Devine Scripture

Romans 11:15

What does Romans 11:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 11:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 11:15 means

Paul contrasts two epochs: Israel’s casting away has meant reconciliation for the world as the gospel went out; their receiving again will be like life from the dead. The phrase suggests a future revival of extraordinary scope—renewal overflowing to the nations when Israel embraces the Messiah. It does not pin down timing, but it promises scale and impact. The argument is consistent: if God used rejection to bless the world, He will surpass that blessing through restoration. This keeps Gentile believers from triumphalism and fuels prayerful hope for Israel’s renewal as part of God’s unfolding redemptive story.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For, if by their putting away, the rest of men have been made friends with God, what will their coming back again be, but life from the dead?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for if the casting away of them <FI>is<Fi> a reconciliation of the world, what the reception--if not life out of the dead?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For if their casting away [be the] world's reconciliation, what [their] reception but life from among [the] dead?

Context

Following Paul’s personal aim to save some of his people (verse 14), verse 15 lifts the lens to a global horizon. It strengthens the “how much more” theme (verses 12–15), preparing the way for the olive tree imagery that explains how Jews and Gentiles relate within God’s covenant people (verses 16–24). The doxological tone will build later, but here the emphasis is on the magnitude of blessing tied to Israel’s future acceptance.

v.14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.

v.15This passage

v.16And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:18

    But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

  • Romans 11:1

    I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

  • Luke 15:24

    for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

  • Romans 5:10

    For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

  • Ezekiel 37:1

    The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Jehovah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

  • Revelation 20:4

    And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

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