Romans 11:4

KJV

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G235} what {G5101} saith {G3004} the answer of God {G5538} unto him {G846}? I have reserved {G2641} to myself {G1683} seven thousand {G2035} men {G435}, who {G3748} have {G2578} not {G3756} bowed {G2578} the knee {G1119} to the image of Baal {G896}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But what is God’s answer to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt down to Ba‘al.”

Berean Standard Bible

And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

American Standard Version

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 11:4 is a pivotal verse within Paul's discourse on God's enduring faithfulness to Israel, even in the face of their widespread unbelief. It directly quotes God's response to Elijah's despairing lament, revealing that despite appearances of total apostasy during the prophet's time, God had secretly preserved a faithful remnant of seven thousand men who had not succumbed to the idolatry of Baal. This historical precedent serves as a powerful illustration for Paul's contemporary argument: just as God preserved a remnant in Elijah's day, He continues to do so in the present, demonstrating His unwavering covenantal commitment and sovereign election.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 11:4 is embedded within Paul's extended argument in [Romans 9-11](/romans/9-11 "Romans 9-11 - God's Sovereignty and Israel's Place") concerning God's plan for Israel. Having established God's sovereign election and the partial hardening of Israel in [Romans 9](/romans/9 "Romans 9 - God's Sovereign Choice") and [Romans 10](/romans/10 "Romans 10 - Israel's Unbelief and God's Righteousness"), Paul opens [Romans 11](/romans/11 "Romans 11 - The Remnant and Israel's Restoration") with the rhetorical question, "Hath God cast away his people?" ([Romans 11:1](/romans/11-1 "Romans 11:1 - God has not rejected Israel")). He immediately answers with a resounding "God forbid!" and offers himself as a prime example of a believing Israelite. To further underscore God's faithfulness, Paul then draws a direct parallel to the prophet Elijah's experience during a period of intense apostasy in Israel, as recorded in [1 Kings 19](/1_kings/19 "1 Kings 19 - Elijah's Flight and God's Still Small Voice"). Elijah, feeling utterly alone and persecuted, laments to God that he is the only prophet left ([1 Kings 19:10](/1_kings/19-10 "1 Kings 19:10 - Elijah's Despair")). Romans 11:4 presents God's direct, comforting, and corrective "answer" to Elijah, demonstrating that God's perspective is far grander than human perception. This historical example sets the stage for Paul's conclusion that there is still a "remnant according to the election of grace" ([Romans 11:5](/romans/11-5 "Romans 11:5 - The Remnant According to Grace")) in his own day, proving God's continued work among His chosen people.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Romans 11:4 is the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in ancient Israel, as detailed in [1 Kings 16-19](/1_kings/16-19 "1 Kings 16-19 - Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah"). This period was marked by unprecedented state-sponsored idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, a prominent Canaanite fertility god. Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, aggressively promoted Baal worship, leading to the persecution and murder of Yahweh's prophets ([1 Kings 18:4](/1_kings/18-4 "1 Kings 18:4 - Obadiah Hides Prophets")). The confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel ([1 Kings 18](/1_kings/18 "1 Kings 18 - Elijah on Mount Carmel")) highlights the pervasive nature of this idolatry. To "bow the knee to Baal" was a public act of allegiance and worship, signifying complete submission to this false deity and rejection of the covenant God of Israel. In Paul's time, the cultural context for the Roman church involved a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers, with the Jewish believers grappling with the perceived rejection of Israel by God due to their national unbelief in Christ. Paul uses this Old Testament precedent to assure them that God's promises to Israel are not nullified, and His electing grace still operates, even when the majority seems to have gone astray.

