Romans 11:8
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Original Language Analysis
γέγραπται
it is written
G1125
γέγραπται
it is written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
2 of 21
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
Ἔδωκεν
hath given
G1325
Ἔδωκεν
hath given
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
3 of 21
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
αὐτοῖς
them
G846
αὐτοῖς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 21
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
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
God
G2316
θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
6 of 21
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
πνεῦμα
the spirit
G4151
πνεῦμα
the spirit
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
7 of 21
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
κατανύξεως
of slumber
G2659
κατανύξεως
of slumber
Strong's:
G2659
Word #:
8 of 21
a prickling (sensation, as of the limbs asleep), i.e., (by implication, (perhaps by some confusion with g3506 or even with g3571)) stupor (lethargy)
ὀφθαλμοὺς
eyes
G3788
ὀφθαλμοὺς
eyes
Strong's:
G3788
Word #:
9 of 21
the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
not
G3361
μὴ
not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
11 of 21
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
not
G3361
μὴ
not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
16 of 21
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἕως
unto
G2193
ἕως
unto
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
18 of 21
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:4Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.Isaiah 29:10For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.Ezekiel 12:2Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.Jeremiah 5:21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:Luke 8:10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.Acts 28:26Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:Isaiah 6:9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.2 Kings 17:41So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.2 Kings 17:34Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
Historical Context
Isaiah 29:10 warned of spiritual dullness during Judah's declining years before exile. Paul applies this prophetic pattern to first-century Israel's rejection of Messiah. The 'hardening' explains why Jesus taught in parables (Mark 4:11-12)—judicial blinding of those who persistently rejected light.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judicial hardening differ from simply abandoning people to their choices?
- What warning does this verse provide about the danger of persistent rejection of revealed truth?
- How does the phrase 'unto this day' suggest both continuity (ongoing hardening) and limitation (not forever)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Paul now supports verse 7's hardening claim with Scripture: (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber—pneuma katanyxeōs (πνεῦμα κατανύξεως), literally "spirit of stupor" or deep sleep. This conflates Isaiah 29:10 and Deuteronomy 29:4, showing a divine judicial act. God gave (edōken, ἔδωκεν) this stupor—the hardening is not merely permissive but active, though in response to their rejection.
Eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear—this echoes Isaiah 6:9-10, the paradigmatic hardening text Jesus quoted (Matthew 13:14-15). The phrase unto this day (heōs tēs sēmeron hēmeras, ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας) shows the hardening continued into Paul's era. Israel's spiritual insensitivity was not new—it marked their history from Moses forward. Yet Paul's "unto this day" implies this condition is temporal, not eternal—a key point he'll develop (vv. 25-26).