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New King James Version

Romans 10:19

But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." Deuteronomy 32:21 ">[fn]

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gentiles;   Jealousy;   Justification;   Quotations and Allusions;   Thompson Chain Reference - Missions, World-Wide;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christians, Names of;   Jealousy;   Old Testament in the New Testament, the;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Deuteronomy;   Isaiah, the Book of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Human Free Will;   Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Anger;   Children (Sons) of God;   Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Moses;   Moses ;   Nation;   Old Testament;   Quotations;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Deuteronomy, Book of;   Jealousy,;   44 People Nations Gentiles;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Emulation;   Provocation;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,
King James Version (1611)
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will prouoke you to iealousie by them that are no people, & by a foolish nation I will anger you.
King James Version
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
English Standard Version
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
New American Standard Bible
But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION, WITH A FOOLISH NATION I WILL ANGER YOU."
New Century Version
Again I ask: Didn't the people of Israel understand? Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says: "I will use those who are not a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry." Deuteronomy 32:21
Amplified Bible
But I say, did Israel fail to understand [that the gospel was to go also to the Gentiles]? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION (Gentiles); WITH A NATION THAT LACKS UNDERSTANDING I WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU."
Legacy Standard Bible
But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says,"I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation,By a nation without understanding will I anger you."
Berean Standard Bible
I ask instead: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: "I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding."
Contemporary English Version
Did the people of Israel understand or not? Moses answered this question when he told that the Lord had said, "I will make Israel jealous of people who are a nation of nobodies. I will make them angry at people who don't understand a thing."
Complete Jewish Bible
"But, I say, isn't it rather that Isra'el didn't understand?" "I will provoke you to jealousy over a non-nation, over a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
Darby Translation
But I say, Has not Israel known? First, Moses says, *I* will provoke you to jealousy through [them that are] not a nation: through a nation without understanding I will anger you.
Easy-to-Read Version
Again I ask, "Did the people of Israel not understand?" Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says this for God: "I will use those who are not really a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But I demaund, Did not Israel knowe God? First Moses sayth, I will prouoke you to enuie by a nation that is not my nation, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
George Lamsa Translation
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses spoke thus, I will provoke you to jealousy by a people that are not my people, and I will make you angry by a reckless people.
Good News Translation
Again I ask: Did the people of Israel not understand? Moses himself is the first one to answer: "I will use a so-called nation to make my people jealous; and by means of a nation of fools I will make my people angry."
Lexham English Bible
But I say, Israel did not know, did they? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger."
Literal Translation
But I say, Did not Israel know? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by a non-nation, by an unwise nation I will anger you." Deut. 32:21
American Standard Version
But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
Bible in Basic English
But I say, Had Israel no knowledge? First Moses says, You will be moved to envy by that which is not a nation, and by a foolish people I will make you angry.
Hebrew Names Version
But I ask, didn't Yisra'el know? First Moshe says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
International Standard Version
Again I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" Moses was the first to say,Deuteronomy 32:21; Romans 11:11; Titus 3:3;">[xr] "I will make you jealousby those who are not a nation;I will make you angryby a nation that doesn't understand."Deuteronomy 32:21">[fn]
Etheridge Translation
But I say, Hath not Israel known? First, Musha thus speaketh, I will provoke you by a people who is not a people. And by the disobedient people will I make you angry.
Murdock Translation
But I say: Did not Israel know? First, Moses said, thus: I will awaken your emulation, by a people which is not a people; and by a disobedient people, I will provoke you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But I demaunde whether Israel did knowe or not? First Moyses sayth: I wyll prouoke you to enuie, by them that are no people: and by a foolyshe nation I wyll anger you.
English Revised Version
But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
World English Bible
But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But I say, Hath not Israel known? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are not a nation; by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Weymouth's New Testament
But again, did Israel fail to understand? Listen to Moses first. He says, "I will fire you with jealousy against a nation which is no nation, and with fury against a nation devoid of understanding."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Y seie, Whether Israel knewe not? First Moyses seith, Y schal lede you to enuye, that ye ben no folc; that ye ben an vnwise folc, Y schal sende you in to wraththe.
Update Bible Version
But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding I will anger you.
Webster's Bible Translation
But I say, Did not Israel know? First, Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you.
New English Translation
But again I ask, didn't Israel understand? First Moses says, " I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger ."
New Living Translation
But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, "I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles."
New Life Bible
Again I ask, "Did the Jews not understand?" First of all, Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation. I will make you angry with a foolish nation of people who do not understand."
New Revised Standard
Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But I say: Hath, Israel, not come to know? First, Moses, saith - I, will provoke you to jealousy on account of a no-nation, on account of an undiscerning nation, will I make you very angry.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, Moses saith: I will provoke you to jealousy by that which is not a nation: by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Revised Standard Version
Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But I demaunde whether Israel dyd knowe or not? Fyrst Moses sayth: I will provoke you for to envy by the that are no people and by a folisshe nacion I will anger you.
Young's Literal Translation
But I say, Did not Israel know? first Moses saith, `I will provoke you to jealousy by [that which is] not a nation; by an unintelligent nation I will anger you,'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But I saye: Hath not Israel knowne? First, Moses sayeth: I wil prouoke you to enuye, by them that are not my people: & by a foolish nacion wyl I anger you.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but still I ask, did not Israel know this? first, Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy, by those that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."
Simplified Cowboy Version
But did they really understand? I believe they did, for even when Moses was riding for the brand, God said, "You will become jealous of those you think are below you, Israel. You'll throw a fit when I give them my grace and mercy to those who were not even looking for me."

