Bible Strands
Romans 11:28
Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses Gentile believers regarding the current spiritual condition of ethnic Israel. He writes during his explanation of Israel's temporary hardening and the mechanism of their future restoration.
The words — κατὰ (kata) functions as a marker of perspective, literally rendered "as regards" or "concerning." ἐχθροὶ (echthroi) denotes a state of active opposition, here describing Israel's posture toward the gospel.
The thread — The assertion of divine love grounded in patriarchal covenant echoes Deuteronomy 7:7 and Deuteronomy 10:15. The contrast between current rejection and enduring election anticipates the kingdom transfer warned in Matthew 21:43.
Why it lands — The text declares that Israel's present opposition to the gospel coexists with God's irrevocable covenantal love. A reader must acknowledge that divine election operates independently of immediate human response or visible spiritual fruit.
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
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 10:15 Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.
- Deuteronomy 7:7 The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
- Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
- Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
- Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
- Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
- Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- Romans 11:11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
- Leviticus 26:40 But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me—
- Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.