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Romans 11:3

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 11:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Romans 11:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:
3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
← Romans 11:2Romans 11:4 →
← Full Chapter 11 Romans Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Lord, they have killed thy prophets, etc..] By the order of Jezebel, wife of Ahab king of Israel, (<111804>1 Kings 18:4). This sin of slaying the prophets of the Lord is charged upon the Jews by Christ, (<402331>Matthew 23:31,37), and by the apostle, (<520215>1 Thessalonians 2:15). In the text in (<111914>1 Kings 19:14), it is added, “with the sword”: which expresses the manner of death they were put to; and this clause is there put after the following, according to a rule of transposition among the Jews; (see Gill on “<402710>Matthew 27:10”). And digged down thine altars; either the altars which the patriarchs had formerly built, and were still in being; and though not used, yet were kept…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“and I am left alone--"I only am left."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lord, they have killed ... - This is taken from 1 Kings 19:10. The quotation is not literally made, but the sense is preserved. This was a charge which Elijah brought against the whole nation; and the act of killing the prophets he regarded as expressive of the character of the people, or that they were universally given to wickedness. The fact was true that they had killed the prophets, etc.; 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13; but the inference which Elijah seems to have drawn from it, that there were no pious people in the nation, was not well founded. And digged down - Altars, by the Law of Moses, were required to be made of earth or unhewn stones; Exodus 20:24-25. Hence, the expression to dig…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Kg1 19:10. Romans 11:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lord: Kg1 18:4, Kg1 18:13, Kg1 19:10-18; Neh 9:26; Jer 2:30 digged: Kg1 18:30, Kg1 18:31 Romans 11:4”
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Related study paths

Read Romans 11 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification