Romans 11:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As the Gentiles once received mercy, Paul says, so Israel's present unbelief opens a way for them also to obtain mercy through the mercy shown to the Gentiles.
What Does Romans 11:31 Mean?
Paul completes the symmetry he began in the previous verse. Just as the Gentiles received mercy, so now Israel, in their unbelief, is being held within God's design that they too may obtain mercy, and even through the mercy shown to the Gentiles.
The pattern is mercy answering mercy, each group drawn in by the kindness shown to the other. God weaves the two together so that no one boasts and all depend on grace. The reader sees a God whose mercy is not scarce but overflowing, reaching first one and then the other.
Romans 11:31 in the Original Language
eleos (ἔλεος), 'mercy' -- compassion shown to one in need, the undeserved kindness of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 11:31
What does Romans 11:31 mean?
As the Gentiles once received mercy, Paul says, so Israel's present unbelief opens a way for them also to obtain mercy through the mercy shown to the Gentiles.