom of God again; and this shall take place whenever they shall consent to acknowledge the Lord Jesus, and see it their privilege to be fellow heirs with the Gentiles of the grace of life. As sure, therefore, as the Jews were once in the kingdom, and the Gentiles were not; as sure as the Gentiles are now in the kingdom, and the Jews are not; so surely will the Jews be brought back into that kingdom.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὗτοι | houtoi | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| ἠπείθησαν | epeithesan | were disobedient | G544 → | 14 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμετέρῳ | humetero | to your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐλέει | eleei | mercy | G1656 → | 27 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | they themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| ἐλεηθῶσιν. | eleethosin | may have mercy shown [them]. | G1653 → | 32 times |
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὗτοιthese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
ἠπείθησανwere disobedient
epeithesanG544 →14 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὑμετέρῳto your
humeteroG4771 →2973 times
ἐλέειmercy
eleeiG1656 →27 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτοὶthey themselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
ἐλεηθῶσιν.may have mercy shown [them].
eleethosinG1653 →32 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
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
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Zechariah 14:9–21
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
- Luke 21:24
Through
Romans 10:16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
it leads to
- Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
- Romans 3:3
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
- John 12:38–40
This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
- Isaiah 53:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies22
On this verse
On this chapter
About Romans
This page draws on 12 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 PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.