Devine Scripture

Romans 11:4

What does Romans 11:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 11:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 11:4 means

God’s response to Elijah overturns the prophet’s despair: the Lord Himself has reserved seven thousand who refused idolatry. The key is God’s sovereign initiative—“I have left for myself.” Faithfulness survives not merely by human resolve but because God keeps a people for His name. The number is not small in context; it signifies that, though invisible to Elijah, a substantial remnant existed. This demonstrates how God’s grace quietly sustains true worship amid widespread apostasy. Paul uses this to show that in any age, God’s redemptive plan is not measured by majority opinion or visible success, but by His preserving mercy toward those He calls.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But what answer does God make to him? I have still seven thousand men whose knees have not been bent to Baal.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but what saith the divine answer to him? `I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal.

Context

Having quoted Elijah’s complaint, Paul now cites God’s corrective word to show that despair about Israel was misguided. Verse 4 provides the Old Testament precedent: even when things looked hopeless, God had His own remnant. This prepares the theological point in verse 5: what was true then remains true in Paul’s time. The argument is moving from narrative example to doctrinal conclusion—grace maintains a faithful core within Israel despite general unbelief.

v.3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

v.4This passage

v.5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Cross references

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

  • Hosea 13:1

    When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

  • Zephaniah 1:4

    And I will stretch out my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarim with the priests;

  • Judges 2:13

    And they forsook Jehovah, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.

  • 1 Kings 16:31

    And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

  • Hosea 2:8

    For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

  • Jeremiah 19:5

    and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

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