Romans 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Romans 11:4 in other translations
| BSB | And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” |
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| WEB | But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” |
| ASV | But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. |
| YLT | but what saith the divine answer to him? ‘I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.' |
| DARBY | But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal. |
| BBE | But what answer does God make to him? I have still seven thousand men whose knees have not been bent to Baal. |
| Webster | But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. |
What does Romans 11:4 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 11:2-4
2-4. God hath--"did" not cast away his people--that is, wholly which he foreknew--On the word "foreknew," see on Ro 8:29. Wot--that is, "Know" ye not that the scripture saith of--literally, "in," that is, in the section which relates to Elias? how he maketh intercession--"pleadeth" against Israel--(The word "saying," which follows, as also the particle "and" before "digged down," should be omitted, as without…
Barnes' Notes
I have reserved. The Hebrew is, "I have caused to remain," or to be reserved. This shows that it was of God that this was done. Amidst the general corruption and idolatry he had restrained a part, though it was a remnant. The honour of having done it he claims for himself, and does not trace it to any goodness or virtue in them. So in the case of all those who are saved from sin and pain, the honour belongs not to man, but to God.
To myself. For my own service and glory. I have kept them steadfast in my worship, and have not suffered them to become idolaters. Seven thousand men. Seven is often used in the Scriptures to denote an indefinite or round number. Perhaps it may be so here, to intimate that there was a considerable number remaining. This should lead us to hope that, even in the darkest times in the church, there may be many more friends of God than we suppose. Elijah supposed he was alone; and yet at that moment there were thousands who were the true friends of God: a small number, indeed, compared with the multitude of idolaters; but large when compared with what was supposed to be remaining by the dejected and disheartened prophet.
Who have not bowed the knee. To bow or bend the knee is an expression denoting worship, Php 2:10, Eph 3:14, Isa 45:23.
To Baal. The word Baal in Hebrew means lord, or master. This was the name of an idol of the Phenicians and Canaanites, and was worshipped also by the Assyrians and Babylonians under the name of Bel. (Comp. the Book of Bel in the Apocrypha.) This god was represented under the image of a bull, or a calf; the one denoting the sun, the other the moon. The prevalent worship in the time of Elijah was that of this idol.
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 11:4 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 11:4
- 1 Kings 19:18
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
- Numbers 25:3
And Israel joined himself unto Baal–peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
- Zephaniah 1:4
I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
- 2 Kings 10:19-20
Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
- Judges 2:13
And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
- Hosea 13:1
When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
- Jeremiah 19:5
They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
- 1 Kings 16:31
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
- Hosea 2:8
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
- Deuteronomy 4:3
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal–peor: for all the men that followed Baal–peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
- Romans 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:4 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas ¿qué le dice la divina respuesta? He dejado para mí siete mil hombres, que no han doblado la rodilla delante de Baal. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais que lui dit la réponse divine? « Je me suis réservé 7 000 hommes qui n’ont pas fléchi le genou devant Baal ». |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Aber was sagt ihm die göttliche Antwort? "Ich habe mir übrigbleiben lassen siebentausend Mann, welche dem Baal das Knie nicht gebeugt haben". |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Sed quid dicit illi divinum responsum? Reliqui mihi septem millia virorum, qui non curvaverunt genua ante Baal. |