Romans 10:21 Meaning and Explanation
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →To His own people God says He has held out His hands all day long to those who resisted Him.
What Does Romans 10:21 Mean?
Paul ends the chapter with another word from Isaiah, now turned toward Israel. The image is tender and grieved: God stretching out His hands all day long, the posture of welcome and appeal, toward a people who answered with disobedience and contradiction. The chapter that traced unbelief closes not in anger but in patient, wounded love.
The picture of outstretched hands held out through the long day reveals the heart of God toward those who turn from Him. He does not quickly withdraw; He keeps offering, keeps inviting, even when met with refusal. This is no portrait of a God eager to condemn but of One whose patience is vast and whose hands remain open. It is, in the end, the very posture in which Christ would stretch out His own hands for the world.
Romans 10:21 in the Original Language
antilego (ἀντιλέγω), 'gainsaying' -- to speak against, to contradict and refuse, the resistance of a stubborn will.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 10:21
What does Romans 10:21 mean?
To His own people God says He has held out His hands all day long to those who resisted Him.