Read & explore together
All Israel Will Be Saved
These verses explain a “mystery” so the readers will not become proud. The writer speaks about Israel, the Gentiles, disobedience, mercy, and the way God’s gifts and calling remain irrevocable.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is part of a letter and gives teaching rather than telling a story. The writer addresses “brothers” and explains a mystery about Israel’s partial hardening, the fullness of the Gentiles, God’s covenant, and mercy shown in the midst of disobedience.
Romans 11:25–32Main takeaway
These verses teach that no group has room for pride, because all need mercy and God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A mystery meant to humbleThe writer says the readers should not be ignorant of this mystery, because ignorance could leave them “wise in your own conceits”.
Explanation
The writer says the readers should not be ignorant of this mystery, because ignorance could leave them “wise in your own conceits”. The mystery named here is that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, and this lasts until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”. “Partial” shows the hardening is not described as total.
02Salvation linked with the Deliverer and covenantThe next lines say, “all Israel will be saved”, then support that statement with words about the Deliverer coming out of Zion.
Explanation
The next lines say, “all Israel will be saved”, then support that statement with words about the Deliverer coming out of Zion. He will “turn away ungodliness from Jacob”. The covenant is then described with the words, “when I will take away their sins”, keeping the focus on rescue from sin.
03Enemies in one respect, beloved in anotherThese verses describe the same people from two viewpoints. Concerning the Good News, they are “enemies for your sake”.
Explanation
These verses describe the same people from two viewpoints. Concerning the Good News, they are “enemies for your sake”. Concerning the election, they are “beloved for the fathers’ sake”. The reason given is clear and careful: “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
04Disobedience and mercy for allThe writer reminds the readers that they once were disobedient to God but now have obtained mercy.
Explanation
The writer reminds the readers that they once were disobedient to God but now have obtained mercy. He then says these others have now been disobedient so that they also may obtain mercy. The closing summary is broad: God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the writer want the readers to understand this mystery?
Look for the stated purpose in the verse and notice how understanding is meant to stop pride.
02What does the passage say the Deliverer will do?
Read the quoted lines closely and list the actions connected with ungodliness and sins.
03How do the final verses connect disobedience with mercy?
Trace the repeated words “disobedient” and “mercy” across the last three verses.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 11:25–32
25For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
26and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”
28Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
31even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
32For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.