Romans 10:19

Did not Israel know? More precisely, “Is it that Israel did not know?” or “Did Israel fail to understand?” As in v. 18, the Greek construction expects a negative answer. Despite the revelation of God through Moses, and through the prophets, Israel remained ignorant of God’s way of righteousness.

First. That is, first in order, first in prophetic line.

Moses saith. The quotation is from Deut. 32:21. The same Moses who had communicated to Israel their special favors and advantages over the Gentiles had also set up the rule of faith by which this position of favor could possibly, and would in fact, be reversed at some time in the future (see Deut. 32:18, 20).

I will provoke you. By showing mercy to the Gentiles, God hoped to stir up His own people to jealousy and to inspire them with zeal for Him. Compare Hosea 2:23; Rom. 9:25.

By them that are no people. Literally, “upon a no-nation” (cf. Deut. 32:21). The Gentiles are called a “no-nation” because they did not stand in the recognized relation with God in which Israel stood (see Deut. 4:5-8). They were a “foolish nation” because they had not received the same revelation of God, but, instead, worshiped idols of wood and stone (see on Rom. 1:21). Paul aimed to provoke his countrymen to jealousy by pointing out to them that, as Moses had predicted, God had now taken into His special favor people whom the Jews were accustomed to regard as inferior (see ch. 11:14). In doing this the apostle purposed to make clear by his earnest prayers that his people might repent and find salvation in Jesus Christ (chs. 9:1-3; 10:1).