the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New Living Translation
Romans 11:10
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
Let their eyes be closed so that they cannot see. And let them be troubled forever."
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs for ever."
Let their eyes be blynded that they se not: and ever bowe doune their backes.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always."
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,Psalm 69:23;">[xr] and keep their backs forever bent."Psalm 69:22-23; 35:8">[fn]
"MAY THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS CONTINUALLY."
Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see and their backs be forever weak from troubles." Psalm 69:22–23
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow down their back always.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always."
Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Let darkness come over their eyes that they may be unable to see, and make Thou their backs continually to stoop."
Be the iyen of hem maad derk, that thei se not; and bowe thou doun algatis the bak of hem.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back alway.
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever."
Blindfold their eyes! Don't let them see. Bend their backs beneath a burden that will never be lifted."
"LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED SO THAT THEY DO NOT SEE, AND MAKE THEIR BACKS BEND [under their burden] FOREVER."
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.
Let their eyes be made dark so that they may not see, and let their back be bent down at all times.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, with their backs bent continually."
let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And their back at all times be bowed;
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and let their back, at all times, be bowed down.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow downe their backe alway.
Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see. Keep their backs from being straight always because of their troubles."
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs forever bent."
Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and bowe downe their backe alwayes.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and let their backs be bowed down always.
Darkened be their eyes, not to see, and, their back, do thou continually bow down.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down their back always.
Let their eyes be blinded yt they see not, & bowe thou downe their backe alway.
May their eyes be blinded so that they cannot see; and make them bend under their troubles at all times."
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,and their backs be bent continually.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, and cause their backs to bend continually."
"let their eyes be darkened, not to see, and their back always bowing." LXX-68:23, 24; MT-Psa. 69:22, 23
let their eyes be darkened -- not to behold, and their back do Thou always bow down.'
Let their eyes be blynded that they se not, and euer bowe downe their backes.
let their eyes be darkned, so as not to see, and let their back be continually bowed down."
let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually. "
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,And bow down their back always." Psalms 69:22, 23 ">[fn]
Shield your glory from their eyes and let their backs break for all time."
"LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."
Let their eyes be darkened to see not,And bend their backs forever."
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
their eyes: Romans 11:8, Romans 1:21, Psalms 69:23, Zechariah 11:17, Ephesians 4:18, 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:6, Jude 1:13
and bow: Deuteronomy 28:64-68, Isaiah 51:23, Isaiah 65:12
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:65 - failing of eyes
Cross-References
After the birth of Peleg, Eber lived another 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
After the birth of Serug, Reu lived another 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Serug was 30 years old, he became the father of Nahor.
This is the account of Terah's family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see,.... Which is to be understood not literally of their being struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were by the angels, and as Elymas the sorcerer was by the Apostle Paul; but mystically, of the eyes of their understandings being darkened, as they were by themselves and by Satan, and judicially by God; so that they could not see into the true same of the prophecies and promises concerning Christ; and how all the characters of the Messiah met in Jesus of Nazareth; their eyes were so blinded, that they could see no beauty nor comeliness in him; no excellency in his person, nothing wonderful in his works, nor amiable in his doctrine; nay, not only spiritual things, the things of the Gospel, were hid from the most wise and prudent among them, from their doctors and Rabbins, but also the things which regarded their temporal peace and happiness were hid from their eyes; their eyes were not only darkened with respect to things spiritual and evangelical, but even with regard to things natural and civil: never did a people act more imprudently for their temporal safety and welfare, or appear so infatuated in all their conduct, as they did, as the history of their wars does abundantly declare:
and bow down their back alway; which may denote their subjection and bondage to the Romans, when taken and carried captive by them; who laid very heavy burdens on them, which bowed down their backs indeed, multitudes of them being condemned to the mines; or this may design the general disposition of the minds of these people, which are bowed to the earth, for they mind nothing but earth and earthly things; the acquiring of which they are bent upon at any rate, and are infamous for their earthly mindedness, covetousness, extortion, usury, tricking, and over reaching: or this phrase may be expressive of that trembling, distress, horror, and despair, which shall seize them; especially when the son of man comes in the clouds of heaven, and they that have pierced him shall behold him, and wail because of trim; for in the Psalms the words are, "make their loins continually to shake", Psalms 69:23.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And David saith ... - This quotation is made from Psalms 69:22-23. This Psalm is repeatedly quoted as having reference to the events recorded in the New Testament. (See the note at Acts 1:2.) This quotation is introduced immediately after one that undoubtedly refers to the Lord Jesus. Psalms 69:21, “they gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” The passage here quoted immediately follows as an imprecation of vengeance for their sins. “Let their table,” etc. The quotation is not made, however, either literally from the Hebrew or from the Septuagint, but the sense only is retained. The Hebrew is, “Let their table before them be for a snare, and for those at peace, let it be for a gin.” The Septuagint is, “Let their table before them be for a snare, and for a stumbling-block, and for an offence.” The ancient Targum is, “Let their table which they had prepared before me be for a snare, and their sacrifices be for an offence.”