Contextual Overview

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Joel 2:32">[fn] 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, [fn] Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15 ">[fn] 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" Isaiah 53:1">[fn] 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:"Their sound has gone out to all the earth,And their words to the ends of the world." Psalms 19:4 ">[fn] 19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." Deuteronomy 32:21 ">[fn] 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me;I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." Isaiah 65:1 ">[fn] 21 21 But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My handsTo a disobedient and contrary people." Isaiah 65:2 ">[fn]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I say: Romans 10:18, Romans 3:26, 1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 7:29, 1 Corinthians 10:19, 1 Corinthians 11:22, 1 Corinthians 15:50

First: Romans 11:11, Deuteronomy 32:21, Hosea 2:23, 1 Peter 2:10

foolish: Romans 1:21, Romans 1:22, Psalms 115:5-8, Isaiah 44:18-20, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:14, 1 Corinthians 12:2, Titus 3:3

Reciprocal: Luke 15:28 - he Acts 13:46 - seeing

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
1 Chronicles 1:5-27">[xr] Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
Genesis 10:2
The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Genesis 10:7
The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
Genesis 10:8
Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
Genesis 10:10
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Genesis 10:15
Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth;
Genesis 10:17
the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;
Genesis 10:18
the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
Genesis 10:21
And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.
Genesis 10:24
Arphaxad begot Salah, Luke 3:35-36).">[fn] and Salah begot Eber.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I say, did not Israel know? etc.] Some supply the word "God", did not Israel know God? verily, they did; they knew the being and perfections of God, the unity of God, and the trinity of persons in the divine essence; they knew the will of God, and the right way of worshipping him; for they were favoured with a divine revelation; to them were committed the oracles of God, and to them belonged the giving of the "Gospel", did not Israel know the Gospel? yes, they did; they not only heard it, but knew it; not spiritually and experimentally, but nationally and speculatively, and, against the light and conviction of their own minds, obstinately rejected it with contempt: but I rather think this question refers to the calling of the Gentiles, and their own rejection; and the sense is, did not Israel know, that the Gentiles were to be called by the grace of God, and that they themselves were to be cast off? they did know this, at least something of it, though not so clearly as it is now revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; but in some measure they could not but know it, since there were such strong hints of it in the writings of the Old Testament, some of which are hereafter produced:

first Moses saith; not "Moses the first", as if there was another, or a second Moses, but either Moses, who is the first of the inspired writers, and chief of the prophets; or rather this regards order of time, Moses in the first place says so and so, for other testimonies are after cited; the passage in Moses referred to, is

Deuteronomy 32:21.

I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. The Gentiles are here designed by "them that are no people": who before God, and in his sight, as all nations are, were as a drop of the bucket, as the small dust of the balance: nay, even as nothing, yea, less than nothing and vanity: likewise they were no people of any account, of any name; they were mean and contemptible, neglected and overlooked by God himself, and treated with contempt by the Jews, his professing people: and besides, they were not as yet openly and visibly the people of God; they neither called upon his name, nor were they called by his name; he had not as yet taken from among them a people for his name: these are also meant by "the foolish nation"; Jarchi m says, the Cuthites, or Samaritans, are intended; who were neighbours to the Jews, and greatly hated by them: but it may more rightly be applied to all the Gentiles in general, who notwithstanding their large pretensions to natural, civil, and moral wisdom, yet being without a true knowledge of God, Christ, and the Gospel, were a foolish people; and in nothing more did their folly appear, than in their idolatry and superstition. Now the Lord threatened by these people to provoke the Jews to jealousy, and to anger them; and this was but just, and by way of retaliation; for since they provoked him to jealousy and anger, by worshipping strange gods, which plainly declared their want of faith in him, affection for him, and their departure from him; it was a righteous thing in him to provoke them to jealousy of him, as if he had no affection for them, who had been so long, in some sense, an husband to them all; and as about to cast them off; and to anger them, by sending his Gospel among the Gentiles, and calling them by his grace, and making them partakers of his special favours; whereby this prophecy had its full accomplishment: for though the Jews rejected and despised the Gospel themselves, yet nothing more provoked them than that it should be carried among the Gentiles; see Acts 22:21. Now from these words of Moses, the Israelites must needs know, they could not but know that it was the will of God to call the Gentiles, and reject them.

