Romans 11

1 I ask then, did God [the one true deity] reject [push away, refuse] His people [a chosen nation, a group of individuals]? Certainly not [Let it not be, God forbid]! I am an Israelite [a descendant of Israel, from the seed of Abraham] myself, a descendant [offspring, from the seed] of Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation], from the tribe [a clan, a family group] of Benjamin. word study 2 God [the supreme deity, Creator of all] did not reject [cast away, thrust aside] His people [chosen nation, Israel], whom He foreknew [knew beforehand, chose before time]. Do you not know [are you unaware, do you not perceive] what the Scripture [holy writings, God’s Word] says about Elijah [the prophet, God’s messenger], how he appealed [pleaded, interceded] to God [the Almighty] against Israel [the chosen people, Jacob’s descendants]: word study 3 “Lord [master and God], they have killed [slain, destroyed] Your prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen] and torn down [digged down, ruined] Your altars [places of sacrifice, worship]. I am the only one left [alone, solitary], and they are seeking [trying to find, pursuing] my life [soul, breath of life] as well” ? word study 4 And what was the divine [proclamation, revelation from God] reply to him? “I have reserved [left behind, set apart] for Myself [as my own possession] seven thousand [a large group of 7,000] men who have not [completely, utterly] bowed [kneeled in worship] the knee [in reverence, submission] to Baal [a false god, idol].” word study 5 In the same way [thus, in this manner], at the present time [now, in this current era] there is a remnant [a small group of faithful ones, according to the election] chosen [selected, picked out] by [according to, in line with] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence]. word study 6 And if it is by [unmerited, divine] grace [graciousness], then it is no longer by [human, righteous] works [toil or occupation]. Otherwise [God’s], grace [the divine influence] would no longer be [pure, unearned] grace [a gift, not a reward]. word study 7 What then [in this situation, as a result]? What Israel [the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants] was seeking [to seek after, to search for], it failed [did not succeed, was unable] to obtain [to attain, to get], but the elect [those chosen by God, the selection] did [obtained, received]. The others [the remaining ones, those left] were hardened [made stubborn, unfeeling, blinded], word study 8 as it is written [in the holy Scriptures]: “God [the supreme deity] gave them a spirit [breath, the vital principle] of stupor [a state of numbness, spiritual slumber], eyes [the ability to see spiritually] that could not see [perceive, understand], and ears [the ability to hear and obey] that could not hear [listen, comprehend], to this very day [the present time, until now].” word study 9 And David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] says: “May their table [a dining table] become a snare [a trap, a net] and a trap [a device for catching], a stumbling block [an obstacle to faith, a cause for sin] and a retribution [a repayment, a punishment] to them [their enemies, those who oppose God]. word study 10 May their eyes [become blind, to perceive spiritually] be darkened [to dull their ability to perceive danger] so they cannot see [to behold, to look at], and their backs [the rear part of the body, figuratively, their strength] be bent [to afflict, to oppress] forever [always, continually, through all time].” word study 11 I ask then, did they stumble [fall into sin, make a mistake] so as to fall [collapse, fail completely] beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass [unintentional error, sin], salvation [rescue, spiritual safety] has come to the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] to make Israel [God’s chosen people] jealous [envious, desirous of what others have]. word study 12 But if their trespass [unintentional error, sin] means riches [spiritual wealth, abundance] for the world [all humanity, creation], and their failure [loss, defeat] means riches [blessings, prosperity] for the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations], how much greater riches [abundant blessings, fulfillment] will their fullness [completion, restoration] bring! word study 13 I am speaking [to you directly, addressing you] to you Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations]. Inasmuch as [since, because] I am the apostle [delegate, messenger of Jesus Christ] to the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations], I magnify [glorify, honor] my ministry [service, work of helping others] word study 14 in the hope [with expectation, trusting] that I may provoke [stir up, arouse to emulation] my own people [flesh, kin] to jealousy [envy, rivalry] and save [rescue, deliver] some of them [a few, certain ones]. word study 15 For [as a reason, because] if their rejection [deprivation, casting away] is the reconciliation [restoration of a relationship] of the world [the orderly arrangement of humanity], what will their acceptance [receiving, welcoming] be but life [physical and spiritual existence] from the dead [a state of spiritual or physical death]? word study 16 If the first part [firstfruit, the initial offering] of the dough [lump, a mass of dough] is holy [set apart, dedicated to God], so is the whole batch [the entire lump]; if the root [the source, the origin] is holy [sanctified, consecrated], so are the branches [the offspring, the descendants]. word study 17 Now if [under the condition that] some branches [parts of the tree] have been broken off [separated, detached], and you, a wild olive shoot [a wild olive tree, uncultivated], have been grafted in [ingrafted, joined] among the others [them] to share in [partake of, participate in] the nourishment [richness, fatness] of the olive root [the source of life, the foundation], word study 18 do not [refuse to, cease from] boast [glory, exult] over those branches [the broken-off parts of the tree]. If you do [if you are tempted to], remember this: You do not [it is not you who] support [bear, carry] the root [the source, origin], but the root [the foundation, basis] supports [nourishes, sustains] you. word study 19 You will say [as a consequence] then, “Branches [small parts of a tree, like the ones people cut and waved] were broken off [separated, detached] so that [in order that, to] I [the speaker, a Gentile] could be grafted in [joined, attached, ingrafted into the tree].” word study 20 That is correct [well, in truth]: They were broken off [separated, detached] because of unbelief [lack of faith, disobedience], but you stand [remain, are established] by faith [trust, confidence in God]. Do not be arrogant [high-minded, proud], but be afraid [fear, have reverence]. word study 21 For [since, because] if God [the one true deity] did not spare [treat leniently, have mercy on] the natural [according to nature, innate] branches [parts of a tree], He will certainly not spare [refrain from punishing, withhold judgment] you [as believers, His people] either [nor, neither]. word study 22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness [goodness, benevolence] and severity [sternness, decisiveness] of God [the supreme deity]: severity [toughness, strict judgment] to those who fell [collapsed, failed], but kindness [goodness, loving-kindness] to you, if you continue [remain, abide] in His kindness [goodness, graciousness]. Otherwise you also will be cut off [removed, severed]. word study 23 And if they do not persist [continue or remain] in unbelief [a lack of faith or trust in God], they will be grafted in [reunited to Himself as branches], for God [the one true deity] is able [powerful and capable] to graft them in again [to reunite them once more]. word study 24 For if you were cut [separated, removed] from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature [against the natural order, unusually] were grafted [joined, attached] into one that is cultivated [a domesticated tree], how much more readily [easily, naturally] will these, the natural branches [the original, authentic parts], be grafted [reunited, restored] into their own olive tree [their original, rightful place]! word study 25 I do not want you to be [completely unaware, lacking knowledge] ignorant of this mystery [a previously hidden truth, a divine secret], brothers [fellow believers, spiritual siblings], so that you will not be [proudly self-assured] conceited: A hardening [a callousness, a stubbornness] in part [to some extent, partially] has come to Israel [the people of God, the nation of Israel], until the full number [the complete fulfillment, the entirety] of the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] has come in [been included, entered into God’s plan]. word study 26 And so [in this way, thus] all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel [the adopted name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] will be saved [rescued, delivered from harm], as [just as, in the same manner] it is written [recorded, prophesied]: “The Deliverer [Savior, Rescuer] will come [arrive, be present] from [out of, originating in] Zion [the hill in Jerusalem]; He will remove [turn away, eliminate] godlessness [ungodliness, wickedness] from [away from, out of] Jacob [the progenitor of the Israelites, the father of the nation]. word study 27 And [also, in addition] this [specific, particular] is My [of Me, from God] covenant [formal agreement, promise] with them [the people, Israel] when [at the time, whenever] I take away [remove, forgive] their sins [transgressions, lawlessness, missing the mark].” word study 28 Regarding the gospel [good news, message of salvation], they are enemies [hostile, opposed to God’s plan] on your account [for your sake, because of you]; but regarding election [God’s selection, choosing], they are loved [beloved, cherished] on account of the patriarchs [fathers, ancestors, those who came before]. word study 29 For [because of this reason] God’s [the one true deity] gifts [spiritual endowments, divine gratuities] and [also] His [the Father’s] call [invitation to salvation, divine summons] are [remain] irrevocable [unrepented of, without regret]. word study 30 Just as you [who were once unbelievers] who formerly disobeyed [refused to believe in or follow] God [the one true deity] have now received [obtained, been given] mercy [compassion, kindness] through their disobedience [unbelief, rebellious refusal to obey], word study 31 so they too have now [at this present time, in this current era] disobeyed [refused to follow instructions, been disobedient], in order that [to the end that, with the purpose that] they too may now [in this present time, currently] receive [obtain, get] mercy [pity, compassion] through [by means of, because of] the mercy [kindness, pity] shown [given, demonstrated] to you [belonging to you, your possession]. word study 32 For [as a reason, to explain] God [the one true deity] has consigned [shut up, confined] everyone [all people, both Jews and non-Jews] to disobedience [rebellious refusal to believe or obey] so that He may have mercy [show compassion, feel sorry for] on everyone [all people, the whole]. word study 33 O, the depth [of profound mystery] of the riches [abundance, wealth] of the wisdom [higher understanding, spiritual insight] and knowledge [intimate understanding, spiritual truth] of God [the one true deity]! How unsearchable [incomprehensible, past finding out] are His judgments [decisions, verdicts], and untraceable [inscrutable, past tracing out] His ways [paths, methods]! word study 34 “Who [or what person] has known [understood, perceived] the mind [intellect, understanding, thoughts] of the Lord [God, the Supreme One]? Or [as an alternative] who [what person, which one] has been [become, served as] His counselor [advisor, guide, one who gives wisdom]?” word study 35 “Who [or which one, what person] has first given [provided in advance, bestowed] to God [the Supreme Being, Creator], that [so that, in order that] God [the Almighty, Eternal One] should repay [give back, recompense] him [as a debtor, in return]?” word study 36 For from Him [the Source of all things] and through Him [as the means of all things] and to Him [for His glory and purpose] are all things [everything that exists]. To Him be the glory [honor and praise] forever [for all eternity]! Amen [so be it, may it be confirmed]. word study