The Meaning of Romans 11:32 Explained

Romans 11:32

KJV: For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

YLT: for God did shut up together the whole to unbelief, that to the whole He might do kindness.

Darby: For God hath shut up together all in unbelief, in order that he might shew mercy to all.

ASV: For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  God  hath concluded  them all  in  unbelief,  that  he might have mercy  upon all. 

What does Romans 11:32 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The conclusion of the matter is this. As everyone has been disobedient, Gentiles and Jews alike, so God will show mercy to all as well (cf. Romans 3:9; Galatians 3:22). That Isaiah , He will show mercy to all without distinction, not all without exception (cf. Romans 9:17). This is a great ground of assurance.
"A critical frame of reference in Paul"s treatment of Israel"s salvation is a distinction between corporate and individual election." [1]
This concludes the argument of chapters9-11.
"Ethnic Israel has a future, because God will accomplish salvation for Israel according to his new-covenant promise. This awaits the fullness of the Gentiles, when Israel"s hardening will be removed and when Gentile provocation will have taken its course. All Israel will be saved in such a way that God"s mercy will be evident to all." [2]
"Perhaps the view most commonly held among evangelical non-dispensationalists is that Israel"s future is simply an incorporation of that people into the church. Hoekema speaks for many when he writes, "... the future of believing Israelites is not to be separated from the future of believing Gentiles." He states that Israel has no particular place in God"s future salvation economy: "Israel"s hope for the future is exactly the same as that of believing Gentiles: salvation and ultimate glorification through faith in Christ."" [3]
Nothing remains but to praise God for His righteousness in dealing with Israel as He has and as He will.

Context Summary

Romans 11:25-36 - That God "might Have Mercy Upon All"
"Mysteries" are the reasons and principles of the divine procedure which are hidden from ordinary minds, but revealed to the children of God by the Spirit, who searches the deep things, 1 Corinthians 2:10. We cannot tell how near the brim we are, or when the fullness of the Gentiles will fill the predestined measure. It may be much nearer than we suppose, and then the door will be closed, and the Hebrew nation will be grafted in to serve the divine program in the last stages of human history. They are still beloved for their fathers' sake, and the day is coming when all their sins will be forgiven and taken away.
We may go a certain distance in the devout understanding of the ways of God, but there is a point beyond which we cannot advance; and as we gaze down into the profound abyss of the divine dealings, we must cry, O the depth! Romans 11:33. The origin, the maintenance, and the ultimate end of creation, providence, and redemption, is God. To Him must be the glory! In other words, we shall find that the whole story of sin, redemption, and salvation will unravel and reveal the nature of God, as the prismatic band of color the sunlight. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 11

1  God has not cast off all Israel
7  Some were elected, though the rest were hardened
16  There is hope of their conversion
18  The Gentiles may not exult over them;
26  for there is a promise of their salvation
33  God's judgments are unsearchable

Greek Commentary for Romans 11:32

Hath shut up [συνεκλεισεν]
First aorist active indicative of συνκλειω — sunkleiō to shut together like a net (Luke 5:6). See note on Galatians 3:22 for this word with υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian (under sin). This is a resultant (effective) aorist because of the disbelief and disobedience of both Gentile (1:17-32) and Jew (2:1-3:20). [source]
All [τους παντας]
“The all” (both Gentiles and Jews). That he might have mercy (ιναελεησηι — hinȧ̇eleēsēi). Purpose with ινα — hina and aorist active subjunctive. No merit in anyone, but all of grace. “The all” again, who receive God‘s mercy, not that “all” men are saved. [source]
That he might have mercy [ιναελεησηι]
Purpose with ινα — hina and aorist active subjunctive. No merit in anyone, but all of grace. “The all” again, who receive God‘s mercy, not that “all” men are saved. [source]
Concluded [συνέκλεισεν]
Only here, Luke 5:6; Galatians 3:22, Galatians 3:23. A very literal rendering, etymologically considered; con together, claudere to shut. The A.V. followed the Vulgate conclusit. So Hooker: “The person of Christ was only touching bodily substance concluded within the grave.” The word has lost this sense. Rev., hath shut up. Some explain in the later Greek sense, to hand over to a power which holds in ward. [source]
All [τοὺς πάντας]
Lit., the all. The totality, Jews and Gentiles, jointly and severally. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:32

