Romans 11:2
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Romans 11:2 in other translations
| BSB | God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: |
|---|---|
| WEB | God didn’t reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: |
| ASV | God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel: |
| YLT | God did not cast away His people whom He knew before; have ye not known--in Elijah--what the Writing saith? how he doth plead with God concerning Israel, saying, |
| DARBY | God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in the history of Elias, how he pleads with God against Israel? |
| BBE | God has not put away the people of his selection. Or have you no knowledge of what is said about Elijah in the holy Writings? how he says words to God against Israel, |
| Webster | God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, |
What does Romans 11:2 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 11:2-4
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Which he foreknew. The word foreknew is expressive not merely of foreseeing a thing, but implies in this place a previous purpose or plan. Rom 8:29. The meaning of the passage is simply, God has not cast off those whom he had before purposed or designed to be his people. It is the declaration of a great principle of Divine government that God is not changeable; and that he would not reject those whom he had purposed should be his people. Though the mass of the nation, therefore, should be cast off, yet it would not follow that God had violated any promise or compact; or that he had rejected any whom he had foreknown as his true people. God makes no covenant of salvation with those who are in their sins; and if the unbelieving and the wicked, however many external privileges they may have enjoyed, are rejected, it does not follow that he has been unfaithful to one whom he had foreknown or designated as an heir of salvation. It follows from this, also, that it is one principle of the Divine government that God will not reject those who are foreknown or designated as his friends. It is a part of the plan, therefore, that those who are truly renewed shall persevere, and obtain eternal life.
Wot ye not. Know ye not.
What the Scripture saith. The passage here quoted is found in 1Kgs 19:10-18.
Of Elias. Of Elijah. Greek, "In Elijah (ενηλια). This does not mean that it was said about Elijah, or concerning him; but the reference is to the usual manner of quoting the Scriptures among the Jews. The division into chapters and verses was to them unknown. (See the Introduction to the Notes on Matthew.) Hence the Old Testament was divided into portions designated by subjects. Thus Lk 20:37, Mk 12:26, "At the bush," means the passage which contains the account of the burning bush. Lk 20:37; Mk 12:26. Here it means, in that passage or portion of Scripture which gives an account of Elijah.
He maketh intercession to God against Israel. The word translated maketh intercession (εντυγχανει) means, properly, to come to the aid of any one; to transact the business of any one; especially to discharge the office of an advocate, or to plead one's cause in a court of justice. In a sense similar to this it is applied to Christ in his office of making intercession for us in heaven, Heb 7:25, Isa 53:12. In the English language, the word is constantly used in a good sense, to plead for one; never to plead against one; but the Greek word may imply either. It expresses the office of one who manages the business of another; and hence one who manages the business of the state against a criminal; and when followed by the preposition for, means to intercede or plead for a person; when followed by against, (κατα) it means to accuse or arraign. This is its meaning here. He accuses or arraigns the nation of the Jews before God; he charges them with crime; the crime is specified immediately.
(d) "Wot ye not" Rom 8:29 (1) "of Elias" or, "in Elias"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 11:1-10
There was a chosen remnant of believing Jews, who had righteousness and life by faith in Jesus Christ. These were kept according to the election of grace. If then this election was of grace, it could not be of works, either performed or foreseen. Every truly good disposition in a fallen creature must be the effect, therefore it cannot be the cause, of the grace of God bestowed on him. Salvation from the first to the…
Romans 11:2 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Romans 11:2
- Psalms 94:14
For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
- Romans 8:29-30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- 1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
- Acts 3:17
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
- Numbers 16:15
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
- Exodus 32:1
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
- Romans 9:23
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
- Genesis 44:15
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
- Jeremiah 18:19-23
Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. 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. Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. …
- Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.
- Luke 4:1
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
- Romans 9:6
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8:29,30; 9:6,23; Ac 13:48; 15:18; 1Pe 1:2
Wot.
Ge 44:15; Ex 32:1; Ac 3:17; 7:40; Php 1:22
of Elias? Gr. in Elias?Or, by Elias; [en ,] corresponding to the Hebrew [bet,] not infrequently having this signification.
Ne 9:30; Lu 4:1; 1Co 6:2; Heb 1:1
how he maketh.Or "how he addresses God respecting Israel;" [kata ] having frequently this meaning. (See 1 Co 15:15.)
Nu 16:15; Jer 18:19-23; Joh 4:1-3,11
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Romans 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Romans 11:2
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
- Romans 11:3
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Romans 11:2 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | No ha desechado Dios á su pueblo, al cual antes conoció. ¿O no sabéis qué dice de Elías la Escritura? cómo hablando con Dios contra Israel dice: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Dieu n’a point rejeté son peuple, lequel il a préconnu. Ne savez-vous pas ce que l’écriture dit dans l’histoire d’Élie, comment il fait requête à Dieu contre Israël? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Gott hat sein Volk nicht verstoßen, das er zuvorerkannt hat. Oder wisset ihr nicht, was die Schrift in der Geschichte des Elias sagt? wie er vor Gott auftritt wider Israel: |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | non repulit Deus plebem suam, quam præscivit. An nescitis in Elia quid dicit Scriptura? quemadmodum interpellat Deum adversum Israël: |