The meaning is this. The word “table” denotes food. In this they expected pleasure and support. David prays that even this, where they expected joy and refreshment, might prove to them the means of punishment and righteous retribution. A snare is that by which birds or wild beasts were taken. They are decoyed into it, or walk or fly carelessly into it, and it is sprung suddenly on them. So of the Jews. The petition is, that while they were seeking refreshment and joy, and anticipating at their table no danger, it might be made the means of their ruin. The only way in which this could be done would be, that their temporal enjoyments would lead them away from God, and produce stupidity and indifference to their spiritual interests. This is often the result of the pleasures of the table, or of seeking sensual gratifications. The apostle does not say whether this prayer was right or wrong. The use which he seems to make of it is this, that David’s imprecation was to be regarded in the light of a prophecy; that what he prayed for would come to pass; and that this had actually occurred in the time of the apostle; that their very enjoyments, their national and private privileges, had been the means of alienating them from God; had been a snare to them; and was the cause of their blindness and infidelity. This also is introduced in the psalm as a punishment for giving him vinegar to drink; and their treatment of the Messiah was the immediate cause why all this blindness had come upon the Jews.
A trap - This properly means anything by which wild beasts are taken in hunting. The word “snare” more properly refers to birds.
And a stumbling-block - Anything over which one stumbles or falls. Hence, anything which occasions us to sin, or to ruin ourselves.
And a recompense - The Hebrew word translated “what should have been for their welfare,” is capable of this meaning, and may denote their recompense, or what is appropriately rendered to them. It means here that their ordinary comforts and enjoyments, instead of promoting their permanent welfare, may be the occasion of their guilt and ruin. This is often the effect of earthly comforts. They might lead us to God, and should excite our gratitude and praise; but they are often abused to our spiritual slumber and guilt, and made the occasion of our ruin. The rich are thus often most forgetful of God; and the very abundance of their blessings made the means of darkness of mind, ingratitude, prayerlessness, and ruin. Satisfied with them, they forget the Giver; and while they enjoy many earthly blessings, God sends barrenness into their souls. This was the guilt of Sodom, “pride, and fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness,” Ezekiel 16:49; and against this Moses solemnly warned the Jews; Deuteronomy 6:11-12; Deuteronomy 8:10-12. This same caution might be extended to the people of this land, and especially to those who are rich, and are blessed with all that their hearts have wished. From the use which the apostle makes of this passage in the Psalms, it is clear that he regarded it rather as a prophetic denunciation for their sins - a prediction of what would be - than as a prayer. In his time it had been fulfilled; and the very national privileges of the Jews, on which they so much prided themselves, and which might have been so great blessings, were the occasion of their greater sin in rejecting the Messiah, and of their greater condemnation. Thus, their table was made a trap, etc.
Romans 11:10
Let their eyes be darkened - This is taken literally from the psalm, and was evidently the main part of the passage which the apostle had in his eye. This was fulfilled in the insensibility and blindness of the Jews. And the apostle shows them that it was long ago predicted, or invoked, as a punishment on them for giving the Messiah vinegar to drink; Psalms 69:21, Psalms 69:23.
And bow down their back alway - The Hebrew Psalms 69:23 is, “Let their loins totter or shake,” that is, as one does when he has on him a heavy burden. The apostle has retained this sense. It means, let them be called to bear heavy and oppressive burdens; let them be subjected to toil or servitude, as a reward for their sins. That this had come upon the Jews in the time of Paul is clear; and it is further clear that it came upon them, as it was implied in the psalm, in consequence of their treatment of the Messiah. Much difficulty has been felt in reconciling the petitions in the psalms for calamities on enemies, with the spirit of the New Testament. Perhaps they cannot all be thus reconciled; and it is not at all improbable that many of those imprecations were wrong. David was not a perfect man; and the Spirit of inspiration is not responsible for his imperfections. Every doctrine delivered by the sacred writers is true; every fact recorded is recorded as it was.
But it does not follow that all the men who wrote, or about whom a narrative was given, were perfect. The reverse is the fact. And it does not militate against the inspiration of the Scriptures that we have a record of the failings and imperfections of those men. When they uttered improper sentiments, when they manifested improper feelings, when they performed wicked actions, it is no argument against the inspiration of the Scriptures that they were recorded. All that is done in such a case, and all that inspiration demands, is that they be recorded as they are. We wish to see human nature as it is; and one design of making the record of such failings is to show what man is, even under the influence of religion; not as a perfect being, for that would not be true; but as he actually exists mingled with imperfection. Thus, many of the wishes of the ancient saints, imperfect as they were, are condemned as sinful by the spirit of the Christian religion.
They were never commended or approved, but they are recorded just to show us what was in fact the character of man, even partially under the influence of religion. Of this nature probably, were many of the petitions in the Psalms; and the Spirit of God is no more answerable for the feeling because it is recorded, than he is for the feelings of the Edomites when they said, “Rase it, rase it to the foundation” Psalms 137:7. Many of those prayers, however, were imprecations on his enemies as a public man, as the magistrate of the land. As it is right and desirable that the robber and the pirate should be detected and punished; as all good people seek it, and it is indispensable for the welfare of the community, where is the impropriety of praying that it may be done? Is it not right to pray that the laws may be executed; that justice may be maintained; and that restraint should be imposed on the guilty? Assuredly this may be done with a very different spirit from that of revenge. It may be the prayer of the magistrate that God will help him in what he is appointed to do, and in what ought to be done. Besides, many of these imprecations were regarded as simply predictions of what would be the effect of sin; or of what God would do to the guilty. Such was the case we are now considering, as understood by the apostle. But in a prediction there can be nothing wrong.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Romans 11:10. Let their eyes be darkened — All these words are declarative, and not imprecatory. God declares what will be the case of such obstinate unbelievers; their table, their common providential blessings, will become a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and the means of their punishment. Their eyes will be more and more darkened as they persist in their unbelief, and their back shall be bowed down always; far from becoming a great and powerful nation, they shall continue ever in a state of abject slavery and oppression, till they acknowledge Jesus as the promised Messiah, and submit to receive redemption in his blood.
