Romans 11 · Verse 9

Romans 11:9

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Romans 11:9, King James Version

Romans 11:9 in other translations

BSB	And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
WEB	David says, “Let their table be made a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.
ASV	And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:
YLT	and David saith, ‘Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompense to them;
DARBY	And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:
BBE	And David says, Let their table be made a net for taking them, and a stone in their way, and a punishment:
Webster	And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them:

What does Romans 11:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 11:7-10

7-10. What then?--How stands the fact? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for--better, "What Israel is in search of (that is, Justification, or acceptance with God--see on Ro 9:31); this he found not; but the election (the elect remnant of Israel) found it, and the rest were hardened," or judicially given over to the "hardness of their own hearts."

Read the full comment on Romans 11:7-10 →

Barnes' Notes

Verses 9,10. And David saith, etc. This quotation is made from Ps 69:22,23. This psalm is repeatedly quoted as having reference to the events recorded in the New Testament. Acts 1:20. This quotation is introduced immediately after one that undoubtedly refers to the Lord Jesus. Rom 11:21, "They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." The passage here quoted immediately follows as an imprecation of vengeance for their sins. "Let their table," etc. The quotation is not made, however, either literally from the Hebrew or from the Septuagint, but the sense only is retained. The Hebrew is, "Let their table before them be for a snare, and for those at peace let it be for a gin." The Septuagint is, "Let their table before them be for a snare, and for a stumbling-block, and for an offence." The ancient Targum is, "Let their table which they had prepared before me be for a snare, and their sacrifices be for an offence." The meaning is this: The word table denotes food, In this they expected pleasure and support. David prays that even this, where they expected joy and refreshment, might prove to them the means of punishment and righteous retribution, A snare is that by which birds or wild beasts were taken. They are decoyed into it, or walk or fly carelessly into it, and it is sprung suddenly on them. So of the Jews. The petition is, that while they were seeking refreshment and joy, and anticipating at their table no danger, it might be made the means of their ruin. The only way in which this could be done would be, that their temporal enjoyments would lead them away from God, and produce stupidity and indifference to their spiritual interests. This is often the result of the pleasures of the table, or of seeking sensual gratifications. The apostle does not say whether this prayer was right or wrong. The use which he seems to make of it is this, that David's imprecation was to be regarded in the light of a prophecy; that what he prayed for would come to pass; and that this had actually occurred in the time of the apostle: that their very enjoyments, their national and private privileges, had been the means of alienating them from God, had been a snare to them, and was the cause of their blindness and infidelity. This also is introduced in the psalm as a punishment for giving him vinegar to drink; and their treatment of the Messiah was the immediate cause why all this blindness had come upon the Jews.

A trap. This properly means anything by which wild beasts are taken in hunting. The word snare more properly refers to birds.

And a stumblingblock. Anything over which one stumbles or falls. Hence anything which occasions us to sin, or to ruin ourselves.

And a recompence. The Hebrew word translated "that which should have been for their welfare," is capable of this meaning, and may denote their recompense, or that which is appropriately rendered to them. It means, here, that their ordinary comforts and enjoyments, instead of promoting their permanent welfare, may be the occasion of their guilt and ruin. This is often the effect of earthly comforts. They might lead us to God, and should excite our gratitude and praise; but they are often abused to our spiritual slumber and guilt, and made the occasion of our ruin. The rich are thus often most forgetful of God; and the very abundance of their blessings made the means of darkness of mind, ingratitude, prayerlessness, and ruin. Satisfied with them, they forget the Giver; and while they enjoy many earthly blessings, God sends barrenness into their souls. This was the guilt of Sodom, "pride, and fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness," (Eze 16:49) and against this Moses solemnly warned the Jews, De 6:11,12, 8:10-12. This same caution might be extended to the people of this land, and especially to those who are rich, and are blessed with all that their hearts have wished. From the use which the apostle makes of this passage in the Psalms, it is clear that he regarded it rather as a prophetic denunciation for their sins --a prediction of what would be-- than as a prayer. In his time it had been fulfilled; and the very national privileges of the Jews, on which they so much prided themselves, and which might have been so great blessings, were the occasion of their greater sin in rejecting the Messiah, and of their greater condemnation. Thus their table was made a trap, etc.

(l) "Let their table" Ps 69:22,23

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 And David saith, Let their table, etc. - And from their present disposition it is reasonable to conclude that the same evils will fall upon them as fell upon the disobedient in former times, as predicted by David, Psa 69:22, Psa 69:23, that their very blessings should become curses to them, and their temporal mercies be their only recompense; and yet even these earthly blessings, by not being enjoyed in the Lord, should be a stumbling block over which they should fall, and, instead of being a blessing, should be the means of their punishment. They would have a worldly Messiah, and therefore they rejected him whose kingdom was not of this world.

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…

Read the full comment on Romans 11:1-10 →

Romans 11:9 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ΔαυὶδDauidDavidG1138

λέγει·legeisays:G3004

γενηθήτωgenēthētōshould beG1096

ἡhētheG3588

τράπεζαtrapezatableG5132

αὐτῶνautōnof themG846

εἰςeisforG1519

παγίδαpagidaa snareG3803

καὶkaiandG2532

εἰςeisforG1519

θήρανthērana trapG2339

καὶkaiandG2532

εἰςeisforG1519

σκάνδαλονskandalona stumbling blockG4625

καὶkaiandG2532

εἰςeisforG1519

ἀνταπόδομαantapodomaa retributionG468

αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846

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

Cross references for Romans 11:9

Psalms 69:22-23
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
Psalms 28:4
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Deuteronomy 32:13-15
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Isaiah 59:18
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Isaiah 8:13-14
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Luke 16:19-25
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; …
1 Samuel 25:36-38
And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
Proverbs 1:32
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Job 20:20-23
Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
Luke 12:20
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Deuteronomy 32:35
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

David saith.
Ps 69:22,23
their table.
De 6:10-12; 32:13-15; 1Sa 25:36-38; Job 20:20-23; Pr 1:32
Isa 8:13,14; Lu 12:20; 16:19-25; 1Ti 6:17-19
a recompence.
De 32:35; Ps 28:4; Isa 59:18; 66:9; Heb 2:2

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

Context

Romans 11:8
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Romans 11:9
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Romans 11:10
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Read all of Romans 11

Romans 11:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y David dice: Séales vuelta su mesa en lazo, y en red, y en tropezadero, y en paga:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et David dit: « Que leur table devienne pour eux un filet, et un piège, et une occasion de chute, et une rétribution;
German Elberfelder 1871	Und David sagt: "Es werde ihr Tisch ihnen zur Schlinge und zum Fallstrick und zum Anstoß und zur Vergeltung!
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et David dicit: Fiat mensa eorum in laqueum, et in captionem, et in scandalum, et in retributionem illis.