Romans 10:19

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G235} I say^{G3004}, Did^{G1097} not^{G3378} Israel^{G2474} know^{G1097}? First^{G4413} Moses^{G3475} saith^{G3004}, I^{G1473} will provoke^{G3863} you^{G5209} to jealousy^{G3863} by^{G1909} them that are no^{G3756} people^{G1484}, and by^{G1909} a foolish^{G801} nation^{G1484} I will anger^{G3949} you^{G5209}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Deuteronomy 32:21

They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Romans 11:11

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Romans 11:14

If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.

1 Peter 2:10

Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

1 Corinthians 1:12

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Psalms 115:5

They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

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Commentary for Romans 10:19

Romans 10:19 is a part of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Christian community in Rome, written around AD 57-58. This verse is situated within a larger discussion that spans from chapters 9 to 11, where Paul grapples with the question of why many Jews have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah, despite the promises and prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures pointing towards Him.

In Romans 10:19, Paul quotes the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 32:21 to support his argument. The verse reflects on God's plan for salvation history, emphasizing that God has the sovereign right to choose whom He will use to accomplish His purposes. The "foolish nation" in this context refers to the Gentiles, who were historically outside of the covenant that God made with Israel. Paul uses this Old Testament reference to illustrate that God is using the Gentiles' faith in Christ to provoke the Jews to jealousy, prompting them to reconsider their own rejection of Jesus.

The themes present in this verse include divine sovereignty, the expansion of God's salvation to all people (not just the Jews), and the idea of jealousy or zeal as a motivator for spiritual reflection and transformation. Paul is essentially saying that God's plan includes drawing all people to Himself, and He will use unexpected means—even a nation considered "foolish" or outside the original covenant—to bring about His purposes and to call His chosen people back to Himself. This verse reflects the early Christian understanding that the message of Jesus was to be taken to the ends of the earth, inclusive of all who would believe, thus fulfilling the prophetic words of the Old Testament.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G235
There are 635 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀλλά
Transliteration: allá
Pronunciation: al-lah'
Description: neuter plural of ἄλλος; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
Strong's Number: G1097
There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γινώσκω
Transliteration: ginṓskō
Pronunciation: ghin-oce'-ko
Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.
Strong's Number: G3378
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μὴ οὐκ
Transliteration: mḕ ouk
Pronunciation: ouk
Description: i.e. μή and οὐ; as interrogative and negative, is it not that?:--neither (followed by no), + never, not. Compare οὐ μή.
Strong's Number: G2474
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰσραήλ
Transliteration: Israḗl
Pronunciation: is-rah-ale'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יִשְׂרָאֵל); Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively):--Israel.
Strong's Number: G4413
There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρῶτος
Transliteration: prōtos
Pronunciation: pro'-tos
Description: contracted superlative of πρό; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):--before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.
Strong's Number: G3475
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Μωσεύς
Transliteration: Mōseús
Pronunciation: mo-oo-sace'
Description: of Hebrew origin; (מֹשֶׁה); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses.
Strong's Number: G1473
There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐγώ
Transliteration: egṓ
Pronunciation: eg-o'
Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc.
Strong's Number: G3863
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παραζηλόω
Transliteration: parazēlóō
Pronunciation: par-ad-zay-lo'-o
Description: from παρά and ζηλόω; to stimulate alongside, i.e. excite to rivalry:--provoke to emulation (jealousy).
Strong's Number: G5209
There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὑμᾶς
Transliteration: hymâs
Pronunciation: hoo-mas'
Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G3756
There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐ
Transliteration: ou
Pronunciation: ookh
Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
Strong's Number: G1484
There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔθνος
Transliteration: éthnos
Pronunciation: eth'-nos
Description: probably from ἔθω; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Strong's Number: G801
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀσύνετος
Transliteration: asýnetos
Pronunciation: as-oon'-ay-tos
Description: from Α (as a negative particle) and συνετός; unintelligent; by implication, wicked:--foolish, without understanding.
Strong's Number: G3949
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παροργίζω
Transliteration: parorgízō
Pronunciation: par-org-id'-zo
Description: from παρά and ὀργίζω; to anger alongside, i.e. enrage:--anger, provoke to wrath.

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