Romans 11:10

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Let {G4654} their {G846} eyes {G3788} be darkened {G4654}, that they may {G991} not {G3361} see {G991}, and {G2532} bow down {G4781} their {G846} back {G3577} alway {G1275}.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see,
with their backs bent continually.”

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.

Commentary

Romans 11:10 is a potent verse quoted by the Apostle Paul from Psalm 69:23, a prophetic imprecation from David against his enemies. In this context, Paul applies it to a segment of Israel that has, for a time, resisted the Gospel message, leading to a spiritual hardening.

Context

This verse is found within Romans chapters 9-11, where Paul delves into the complex relationship between God's faithfulness, Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah, and the inclusion of Gentiles into God's plan of salvation. Paul asserts that while a "blindness in part" has happened to Israel (Romans 11:25), it is not a complete or final rejection. He explains that God has allowed this hardening for a season, enabling the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Blindness: The core message is a judicial spiritual blindness. "Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see" signifies an inability to perceive or accept the spiritual truths of the Gospel, not a physical impairment. This blindness is a consequence of persistent unbelief and rejection of God's revealed will.
  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: This verse underscores God's sovereign hand in history and His righteous judgment. While humanity is responsible for its choices, God can also allow or even effect a hardening of hearts as a consequence, as seen with Pharaoh in the Old Testament.
  • Burden of Unbelief: "Bow down their back alway" suggests a perpetual burden or servitude. This can imply the spiritual weight of living under the Law without grace, or the oppressive consequences of being spiritually blind and separated from God's full favor in Christ.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: Paul uses this Old Testament prophecy to demonstrate that Israel's current state of partial hardening was foreseen and is part of God's overarching plan.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Let their eyes be darkened" (skotisthetōsan hoi ophthalmoi autōn in Greek) powerfully conveys a deep spiritual inability to comprehend truth. It's not just ignorance, but an active obscuring of spiritual vision. The accompanying "bow down their back alway" (synkampson ton nōton autōn dia pantos) speaks to a posture of perpetual burden, servitude, or even spiritual weakness, contrasting with the freedom found in Christ.

Practical Application

Romans 11:10 serves as a somber warning about the dangers of spiritual indifference and rejection of divine truth. It reminds us:

  • The Seriousness of Unbelief: Persistently resisting God's call and truth can lead to a hardening of the heart and spiritual blindness, making it increasingly difficult to perceive spiritual realities.
  • Humility for Believers: Those who have received spiritual sight through Christ should not boast against those who are hardened (Romans 11:18), but rather recognize God's grace and their own dependence on Him.
  • Prayer for Spiritual Awakening: This verse should motivate believers to pray for those who are spiritually blind, that their eyes might be opened to the light of the Gospel, as Paul himself yearned for Israel's salvation (Romans 10:1).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 69:23

    Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

  • Deuteronomy 28:64

    And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone.

  • Deuteronomy 28:68

    And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy [you].

  • Ephesians 4:18

    Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

  • 2 Peter 2:4

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • Romans 11:8

    (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

  • Romans 1:21

    Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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