And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Isaiah is very bold, and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”
- KJV But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
- NKJV But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
- NASB And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
- NLT And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Isaiah boldly declares that God was found by those who did not seek him and revealed to those who did not ask. God graciously reaches out to the Gentiles who were not pursuing him.
Overview
Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1 to confirm the surprising inclusion of the Gentiles. God made himself known to people who were not even seeking him, highlighting the sheer grace of their salvation. This echoes 9:30, where Gentiles attained righteousness they did not pursue. The boldness of Isaiah's words underscores that God's gracious initiative, not human merit, brings outsiders into his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Isa 65:1–2“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
- Rom 9:30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- Isa 55:4–5Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
- Matt 22:9–10Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’
- Isa 49:6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Eph 6:19–20Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Isa 52:15so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.
- Luke 14:23So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- 1 Jn 4:19We love because He first loved us.
- Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 10:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.