Romans 10 · Verse 1

Romans 10:1

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Romans 10:1, King James Version

Romans 10:1 in other translations

BSBBrothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
WEBBrothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
ASVBrethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.
YLTBrethren, the pleasure indeed of my heart, and my supplication that is to God for Israel, is--for salvation;
DARBYBrethren, the delight of my own heart and my supplication which I address to God for them is for salvation.
BBEBrothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is, that they may get salvation.
WebsterBrethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they may be saved.

What does Romans 10:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ro 10:1-21. Same Subject Continued--How Israel Came to Miss Salvation, and the Gentiles to Find It.

1. Brethren, my heart's desire--The word here expresses "entire complacency," that in which the heart would experience full satisfaction. and prayer--"supplication." to God for Israel--"for them" is the true reading; the subject being continued from the close of the preceding chapter. is, that they may be saved--"for their salvation." Having before poured forth the anguish of his soul at the general unbelief of his nation and its dreadful consequences (Ro 9:1-3), he here expresses in the most emphatic terms his desire and prayer for their salvation.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
ROMANS Chapter 10

Verse 1. Brethren. This expression seems intended particularly for the Jews, his ancient friends, fellow-worshippers, and kinsmen, but Who had embraced the Christian faith. It is an expression of tenderness and affection, denoting his deep interest in their welfare.

My heart's desire. The word "desire" (ευδοκια) means benevolence; and the expression, my heart's desire, means my earnest and sincere wish.

Prayer to God. He not only cherished this feeling, but he expressed it ill a desire to God. He had no desire that his kinsmen should be destroyed; no pleasure in the appalling doctrine which he had been defending. He still wished their welfare; and could still pray for them that they might return to God. Ministers have no pleasure in proclaiming the truth that men must be lost. Even when they declare the truths of the Bible that some will be lost; when they are constrained, by the unbelief and wickedness of men, to proclaim it of them, they still can sincerely say that they seek their salvation.

For Israel. For the Jewish nation.

That they might be saved. This clearly refers to salvation from the sin of unbelief, and the consequences of sin in hell. It does not refer to the temporal calamities which were coming upon them, but to preservation from the eternal anger of God. Comp. Rom 11:26, 1Timm 2:4. The reasons why the apostle commences this chapter in this tender manner are the following:

(1.) Because he had stated and defended one of the most offensive doctrines that could be preached to a Jew; and he was desirous to show them that it was not from any want of affection for them, but that he was urged to it by the pressure of truth.

(2.) He was regarded by them as all apostate. He had abandoned them when bearing their commission, and while on his way to execute their favourite purposes, and had preached the doctrine which they had sent him to destroy. Comp. Acts 9. He had opposed them everywhere; had proclaimed their pride, self-righteousness, and crime, in crucifying their Messiah; had forsaken all that they valued--their pomp of worship, their city, and their temple; and had gone to other lands to bear the message of mercy to the nations that they despised. He was willing to show them that this proceeded from no want of affection for them, but that he still retained towards them the feelings of a Jew, and could give them credit for much that they valued themselves on, Rom 10:2.

(3.) He was aware of the deep and dreadful condemnation that was coming on them. In view of that he expressed his tender regard for their welfare, and his earnest prayer to God for their salvation. And we see here the proper feelings of a minister of the gospel when declaring the most terrible of the truths of the Bible. Paul was tender, affectionate, kind; convincing by cool argument, and not harshly denouncing; stating the appalling truth, and then pouring out his earnest desires to God that he would avert the impending doom. So should the awful doctrines of religion be preached by all the ambassadors of God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The apostle expresses his earnest desire for the salvation of the Jews, Rom 10:1. Having a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, they sought salvation by works, and not by faith in Christ, Rom 10:2-4. The righteousness which is of the law described, Rom 10:5. That which is by faith described also, Rom 10:6-10. He that believes and calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, Rom 10:11-13. What is necessary to salvation, believing, hearing, preaching, a Divine mission, the Gospel, and obedience to its precepts, Rom 10:14-16. Faith comes by hearing, Rom 10:17. The universal spread of the Gospel predicted by the prophets, Rom 10:18-20. The ingratitude and disobedience of the Israelites, Rom 10:21. Verse 1 My heart's desire, etc. - Though the apostle knew that the Jews were now in a state of rejection, yet he knew also that they were in this state through their own obstinacy, and that God was still waiting to be gracious, and consequently, that they might still repent and turn to him. Of his concern for their salvation he had already given ample proof, when he was willing to become a sacrifice for their welfare, see Rom 9:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 10:1-4
The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith, and numbers in every age do the same in various ways. The strictness of the law showed men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. And the ceremonies shadowed forth Christ as fulfilling the righteousness, and bearing the curse of the law. So that even under the law, all who were justified before God, obtained that blessing by faith, whereby they were made partakers of the perfect righteousness of the promised Redeemer. The law is not destroyed, nor the intention of the Lawgiver disappointed; but full satisfaction being made by the death of Christ for our breach of the law, the end is gained. That is, Christ has fulfilled the whole law, therefore whoever believeth in him, is counted just before God, as much as though he had fulfilled the whole law himself. Sinners never could go on in vain fancies of their own righteousness, if they knew the justice of God as a Governor, or his righteousness as a Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 10:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

Ἀδελφοί,AdelphoiBrothers,G80
ἡhētheG3588
μὲνmenindeedG3303
εὐδοκίαeudokiadesireG2107
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἐμῆςemēsof myG1473
καρδίαςkardiasheartG2588
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
δέησιςdeēsissupplicationG1162
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
ὑπὲρhuperon behalfG5228
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
εἰςeisforG1519
σωτηρίαν.sōtēriansalvation.G4991

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 10:1

  • 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

    And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

  • John 5:34

    But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

  • Romans 9:1-3

    I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

  • Exodus 32:13

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

  • Jeremiah 18:20

    Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

  • Jeremiah 17:16

    As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.

  • Exodus 32:10

    Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

  • Luke 13:34

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

  • 1 Samuel 12:23

    Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

  • 1 Samuel 15:11

    It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

  • 1 Samuel 15:35-16:1

    And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth–lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The Scripture shows the difference between the righteousness of the law, and that of faith;
11 and that all, both Jew and Gentile, that believe, shall not be confounded;
18 and that the Gentiles shall receive the word and believe.
19 Israel was not ignorant of these things.

my heart's.
9:1-3; Ex 32:10,13; 1Sa 12:23; 15:11,35; 16:1; Jer 17:16; 18:20
Lu 13:34; Joh 5:34; 1Co 9:20-22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 10:1

    Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

  • Romans 10:2

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Read all of Romans 10

Romans 10:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		HERMANOS, ciertamente la voluntad de mi corazón y mi oración á Dios sobre Israel, es para salud.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Frères, le souhait de mon cœur, et la supplication que j’adresse à Dieu pour eux, c’est qu’ils soient sauvés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Brüder! das Wohlgefallen meines Herzens und mein Flehen für sie zu Gott ist, daß sie errettet werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fratres, voluntas quidem cordis mei, et obsecratio ad Deum, fit pro illis in salutem.