Romans 11:26

And so. Gr. kai houtos, “and thus,” “and in this way.” The adverb expresses manner, not conclusion, or time.

All Israel. That Paul is not teaching universal salvation for either Gentiles or Jews has already been shown (see on v. 25). Furthermore, why should only the generation of Jews living in the time of the end be assured of salvation by some kind of divine decree? Paul has expressed his hope that “some of them” (v. 14) might be saved. It seems evident from this that he believed that many would reject all efforts to save them, and that accordingly he never envisioned the conversion of the entire nation.

Some commentators hold that the faithful remnant (see on v. 5) to which are added those Jews who accept Christ during the Christian Era, constitute the “all Israel” who will be saved. This view is based on the observation that Paul’s burden in ch. 11 is the salvation of his fellow Israelites. He contrasts their salvation with that of the Gentiles. The two groups are distinguished throughout the chapter by the Jews’ being referred to in the third person and the Gentiles in the second. The salvation of the former is described by the expression “all Israel shall be saved”; that of the latter by “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Other commentators hold that “all Israel” represents spiritual Israel. This view is based on the belief that Paul is here completing his illustration of the olive tree. He has shown how the branches representing the unbelieving Jews were broken off, and the wild olive shoots, representing the Gentiles, grafted in. He has shown, also, how the severed branches could be reunited with the parent stock. By the grafting in of these branches the tree representing spiritual Israel would again be made whole. “All Israel” would thus represent the totality of those saved, Jews and Gentiles, who together constitute “all” of true Israel (Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 6:15, 16).

As it is written. The quotation is from Isa. 59:20, 21; 27:9, agreeing more with the LXX than with the Hebrew. Instead of the LXX “for Zion’s sake,” Paul’s quotation reads, “out of Sion.” The modification may have been suggested by such passages as Ps. 14:7; 50:2; 53:6; Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2.

Sion. Or, “Zion,” that is, Jerusalem (see on Ps. 48:2).

Deliverer. The Hebrew of Isa. 59:20 reads go’el, “redeemer” (see on Job 19:25; cf. Deut. 25:5-10; Ruth 3:12, 13; 4:7-10).

Ungodliness. Gr. asebeia, “ungodliness in thought and deed,” “impiety.” Isaiah’s prediction expressed the hope that a revival would sweep the ranks of apostate Israel and that the nation would at long last fulfill her divine destiny. Paul shows how the prophecy will meet its fulfillment not with the nation of the Jews, but with individual Jews accepting Jesus as the Messiah and being grafted into the stock of true Israel (see v. 23).

Jacob. That is, Israel (see Num. 23:21; Ps. 78:5; Micah 3:8).