Romans 11:31

so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church, specifically Gentile believers, during a period of partial hardening over Israel. He explains the present phase of Israel's unbelief within the immediate sequence of God's redemptive actions described in the surrounding verses.

The words — The text uses οὕτως (houtōs, "so") and νῦν (nun, "now") to mark the timing and manner of Israel's current disobedience, while ἔλεος (eleei, "mercy") defines the mechanism of their future restoration. These terms anchor the verse in the immediate sequence of divine action described in the surrounding verses.

The thread — This pattern of disobedience preceding mercy connects to Romans 11:30, where Gentile mercy follows Israel's unbelief, and Romans 11:32, which states God consigned all to disobedience to show mercy to all. The theme of rejected messengers and divine mercy also echoes Romans 10:16 and 11:15.

Why it lands — The text states that Israel's current disobedience is the deliberate means by which they will later receive mercy through the mercy shown to Gentiles. It requires readers to reject spiritual arrogance and acknowledge that mercy operates through God's sovereign sequence rather than human merit.

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

οὕτωςhoutōsso καὶkaialso οὗτοιhoutoithese νῦνnunnow ἠπείθησανēpeithēsanwere disobedient τῷtō<the>ὑμετέρῳhumeterōto your ἐλέειeleeimercy ἵναinaso that καὶkaialso αὐτοὶautoithey themselves νῦνnunnow ἐλεηθῶσιν.eleēthōsinmay have mercy shown [them].

King James Version

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Cross-references

Romans 10:16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
Romans 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.