Romans 11:25

Authorized King James Version

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For 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.

Original Language Analysis

Οὐ not G3756
Οὐ not
Strong's: G3756
Word #: 1 of 29
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
γὰρ For G1063
γὰρ For
Strong's: G1063
Word #: 2 of 29
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
θέλω I would G2309
θέλω I would
Strong's: G2309
Word #: 3 of 29
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas g1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations),
ὑμᾶς that ye G5209
ὑμᾶς that ye
Strong's: G5209
Word #: 4 of 29
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
ἀγνοεῖν should be ignorant G50
ἀγνοεῖν should be ignorant
Strong's: G50
Word #: 5 of 29
not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication, to ignore (through disinclination)
ἀδελφοί brethren G80
ἀδελφοί brethren
Strong's: G80
Word #: 6 of 29
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μυστήριον mystery G3466
μυστήριον mystery
Strong's: G3466
Word #: 8 of 29
a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)
τοῦτο of this G5124
τοῦτο of this
Strong's: G5124
Word #: 9 of 29
that thing
ἵνα G2443
ἵνα
Strong's: G2443
Word #: 10 of 29
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
μὴ G3361
μὴ
Strong's: G3361
Word #: 11 of 29
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἦτε ye should be G5600
ἦτε ye should be
Strong's: G5600
Word #: 12 of 29
(may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with g1487 and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be
παρ᾽ in G3844
παρ᾽ in
Strong's: G3844
Word #: 13 of 29
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj
ἑαυτοῖς your own conceits G1438
ἑαυτοῖς your own conceits
Strong's: G1438
Word #: 14 of 29
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
φρόνιμοι wise G5429
φρόνιμοι wise
Strong's: G5429
Word #: 15 of 29
thoughtful, i.e., sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while g4680 denotes practical skill or acumen; and g4908 indicates rather inte
ὅτι that G3754
ὅτι that
Strong's: G3754
Word #: 16 of 29
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
πώρωσις blindness G4457
πώρωσις blindness
Strong's: G4457
Word #: 17 of 29
stupidity or callousness
ἀπὸ in G575
ἀπὸ in
Strong's: G575
Word #: 18 of 29
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
μέρους part G3313
μέρους part
Strong's: G3313
Word #: 19 of 29
a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application)
τῷ G3588
τῷ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 20 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰσραὴλ to Israel G2474
Ἰσραὴλ to Israel
Strong's: G2474
Word #: 21 of 29
israel (i.e., jisrael), the adopted name of jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)
γέγονεν is happened G1096
γέγονεν is happened
Strong's: G1096
Word #: 22 of 29
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἄχρις until G891
ἄχρις until
Strong's: G891
Word #: 23 of 29
(of time) until or (of place) up to
οὗ G3739
οὗ
Strong's: G3739
Word #: 24 of 29
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 25 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πλήρωμα the fulness G4138
πλήρωμα the fulness
Strong's: G4138
Word #: 26 of 29
repletion or completion, i.e., (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as contai
τῶν G3588
τῶν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 27 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐθνῶν of the Gentiles G1484
ἐθνῶν of the Gentiles
Strong's: G1484
Word #: 28 of 29
a race (as of the same habit), i.e., a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
εἰσέλθῃ be come in G1525
εἰσέλθῃ be come in
Strong's: G1525
Word #: 29 of 29
to enter (literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery—ou gar thelō hymas agnoein to mystērion touto (οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο). Paul introduces a mystērion (μυστήριον, "mystery")—truth once hidden, now revealed. The purpose: lest ye should be wise in your own conceits (hina mē ēte par heautois phronimoi, ἵνα μὴ ἦτε παρ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι). Gentile self-wisdom (pride) must be countered by revealed truth.

The mystery: that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The word pōrōsis (πώρωσις, "blindness/hardening") describes Israel's condition as apo meros (ἀπὸ μέρους, "in part")—partial, not total. It's also temporal: until (achri, ἄχρι) marks the duration. When to plērōma tōn ethnōn (τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν, "the fullness of the Gentiles") comes in, the hardening ends. This 'fullness' likely means the complete number of elect Gentiles, bringing history to its climax.

Historical Context

Paul writes at a pivotal moment: Gentile inclusion was exploding, while Jewish rejection seemed dominant. The 'mystery' explains this is God's planned sequence: Gentiles first (in fullness), then Israel's restoration. This timeline governs redemptive history until Christ's return.

Questions for Reflection

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