Devine Scripture

Romans 11:9

What does Romans 11:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 11:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 11:9 means

Paul cites David to illustrate how blessings misused can turn into snares. “Their table” implies a place of satisfaction and privilege becoming a trap. The imagery conveys that what Israel relied upon—heritage, ceremonies, or perceived security—could, through unbelief, harden rather than help. The language of snare, trap, stumblingblock, and recompense speaks of consequences that fit their response to God. This is not gloating but sober recognition that spiritual privileges do not guarantee salvation. Without faith, gifts become liabilities. The verse deepens the explanation of hardening: judgment may operate through the very things people trust in most when those things replace trust in God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And David says, Let their table be made a net for taking them, and a stone in their way, and a punishment:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and David saith, `Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompense to them;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And David saith: Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:

Context

Continuing from verse 8, Paul strengthens his case with another Old Testament voice—David—showing that the pattern of judgment on unbelief is well attested. Verse 9 contributes vivid imagery of privileges turned to snares, which verse 10 will amplify with pictures of blindness and bondage. Together they conclude the scriptural diagnosis of Israel’s condition before Paul pivots in verse 11 to God’s gracious purpose beyond the present stumbling.

v.8according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

v.9This passage

v.10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 66:9

    Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God.

  • Luke 16:19

    Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:

  • Deuteronomy 6:10

    And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not,

  • Job 20:20

    Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

  • Psalms 69:22

    Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, let it become a trap.

  • Deuteronomy 32:13

    He made him ride on the high places of the earth, And he did eat the increase of the field; And he made him to suck honey out of the rock, And oil out of the flinty rock;

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