2 Corinthians 10:6 Disobedience [παρακοην]
Rare word (Plato, papyri) hearing amiss (aside), failing to hear, refusing to heed (cf. Matthew 18:17 for same idea in παρακουω — parakouō). In N.T. only here; Romans 5:19; Hebrews 2:2. In contrast with υπακοη — hupakoē (obedience) rather than the common απειτια — apeithia (Romans 11:30, Romans 11:32). When your obedience shall be fulfilled (οταν πληρωτηι υμων η υπακοη — hotan plērōthēi humōn hē hupakoē). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν — hotan and first aorist passive subjunctive. Paul expects that the whole church will become obedient to Christ‘s will soon as came true. [source]
Galatians 3:22 Hath concluded [συνέκλεισεν]
Better, hath shut up, as a jailer. Only in Paul, with the exception of Luke 5:6. Frequent in lxx. Not included with others, but confined as within an enclosure, as Luke 5:6, of the net enclosing the fish. Comp. Exodus 14:3; Joshua 6:1; Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+3:10-19&sr=1">Romans 3:10-19; Romans 11:32. [source]
Galatians 3:22 Hath shut up [συνεκλεισεν]
Did shut together. First aorist active indicative of συνκλειω — sunkleiō old verb to shut together, on all sides, completely as a shoal of fish in a net (Luke 5:6). So Galatians 3:23; Romans 11:32. [source]
Galatians 3:22 Under sin [υπο αμαρτιαν]
See υπο καταραν — hupo kataran in Galatians 3:10. As if the lid closed in on us over a massive chest that we could not open or as prisoners in a dungeon. He uses τα παντα — ta panta (the all things), the totality of everything. See Romans 3:10-19; Romans 11:32. That (ινα — hina). God‘s purpose, personifying scripture again. Might be given First aorist passive subjunctive of διδωμι — didōmi with ινα — hina f0). [source]
Colossians 1:28 Every []
Thrice repeated, in order to emphasize the universality of the Gospel against the intellectual exclusiveness encouraged by the false teachers. For similar emphatic repetitions of all or every, compare 1 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 10:2; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 9:6, Romans 9:7; Romans 11:32, etc. [source]
Hebrews 11:31 Them that believed not [τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν]
Rend. “them that were disobedient.” Simple disbelief is expressed by ἀπιστεῖν, ἀπιστία :disbelief as it manifests itself in disobedience, by ἀπειθεῖν. Ἁπειθεῖν is ἀπιστεῖν on its active side. See on John 3:36, and comp. Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6, Hebrews 4:11; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:32, contrasting with Romans 11:20, Romans 11:23. Ἁπειθεῖν here describes the failure to be persuaded that God had given the land to the Israelites, and the consequent refusal to surrender Jericho. Rahab's faith is shown Joshua 2:9-11. [source]
2 Peter 3:9 Slackness [βραδυτητα]
Old substantive from βραδυς — bradus (James 1:19), here only in N.T. God is not impotent nor unwilling to execute his promise.To youward (εις υμας — eis humas). Προς — Pros rather than εις — eis after μακροτυμει — makrothumei in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 and επι — epi in James 5:7, etc.Not wishing Present middle participle of βουλομαι — boulomai Some will perish (2 Peter 3:7), but that is not God‘s desire. Any Rather than “some” See Acts 17:30; Romans 11:32; 1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 2:9 for God‘s provision of grace for all who will repent. [source]
2 Peter 3:9 Not wishing [μη βουλομενος]
Present middle participle of βουλομαι — boulomai Some will perish (2 Peter 3:7), but that is not God‘s desire. Any Rather than “some” See Acts 17:30; Romans 11:32; 1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 2:9 for God‘s provision of grace for all who will repent. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 11:32 mean?

Has bound up for - God - all in disobedience that He may show mercy to
συνέκλεισεν γὰρ Θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν ἵνα ἐλεήσῃ

συνέκλεισεν  Has  bound  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: συγκλείω  
Sense: to shut up together, enclose.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τοὺς  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀπείθειαν  disobedience 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀπείθεια  
Sense: obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἐλεήσῃ  He  may  show  mercy  to 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐλεέω 
Sense: to have mercy on.