The Meaning of Romans 11:6 Explained

Romans 11:6

KJV: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

YLT: and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.

Darby: But if by grace, no longer of works: since otherwise grace is no more grace.

ASV: But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  if  by grace,  then [is it] no more  of  works:  otherwise  grace  is  no more  grace.  But  if  [it be] of  works,  then is it  no more  grace:  otherwise  work  is  no more  work. 

What does Romans 11:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The apostle elaborated the final thought of Romans 11:5 here. It is the grace of God, not the works of the remnant, that is the real cause of their condition. Believing Jews are not superior, just greatly blessed.

Context Summary

Romans 11:1-12 - A Remnant Saved By Grace
In the worst days of Hebrew apostasy there was always an elect handful that did not go astray after other gods. It was so in the days of Elijah; and it was a comfort to the faithful heart of Paul to believe that, amid the general opposition excited by the preaching of the gospel, there were many secret lovers of the Cross who were true to the Messiah and His claims. Man can never count these quiet, unknown, holy souls, who, like the sweetest wild flowers, can be detected only by the fragrance of their lives. But God counts them, to whose grace and care all that is good in them is due.
The few seek and find, because they stoop to seek in God's predetermined way and along His lines. But when men set themselves against these, they become hardened and overwhelmed by a "spirit of stupor," Romans 11:8, r.v. When Scripture says that God gives them this, it simply means that such state of insensibility is the working out of an inevitable law. But the Apostle cherished the secret hope that the avidity with which the Gentiles were accepting the gospel would, in the mystery of God's providence, have the ultimate effect of bringing the Chosen People back to Him whom their fathers crucified, Romans 11:11. [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 11:6

Otherwise [επει]
Ellipse after επει — epei (since), “since, in that case.” [source]
Is no more [ουκετι γινεται]
“No longer becomes” grace, loses its character as grace. Augustine: Gratia nisi gratis sit gratia non est. [source]
Otherwise [ἐπεὶ]
Lit., since. Since, in that case. [source]
Grace is no more, etc. [γίνεται]
Lit., becomes. No longer comes into manifestation as what it really is. “It gives up its specific character” (Meyer). [source]
But if of works, etc. []
The best texts omit to the end of the verse. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:6

Romans 11:5 According to the election of grace [κατ εκλογην χαριτος]
As in Romans 9:6-13. The election is all of God. Romans 11:6 explains it further. [source]
Romans 3:6 For then how [επει πως]
There is a suppressed condition between επει — epei and πως — pōs an idiom occurring several times in the N.T. (1 Corinthians 15:29; Romans 11:6, Romans 11:22). “Since, if that were true, how.” [source]
Galatians 2:16 By the works of the law [ἐξ ἔργων νόμου]
Lit. out of the works, etc. Comp. Romans 3:20. Works are characteristic of a legal dispensation. Paul often puts “works” alone as representing legal righteousness. See Romans 4:2, Romans 4:6; Romans 9:11, Romans 9:32; Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:9. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 11:6 mean?

If now by grace no longer from works otherwise - grace would be If however of is it - work is work
εἰ δὲ χάριτι οὐκέτι ἐξ ἔργων ἐπεὶ χάρις γίνεται ⧼Εἰ δὲ ἐξ ἐστὶν τὸ ἔργον ἐστὶν ἔργον⧽

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
χάριτι  by  grace 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
οὐκέτι  no  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐκέτι  
Sense: no longer, no more, no further.
ἔργων  works 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ἐπεὶ  otherwise 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἐπεί  
Sense: when, since.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χάρις  grace 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
γίνεται  would  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐστὶν  is  it 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ἔργον⧽  work 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.