Romans 11:31

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 11:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.
Romans 11:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Even so have these also now not believed, etc..] Now is the time of the Jews' unbelief, blindness has happened to them, the vail is over their hearts; as the Gentiles formerly did not believe God, so the Jews do not now; though they believe there is a God, and that there is but one God, yet they do not believe God in Christ; nor that he is the Father of Christ; or that Christ is the Son of God, the true Messiah, and Saviour of the world: they do not believe, as some read the words, connecting them with the next clause, and so they stand in the original text, “in your mercy”; meaning either Christ, in whom the Gentiles obtained mercy; or the Gospel, the means of it; or the sense is, that they…”
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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
“Even so have these--the Jews. now not believed--or, "now been disobedient" that through your mercy--the mercy shown to you. they also may obtain mercy--Here is an entirely new idea. The apostle has hitherto dwelt upon the unbelief of the Jews as making way for the faith of the Gentiles--the exclusion of the one occasioning the reception of the other; a truth yielding to generous, believing Gentiles but mingled satisfaction. Now, opening a more cheering prospect, he speaks of the mercy shown to the Gentiles as a means of Israel's recovery; which seems to mean that it will be by the instrumentality of believing Gentiles that Israel as a nation is at length to "look on Him whom they have…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Even so have these ... - That is, the Jews. That through your mercy ... - The immediate effect of the unbelief of the Jews was to confer salvation on the Gentiles, or to open the way for the preaching of the gospel to them. But its remote effect would be to secure the preaching of the gospel again to the Jews. Through the mercy, that is, the compassion or deep feeling of the converted Gentiles; through the deep and tender pity which they would feel for the blinded and degraded Jews: the gospel should be again carried to them, and they should be recalled to the long lost favor of God. Each party should thus cause salvation to come to the other - the Jews to the Gentiles by their unbelief; but…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“believed: or, obeyed, Rom 10:16, Rom 11:15, Rom 11:25 Romans 11:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification