The Meaning of Romans 11:11 Explained

Romans 11:11

KJV: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

YLT: I say, then, Did they stumble that they might fall? let it not be! but by their fall the salvation is to the nations, to arouse them to jealousy;

Darby: I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall there is salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.

ASV: I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I say  then,  Have they stumbled  that  they should fall?  God forbid:  but  [rather] through their  fall  salvation  [is come] unto the Gentiles,  for to  provoke  them  to jealousy. 

What does Romans 11:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Another rhetorical question marks another advance in the movement of Paul"s thought. The stumbling of Israel did not result in a hopeless fall (cf. Romans 9:32-33; Romans 11:9). God now deals with Gentiles on the same basis as Jews regarding their salvation because Israel as a whole rejected Jesus Christ. One reason God chose to do this was to make Israel jealous of the Gentiles as the recipients of God"s blessings so Israel would turn back to God.

Context Summary

Romans 11:1-12 - A Remnant Saved By Grace
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

1  God has not cast off all Israel
7  Some were elected, though the rest were hardened
16  There is hope of their conversion
18  The Gentiles may not exult over them;
26  for there is a promise of their salvation
33  God's judgments are unsearchable

Greek Commentary for Romans 11:11

Did they stumble that they might fall? [μη επταισαν ινα πεσωσιν]
Negative answer expected by μη — mē as in Romans 11:1. First aorist active indicative of πταιω — ptaiō old verb, to stumble, only here in Paul (see note on James 3:2), suggested perhaps by σκανδαλον — skandalon in Romans 11:9. If ινα — hina is final, then we must add “merely” to the idea, “merely that they might fall” or make a sharp distinction between πταιω — ptaiō to stumble, and πιπτω — piptō to fall, and take πεσωσιν — pesōsin as effective aorist active subjunctive to fall completely and for good. ινα — Hina as we know, can be either final, sub-final, or even result. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 7:29; Galatians 5:17. Paul rejects this query in Romans 11:11 as vehemently as he did that in Romans 11:1. [source]
By their fall [τωι αυτων παραπτωματι]
Instrumental case. For the word, a falling aside or a false step from παραπιπτω — parapiptō see note on Romans 5:15-20. Is come. No verb in the Greek, but γινεται — ginetai or γεγονεν — gegonen is understood. For to provoke them to jealousy Purpose expressed by εις — eis and the articular infinitive, first aorist active, of παραζηλοω — parazēloō for which verb see note on 1 Corinthians 10:22. As an historical fact Paul turned to the Gentiles when the Jews rejected his message (Acts 13:45.; Acts 28:28, etc.). The riches of the world (πλουτος κοσμου — ploutos kosmou). See note on Romans 10:12. Their loss So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
Is come []
. No verb in the Greek, but γινεται — ginetai or γεγονεν — gegonen is understood. [source]
For to provoke them to jealousy [εις το παραζηλωσαι]
Purpose expressed by εις — eis and the articular infinitive, first aorist active, of παραζηλοω — parazēloō for which verb see note on 1 Corinthians 10:22. As an historical fact Paul turned to the Gentiles when the Jews rejected his message (Acts 13:45.; Acts 28:28, etc.). The riches of the world (πλουτος κοσμου — ploutos kosmou). See note on Romans 10:12. Their loss So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
The riches of the world [πλουτος κοσμου]
See note on Romans 10:12. [source]
Their loss [το ηττημα αυτων]
So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
Fulness [πληρωμα]
Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). [source]
How much more? [ποσωι μαλλον]
Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:11

