Romans 11:12
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Original Language Analysis
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παράπτωμα
the fall
G3900
παράπτωμα
the fall
Strong's:
G3900
Word #:
4 of 18
a side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e., (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression
αὐτῶν
of them
G846
αὐτῶν
of them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 18
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πλοῦτος
be the riches
G4149
πλοῦτος
be the riches
Strong's:
G4149
Word #:
6 of 18
wealth (as fulness), i.e., (literally) money, possessions, or (figuratively) abundance, richness, (specially), valuable bestowment
κόσμου
of the world
G2889
κόσμου
of the world
Strong's:
G2889
Word #:
7 of 18
orderly arrangement, i.e., decoration; by implication, the world (including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 18
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἥττημα
the diminishing
G2275
ἥττημα
the diminishing
Strong's:
G2275
Word #:
10 of 18
a deterioration, i.e., (objectively) failure or (subjectively) loss
αὐτῶν
of them
G846
αὐτῶν
of them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 18
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πλοῦτος
be the riches
G4149
πλοῦτος
be the riches
Strong's:
G4149
Word #:
12 of 18
wealth (as fulness), i.e., (literally) money, possessions, or (figuratively) abundance, richness, (specially), valuable bestowment
ἐθνῶν
of the Gentiles
G1484
ἐθνῶν
of the Gentiles
Strong's:
G1484
Word #:
13 of 18
a race (as of the same habit), i.e., a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
πόσῳ
how
G4214
πόσῳ
how
Strong's:
G4214
Word #:
14 of 18
interrogative pronoun (of amount) how much (large, long or (plural) many)
μᾶλλον
much more
G3123
μᾶλλον
much more
Strong's:
G3123
Word #:
15 of 18
(adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.Colossians 1:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:Ephesians 3:8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;Romans 9:23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,Romans 11:15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?Zechariah 2:11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.Micah 5:7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
Historical Context
The early church's struggle to integrate Gentile believers stemmed partly from surprise at how Israel's majority rejected Messiah. Paul reframes this: their rejection was step one in God's plan, not the conclusion. Step two—Israel's fullness—awaits.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul's 'how much more' logic demonstrate God's redemptive brilliance in using Israel's fall for greater purposes?
- What might the 'fullness' of Israel bring to the world when they are restored?
- How should this future hope for Israel shape Christian attitudes toward Jewish evangelism today?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world—paraptōma (παράπτωμα, "fall/trespass") and hēttēma (ἥττημα, diminishing) both describe Israel's rejection. Yet this produced ploutos (πλοῦτος, riches) for the world—Gentile salvation. Paul argues a fortiori (from lesser to greater): how much more their fulness? (pōsō mallon to plērōma autōn, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῶν).
The word plērōma (πλήρωμα, "fulness") contrasts with hēttēma ("diminishing"). If Israel's diminishment blessed the world, imagine what Israel's fullness will bring! This fullness likely refers to Israel's eschatological salvation (v. 26), when the nation turns to Messiah. Paul envisions a future mass conversion that will bring even greater blessing to the world—possibly the resurrection (v. 15). Israel's future is glorious, not discarded.