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Romans 11:7–8

What then? pIsrael failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest qwere hardened, as it is written,

r“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

seyes that would not see

and ears that would not hear,

down to this very day.”

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Romans 11:7–8 — The New International Version (NIV)

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that could not see

and ears that could not hear,

to this very day.”

Romans 11:7–8 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Romans 11:7–8 — New Living Translation (NLT)

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep.

To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,

and closed their ears so they do not hear.”

Romans 11:7–8 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor,

Eyes that they should not see

And ears that they should not hear,

To this very day.”

Romans 11:7–8 — New Century Version (NCV)

So this is what has happened: Although the Israelites tried to be right with God, they did not succeed, but the ones God chose did become right with him. The others were made stubborn and refused to listen to God. As it is written in the Scriptures:

“God gave the people a dull mind so they could not understand.”

“He closed their eyes so they could not see

and their ears so they could not hear.

This continues until today.”

Romans 11:7–8 — American Standard Version (ASV)

What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened: according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

Romans 11:7–8 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

What is it then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded, according as it is written, God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day.

Romans 11:7–8 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed, as Scripture says, 

“To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep. 

Their eyes don’t see, 

and their ears don’t hear!” 

Romans 11:7–8 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written:

God gave them a spirit of insensitivity,

eyes that cannot see

and ears that cannot hear,

to this day.

Romans 11:7–8 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,

“God gave them a sluggish spirit,

eyes that would not see

and ears that would not hear,

down to this very day.”

Romans 11:7–8 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

What then? What Israel was searching for, this it did not obtain. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened, just as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear,

until this very day.”

Romans 11:7–8 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

What should we say then? Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. But those who were chosen did. God made the rest of them stubborn.

It is written,

“God made it hard for them to understand.

He gave them eyes that could not see.

He gave them ears that could not hear.

And they are still like that today.”

Romans 11:7–8 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

just as it is written,

God gave them a spirit of stupor,

Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,

Down to this very day.”


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