John 12:38 That might be fulfilled [ινα πληρωτηι]
It is usually assumed that ινα — hina here with the first aorist passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō has its full telic force. That is probable as God‘s design, but it is by no means certain since ινα — hina is used in the N.T. with the idea of result, just as ut in Latin is either purpose or result, as in John 6:7; John 9:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:4; Galatians 5:17; Romans 11:11 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 998). Paul in Romans 10:16 quotes Isaiah 53:1 as John does here but without ινα — hina See note on Romans 10:16 for discussion of the quotation. The next verse adds strength to the idea of design. [source]
Romans 10:19 I will provoke you to jealousy [ἐγὼ παραζηλώσω ὑμᾶς]
From Deuteronomy 32:21. See Romans 11:11, Romans 11:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22. Used only by Paul. The Septuagint has them instead of you. [source]
Romans 11:1 I say then [λεγω ουν]
As in Romans 11:11. Ουν — Oun looks back to 9:16-33 and Romans 10:19-21. [source]
Romans 11:11 Did they stumble that they might fall? [μη επταισαν ινα πεσωσιν]
Negative answer expected by μη — mē as in Romans 11:1. First aorist active indicative of πταιω — ptaiō old verb, to stumble, only here in Paul (see note on James 3:2), suggested perhaps by σκανδαλον — skandalon in Romans 11:9. If ινα — hina is final, then we must add “merely” to the idea, “merely that they might fall” or make a sharp distinction between πταιω — ptaiō to stumble, and πιπτω — piptō to fall, and take πεσωσιν — pesōsin as effective aorist active subjunctive to fall completely and for good. ινα — Hina as we know, can be either final, sub-final, or even result. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 7:29; Galatians 5:17. Paul rejects this query in Romans 11:11 as vehemently as he did that in Romans 11:1. [source]
Romans 11:26 And so [και ουτως]
By the complement of the Gentiles stirring up the complement of the Jews (Romans 11:11.). [source]
Romans 11:28 As touching the gospel [κατα το ευαγγελιον]
“According to (κατα — kata with the accusative) the gospel” as Paul has shown in Romans 11:11-24, the gospel order as it has developed. [source]
1 Timothy 6:10 A root of all kinds of evil [ριζα]
A root Old word, common in literal (Matthew 3:10) and metaphorical sense (Romans 11:11-18). Field (Ot. Norv.) argues for “the root” as the idea of this predicate without saying that it is the only root. Undoubtedly a proverb that Paul here quotes, attributed to Bion and to Democritus Present middle participle of ης — oregō (see note on 1 Timothy 3:1) with genitive απεπλανητησαν — hēs (which). Have been led astray First aorist passive indicative of εαυτους περιεπειραν — apoplanaō old compound verb, in N.T. only here and Mark 13:22. Have pierced themselves through (περιπειρω — heautous periepeiran). First aorist active (with reflexive pronoun) of late compound περι — peripeirō only here in N.T. Perfective use of οδυναις πολλαις — peri (around, completely to pierce). With many sorrows Instrumental case of odunē (consuming, eating grief). In N.T. only here and Romans 9:2. [source]
James 2:10 And yet stumble in one point [πταιω]
First aorist active subjunctive also of γεγονεν — ptaiō old verb, to trip, as in James 3:2; Romans 11:11. “It is incipient falling” (Hort).He is become (γινομαι — gegonen). Second perfect indicative of παντων ενοχος — ginomai “he has become” by that one stumble.Guilty of all Genitive of the crime with ενεχω — enochos old adjective from ολον τον νομον — enechō (to hold on or in), held in, as in Mark 3:29. This is law. To be a lawbreaker one does not have to violate all the laws, but he must keep all the law (holon ton nomon) to be a law-abiding citizen, even laws that one does not like. See Matthew 5:18. for this same principle. There is Talmudic parallel: “If a man do all, but omit one, he is guilty for all and each.” This is a pertinent principle also for those who try to save themselves. But James is urging obedience to all God‘s laws. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 11:11 mean?

I ask then not did they stumble that they might fall Never may it be But in the of them trespass - [is] salvation to the Gentiles so as - to provoke to jealousy them
Λέγω οὖν μὴ ἔπταισαν ἵνα πέσωσιν μὴ γένοιτο ἀλλὰ τῷ αὐτῶν παραπτώματι σωτηρία τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εἰς τὸ παραζηλῶσαι αὐτούς

Λέγω  I  ask 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἔπταισαν  did  they  stumble 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πταίω  
Sense: to cause one to stumble or fall.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
πέσωσιν  they  might  fall 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πίπτω 
Sense: to descend from a higher place to a lower.
μὴ  Never 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
γένοιτο  may  it  be 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Optative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
τῷ  in  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
παραπτώματι  trespass 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: παράπτωμα  
Sense: to fall beside or near something.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σωτηρία  [is]  salvation 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: σωτηρία  
Sense: deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation.
τοῖς  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔθνεσιν  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
εἰς  so  as 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραζηλῶσαι  to  provoke  to  jealousy 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: παραζηλόω  
Sense: to provoke to.