Romans 10:1

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman believers as "Brothers" while shifting from his doctrinal argument to pastoral concern. He writes at a transitional moment, immediately introducing his analysis of Israel's religious zeal in the following verse.

The words — The Greek εὐδοκία (eudokia) literally means "good pleasure" or "desire," coupled with ἐμῆς καρδίας (emēs kardias), "of my heart." The text explicitly states these terms to ground the speaker's appeal in personal, inward longing rather than abstract doctrine.

The thread — The text records this same intercessory focus in Romans 9:1, where Paul affirms his truthful witness before God. The parallel missionary approach appears in 1 Corinthians 9:20, where the author describes adapting his conduct to reach Jewish audiences.

Why it lands — The text demands that readers measure their spiritual concerns against the concrete salvation of others. It requires replacing unexamined religious activity with targeted, truthful intercession.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
John 5:34 Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.
Romans 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 32:13 Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”
Jeremiah 17:16 But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.
Jeremiah 18:20 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
1 Samuel 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.