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.

(According as {G2531} it is written {G1125}, God {G2316} hath given {G1325} them {G846} the spirit {G4151} of slumber {G2659}, eyes {G3788} that they should {G991} not {G3361} see {G991}, and {G2532} ears {G3775} that they should {G191} not {G3361} hear {G191};) unto {G2193} this {G4594} day {G2250}.

just as the Tanakh says,

“God has given them a spirit of dullness —
eyes that do not see
and ears that do not hear,
right down to the present day.”

as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

Commentary

Context of Romans 11:8

Romans 11:8 is part of Paul's profound theological argument in chapters 9-11 of his Epistle to the Romans, where he addresses the complex question of Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah and God's ongoing plan for His chosen people. After establishing that God has not completely cast away Israel, evidenced by the existence of a believing remnant (Romans 11:5), Paul explains the spiritual condition of the majority who did not believe. This verse, presented as an Old Testament quotation, provides a divine explanation for their spiritual blindness and inability to perceive the truth of the Gospel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Hardening: The verse directly attributes the spiritual state of unbelieving Israel to God's action: "God hath given them the spirit of slumber." This points to a sovereign act of divine judgment, where spiritual insensitivity is a consequence of persistent unbelief and rejection.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Deafness: The metaphors "eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear" vividly describe a profound spiritual incapacity. It's not merely a lack of understanding but an inability to comprehend spiritual truth, specifically the identity of Jesus as Messiah and the nature of the new covenant. This state is described as extending "unto this day," indicating its ongoing reality during Paul's time.
  • God's Sovereignty: While challenging, this verse underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over human hearts and destinies, even in judgment. It aligns with Paul's broader teaching that God's purposes will be fulfilled, regardless of human resistance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "spirit of slumber" translates the Greek pneuma katanuxeos (πνεῦμα κατανύξεως). Katanuxis implies a stupor, a deep sleep, or a spirit of deep insensitivity. It's more than just apathy; it suggests a divinely induced state of spiritual dullness or numbness, akin to a trance, preventing genuine spiritual perception. Paul is quoting from the Old Testament, drawing from passages like Isaiah 29:10 ("For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep") and Deuteronomy 29:4 ("Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day"). This demonstrates Paul's reliance on prophetic and historical precedent to explain Israel's condition.

Related Scriptures

  • This verse is part of Paul's larger discussion in Romans 9-11 concerning God's faithfulness to Israel and His mysterious ways.
  • The concept of spiritual blindness is also found in Jesus' teachings, for example, in Matthew 13:13, where He explains speaking in parables so that those who "seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
  • Paul maintains that this hardening is not total or final (Romans 11:25), but rather serves a temporary purpose in God's redemptive plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles.

Practical Application and Reflection

Romans 11:8 serves as a sobering reminder of the potential for spiritual insensitivity, even among those with great religious heritage. It highlights that true spiritual understanding is a gift from God, not merely a product of human intellect or effort. For believers, it encourages humility and reliance on divine grace to truly see and hear God's truth. It also underscores the mystery of God's sovereign plan, reminding us that His ways are often beyond our full comprehension, yet always just and ultimately geared towards His glorious purposes, which include the eventual restoration of Israel.

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

  • Deuteronomy 29:4

    Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

  • Isaiah 29:10

    For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they [are] a rebellious house.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:14

    But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:15

    But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

  • Luke 8:10

    And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

  • Jeremiah 5:21

    Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
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