For if their being cast away is the reconciling 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?
- BSB For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
- ESV For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 1:10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;
- Rom 5:10–11For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.
- 2 Cor 5:18–20But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
- Luke 15:32But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
- Luke 15:24for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.
- Col 1:20–21and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
- Rom 11:11–12I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
- Rev 11:11After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.
- Rom 11:1–2I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Dan 9:24Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
- Ezek 37:1–14Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
- Rev 20:4–6I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived 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.