Romans 10:19 (ASV)

Passage

But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.

Nearby Context

Romans 10:17 So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

Romans 10:19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.

Romans 10:20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.

Romans 10:21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "israel", "first", "moses", "saith", "provoke", "jealousy", and "nation". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "israel" and "first", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "But I say Did they not hear..." into verse 20's "And Isaiah is very bold and saith...", so "israel" and "first" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "israel" and "first" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.