For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Parallel translations
- WEB For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?
- KJV For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
- NKJV For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
- NASB For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
- NLT For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!
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
If Israel's rejection meant the world's reconciliation, their acceptance will be like resurrection life from the dead.
Overview
Paul again argues from lesser to greater: if setting Israel aside brought reconciliation to the Gentile world, their restoration will bring something even more glorious. 'Life from the dead' suggests an extraordinary outpouring of life, whether the climax of salvation history or a picture of spiritual renewal. The verse keeps hope fixed on God's intention to bless his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Eph 1:10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- Rom 5:10–11For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
- 2 Cor 5:18–20All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
- Luke 15:32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
- Luke 15:24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
- Col 1:20–21and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Rom 11:11–12I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
- Rev 11:11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.
- Rom 11:1–2I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
- Dan 9:24Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
- Ezek 37:1–14The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
- Rev 20:4–6Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 11:15 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.