Romans 10:18

But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church, mid-argument, to preempt the objection that Israel's unbelief stems from ignorance. He is not speaking to Israel directly but to his readers, building a case through rhetorical questions.

The words — The double negative μὴ…οὐκ is a litotes that affirms with force: they did hear. μενοῦνγε (menounge) adds emphatic weight, "indeed, without doubt."

The thread — The quotation is Psalm 19:4, where the voice of creation proclaims God's glory to all the earth. The same universal scope recurs in Matthew 24:14 (gospel preached to all nations) and Romans 1:8 (faith proclaimed "all over the world").

Why it lands — The verse forecloses the excuse of non-hearing; if the message reached the ends of the world, the failure to believe is a matter of response, not access. It puts the weight of the question squarely on the listener.

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

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Cross-references

Psalms 19:4 their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
1 Thessalonians 1:8 For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
Colossians 1:6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.