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.”
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.
- BSB 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.”
- 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 am inquired of by those who didn’t ask. I am found by those who didn’t seek me. I said, ‘See me, see me,’ to a nation that was not called by my name.
- Rom 9:30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
- Isa 55:4–5Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
- Matt 22:9–10Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’
- Isa 49:6Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
- Eph 6:19–20on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
- Isa 52:15so he will cleanse many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him: for they will see that which had not been told them; and they will understand that which they had not heard.
- Luke 14:23“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
- 1 Jn 4:19We love him, because he first loved us.
- Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, don’t spare. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their disobedience, 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 last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
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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
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