* **Key Themes:** Romans 11:4 significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Romans and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **God's unwavering faithfulness and preservation**. Despite widespread apostasy and human despair, God actively preserves a people for Himself, demonstrating His sovereignty over history and His commitment to His covenant promises. This hidden preservation underscores that God's work is not always visible to human eyes, nor is it dependent on human merit or numbers. Secondly, the verse is central to the **"remnant" concept**, a recurring biblical theme (e.g., [Isaiah 10:20-22](/isaiah/10-20-22 "Isaiah 10:20-22 - The Remnant Will Return"), [Jeremiah 23:3](/jeremiah/23-3 "Jeremiah 23:3 - God Gathers a Remnant")). This concept signifies that God's plan is never entirely thwarted, and He always maintains a group of true worshipers, chosen by His grace, even in times of spiritual decline or judgment. Thirdly, the phrase "not bowed the knee to Baal" emphasizes the theme of **exclusive loyalty and standing against idolatry**. It highlights the stark contrast between devotion to the one true God and homage paid to false deities. The faithfulness of these seven thousand men serves as a testament to resisting pervasive cultural and religious pressures to compromise one's faith, a call that resonates throughout the biblical narrative from the Exodus ([Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3-5 "Exodus 20:3-5 - No Other Gods Before Me")) to the warnings in the New Testament against various forms of idolatry ([1 Corinthians 10:14](/1_corinthians/10-14 "1 Corinthians 10:14 - Flee from Idolatry")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **answer of God (Greek, _chrēmatismós'_):** This term refers to a divine response or revelation. It emphasizes that the words spoken to Elijah are not merely human counsel but a direct, authoritative communication from God Himself. It highlights the divine origin and infallible truth of the message.
* **reserved (Greek, _kataleípō'_):** Meaning "to leave down, i.e., behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining." In this context, it signifies God's active and deliberate act of setting aside or preserving these individuals for Himself. It underscores divine initiative and sovereign choice in their preservation, not their own efforts.
* **bowed (Greek, _kámptō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to bend." Here, it refers to the physical act of bending the knee, which is universally understood as a gesture of reverence, submission, and worship. Its negation ("have not bowed") emphasizes their steadfast refusal to offer homage to Baal.
* **knee (Greek, _góny'_):** Refers to the physical joint. When combined with "bowed," it forms the idiom for an act of worship or submission. The seven thousand's unbent knees symbolize their unbroken allegiance to the Lord and their rejection of Baal's dominion.
* **Baal (Greek, _Báal'_):** Of Hebrew origin, this proper noun refers to a Phoenician deity, the chief god of the Canaanite pantheon, often associated with fertility and storms. In the biblical narrative, Baal worship represents the epitome of idolatry and spiritual apostasy, serving as a symbol of any false god or system that demands allegiance away from the true God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But what saith the answer of God unto him?"**: This rhetorical question introduces God's direct intervention into Elijah's despair. It highlights that human perception (Elijah's belief that he was alone) is often limited and corrected by divine revelation. The "answer of God" (chrēmatismós) underscores the authoritative and divine nature of the subsequent statement, contrasting human lament with divine truth.
* **"I have reserved to myself seven thousand men"**: This clause reveals God's sovereign action and hidden work. The phrase "reserved to myself" (kataleípō emautoû) emphasizes that God Himself, by His own will and power, set apart and preserved these individuals. The number "seven thousand" is a specific, divinely known quantity, signifying a complete and sufficient remnant, even if unknown to human observers like Elijah. It speaks to God's meticulous knowledge and control.
* **"who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal."**: This final clause defines the remnant by their unwavering loyalty and exclusive worship of the true God. "Not bowed the knee" is a powerful idiom signifying their refusal to submit to or worship the false deity Baal, representing any form of idolatry or compromise with the world's systems. Their faithfulness was absolute, even in a time of pervasive apostasy, demonstrating their steadfast covenant allegiance.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 11:4 is rich in literary devices. The verse begins with a **Rhetorical Question** ("But what saith the answer of God unto him?"), which serves to draw the reader's attention and emphasize the profound significance of God's subsequent declaration, contrasting divine truth with human limited perspective. The entire verse functions as a powerful **Allusion** to the narrative in [1 Kings 19:18](/1_kings/19-18 "1 Kings 19:18 - God's Remnant for Elijah"), demonstrating Paul's masterful use of Old Testament scripture to support his theological arguments concerning Israel. The phrase "not bowed the knee to Baal" employs **Symbolism**, where the physical act of bowing the knee represents an act of worship, submission, and allegiance, while "Baal" symbolizes any false god or idolatrous system that competes with the true God. The "seven thousand men" represent the **Remnant**, a recurring biblical motif signifying God's faithful preservation of a chosen few amidst widespread apostasy, highlighting divine election and faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 11:4 profoundly underscores the unwavering faithfulness of God, even when human perception suggests otherwise. It reveals that God's covenant promises are not contingent on the perfect obedience of the entire nation, but on His own sovereign will and electing grace. The concept of a preserved "remnant" is a cornerstone of biblical theology, demonstrating that God always maintains a people for Himself, ensuring the continuity of His redemptive plan despite human failure. This divine preservation is not earned but gifted, highlighting the supremacy of grace in God's dealings with humanity. The verse also serves as a powerful reminder that true faith involves exclusive devotion to God, rejecting all forms of idolatry, whether ancient or modern.