m In Deut. xxxii. 21.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But I say ... - Still further to meet the objection, he shows that the doctrine which he was maintaining was actually taught in the Old Testament.

Did not Israel know? - Did not the Jews understand. Is it not recorded in their books, etc. that they had full opportunity to be acquainted with this truth? This question is an emphatic way of affirming that they did know. But Paul does not here state what it was that they knew. That is to be gathered from what he proceeds to say. From that it appears that he referred to the fact that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles, and that the Jews were to be cast off. This doctrine followed from what he had already maintained in Romans 10:12-13, that there was no difference in regard to the terms of salvation, and that the Jew had no particular privileges. If so, then the barrier was broken down; and if the Jews did not believe in Jesus Christ, they must be rejected. Against this was the objection in Romans 10:14-15, that they could not believe; that they had not heard; and that a preacher had not been sent to them. If, now, the apostle could show that it was an ancient doctrine of the Jewish prophets that the Gentiles should believe, and that the Jews would not believe, the whole force of the objection would vanish. Accordingly he proceeds to show that this doctrine was distinctly taught in the Old Testament.

First - First in order; as we say, in the first place.

I will provoke you - These words are taken from Deuteronomy 32:21. In that place the declaration refers to the idolatrous and wicked conduct of the Jews. God says that they had provoked him, or excited his indignation, by worshipping what was not God, that is, by idols; and he, in turn, would excite their envy and indignation by showing favors to those who were not regarded as a people; that is, to the Gentiles. They had shown favor, or affection, for what was not God, and by so doing had provoked him to anger; and he also would show favor to those whom they regarded as no people, and would thus excite their anger. Thus, he would illustrate the great principle of his government in 2 Samuel 22:26-27, “With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory,” that is, froward. Psalms 18:26. In this passage the great doctrine which Paul was defending is abundantly established - that the Gentiles were to be brought into the favor of God; and the cause also is suggested to be the obstinacy and rebellion of the Jews. It is not clear that Moses had particularly in view the times of the gospel; but he affirms a great principle which is applicable to those times - that if the Jews should be rebellious, and prove themselves unworthy of his favor, that favor would be withdrawn, and conferred on other nations. The effect of this would be, of course, to excite their indignation. This principle the apostle applies to his own times; and affirms that it ought to have been understood by the Jews themselves.

That are no people - That is, those whom you regard as unworthy the name of a people. Those who have no government, laws, or regular organization; who wander in tribes and clans, and who are under no settled form of society. This was the case with most barbarians; and the Jews, evidently regarded all ancient nations in this light, as unworthy the name of a people.

A foolish nation - The word “fool” means one void of understanding. But it also means one who is wicked, or idolatrous; one who contemns God. Psalms 14:1, “the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” Proverbs 1:7, “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Here it means a nation who had no understanding of the true God ἀσυνέτῳ asunetō.

I will anger - My bestowing favors on them will excite your anger. We may remark here,

  1. That God is a sovereign, and has a right to bestow his favors on whom he pleases.

(2)That when people abuse his mercies, become proud, or cold, or dead in his service, he often takes away their privileges, and bestows them on others.

(3)That the effect of his sovereignty is to excite people to anger.

Proud and wicked people are always enraged that he bestows his favors on others; and the effect of his sovereign dealings is, to provoke to anger the very people who by their sins have rejected his mercy. Hence, there is no doctrine that proud man hates so cordially as he does the doctrine of divine sovereignty; and none that will so much test the character of the wicked.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. But I say, Did not Israel know? — You object to this preaching among the Gentiles; but is not this according to the positive declaration of God? He, foreseeing your unbelief and rebellion, said by Moses, Deuteronomy 32:21, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. As you have provoked me to jealousy with worshipping those that are no gods, I will provoke you to jealousy by those which are no people. This most evidently refers to the calling or inviting of the Gentiles to partake of the benefits of the Gospel; and plainly predicts the envy and rage which would be excited in the Jews, in consequence of those offers of mercy made to the Gentiles.


 
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