In the worst days of Hebrew apostasy there was always an elect handful that did not go astray after other gods. It was so in the days of Elijah; and it was a comfort to the faithful heart of Paul to believe that, amid the general opposition excited by the preaching of the gospel, there were many secret lovers of the Cross who were true to the Messiah and His claims. Man can never count these quiet, unknown, holy souls, who, like the sweetest wild flowers, can be detected only by the fragrance of their lives. But God counts them, to whose grace and care all that is good in them is due.
The few seek and find, because they stoop to seek in God's predetermined way and along His lines. But when men set themselves against these, they become hardened and overwhelmed by a "spirit of stupor," Romans 11:8, r.v. When Scripture says that God gives them this, it simply means that such state of insensibility is the working out of an inevitable law. But the Apostle cherished the secret hope that the avidity with which the Gentiles were accepting the gospel would, in the mystery of God's providence, have the ultimate effect of bringing the Chosen People back to Him whom their fathers crucified, Romans 11:11. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 11
1God has not cast off all Israel 7Some were elected, though the rest were hardened 16There is hope of their conversion 18The Gentiles may not exult over them; 26for there is a promise of their salvation 33God's judgments are unsearchable
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:10
Let their eyes be darkened [σκοτιστητωσαν οι οπταλμοι αυτων] First aorist passive imperative of σκοτιζω skotizō to darken. A terrible imprecation. [source]
That they may not see [του μη βλεπειν] Repeated from Romans 11:8. Bow down (συνκαμπσον sunkampson). First aorist active imperative of συνκαμπτω sunkamptō old verb, to bend together as of captives whose backs (νωτον nōton another old word, only here in N.T.) were bent under burdens. Only here in N.T. [source]
Bow down [συνκαμπσον] First aorist active imperative of συνκαμπτω sunkamptō old verb, to bend together as of captives whose backs (νωτον nōton another old word, only here in N.T.) were bent under burdens. Only here in N.T. [source]
Bow down [σύγκαμψον] Lit., bend together. Hebrew, shake the loins. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:10
Romans 11:28Enemies [εχτροι] Treated as enemies (of God), in passive sense, because of their rejection of Christ (Romans 11:10), just as αγαπητοι agapētoi (beloved) is passive. As touching the election (κατα την εκλογην kata tēn eklogēn). “According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). For the fathers‘ sake As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 11:10 mean?
let be darkenedtheeyesof them-notto seeandthebacksforeverbent over
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:10
First aorist passive imperative of σκοτιζω skotizō to darken. A terrible imprecation. [source]
Repeated from Romans 11:8. Bow down (συνκαμπσον sunkampson). First aorist active imperative of συνκαμπτω sunkamptō old verb, to bend together as of captives whose backs (νωτον nōton another old word, only here in N.T.) were bent under burdens. Only here in N.T. [source]
First aorist active imperative of συνκαμπτω sunkamptō old verb, to bend together as of captives whose backs (νωτον nōton another old word, only here in N.T.) were bent under burdens. Only here in N.T. [source]
Lit., bend together. Hebrew, shake the loins. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:10
Treated as enemies (of God), in passive sense, because of their rejection of Christ (Romans 11:10), just as αγαπητοι agapētoi (beloved) is passive. As touching the election (κατα την εκλογην kata tēn eklogēn). “According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). For the fathers‘ sake As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]