* [1 Kings 19:18](/1_kings/19-18 "1 Kings 19:18 - God's Remnant Revealed to Elijah")
* [Isaiah 1:9](/isaiah/1-9 "Isaiah 1:9 - The Lord of Hosts Left Us a Remnant")
* [Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 11:4 offers profound encouragement and a challenging call to contemporary believers. In a world that often seems increasingly secular, hostile to biblical truth, or consumed by various forms of modern "idolatry"—such as materialism, self-worship, political ideologies, or the pursuit of fleeting pleasures—it is easy to feel isolated, much like Elijah did. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that you are never truly alone in your faith. God, in His sovereign wisdom and faithfulness, always knows and preserves His true worshipers, a hidden remnant known only to Him. Our task is not to despair over the apparent majority, but to remain steadfast in our allegiance to Christ, refusing to "bow the knee" to the prevailing idols of our age. This calls for unwavering loyalty, spiritual discernment, and courageous conviction to live out our faith authentically, trusting that God's purposes will prevail and that He will ultimately gather His elect.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or culture do you feel pressure to "bow the knee" to something other than God?**
* **How does the concept of God having a "remnant" encourage you when you feel isolated or discouraged in your faith?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure your loyalty to God remains unwavering amidst contemporary challenges?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the "seven thousand men" mentioned in Romans 11:4?**

Answer: The "seven thousand men" refers to God's faithful remnant during the time of Elijah, as originally revealed in [1 Kings 19:18](/1_kings/19-18 "1 Kings 19:18 - God's Remnant for Elijah"). This number is significant not necessarily for its literal quantity, but as a symbolic representation of a divinely preserved, complete, and sufficient group of people who remained loyal to God despite widespread apostasy. It underscores God's sovereign ability to maintain a people for Himself, even when human perception (like Elijah's) suggests total abandonment. For Paul, this historical example serves as a powerful parallel to God's continued preservation of a believing remnant within Israel in his own day, demonstrating that God has not entirely rejected His people ([Romans 11:1](/romans/11-1 "Romans 11:1 - God has not rejected Israel")).

**What does it mean to "bow the knee to Baal" in a modern context?**

Answer: In its original context, "bowing the knee to Baal" meant offering worship and allegiance to a false Canaanite deity, rejecting the one true God of Israel. In a modern context, it symbolizes any act of submission, worship, or ultimate allegiance given to anything other than the Triune God. This can include materialism, the pursuit of power or fame, self-worship, secular ideologies, or anything that takes the place of God in one's life. The call to "not bow the knee" is a call to exclusive devotion to Christ, resisting the cultural pressures and temptations to compromise one's faith or give ultimate loyalty to anything created rather than the Creator ([Romans 1:25](/romans/1-25 "Romans 1:25 - Worshiping the Creature Rather Than the Creator")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 11:4, in its declaration of God's preserved remnant, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The "answer of God" to Elijah's despair ultimately points to Jesus Christ, who is the definitive and ultimate "answer" to humanity's spiritual plight and God's final word to us ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")). The seven thousand men who did not bow the knee to Baal foreshadow the true Israel, the church, which is comprised of all who, by God's sovereign grace, have bowed their knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Jesus")). Christ Himself is the head of this new covenant remnant, the one "chosen by God and precious" ([1 Peter 2:4](/1_peter/2-4 "1 Peter 2:4 - Christ, the Living Stone")), through whom all of God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises are Yes in Christ")). The faithfulness of the seven thousand, preserved by God's power, prefigures the preservation of all believers "in Christ Jesus" ([Jude 1:1](/jude/1-1 "Jude 1:1 - Preserved in Jesus Christ")), who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ([1 Peter 1:5](/1_peter/1-5 "1 Peter 1:5 - Kept by God's Power")). Thus, the divine reservation of a faithful few in Elijah's day culminates in God's gracious election and preservation of His entire church through the atoning work and reigning lordship of Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 19:18

Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Numbers 25:3

And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Jeremiah 19:5

They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire [for] burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake [it], neither came [it] into my mind:

Hosea 2:8

For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, [which] they prepared for Baal.

Judges 2:13

And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

2 Kings 10:19

Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice [to do] to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did [it] in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

2 Kings 10:20

And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed [it].