


Romans 11:29
Bible Versions
For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.
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Hebrews 7:21
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) -
Numbers 23:19
God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? -
Malachi 3:6
For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. -
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. -
Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
Context of Romans 11:29
Romans chapters 9-11 form a crucial theological section in Paul's letter, addressing the complex relationship between God's promises to Israel and the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community through Christ. Having discussed Israel's partial hardening and the ingrafting of Gentiles in the metaphor of the olive tree, Paul concludes this section with an emphatic declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness. Verse 29 serves as a foundational statement affirming that God's ultimate plan for Israel, and indeed for all His people, is secure and unchangeable.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The key phrase "without repentance" translates the Greek word ametamelēta (ἀμεταμέλητα). This term means "not to be repented of," "irrevocable," or "unchangeable." It does not imply that God is incapable of repenting (changing His mind) in a human sense, but rather that His gifts and callings are of such a nature that they are not subject to reversal or reconsideration on His part. They are firm, final, and steadfast. This highlights the absolute reliability of God's promises and His divine will.
Related Scriptures
Practical Application
Romans 11:29 offers profound comfort and assurance to believers today. It reminds us that: