Romans 10:19 (LSB)

Passage

But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

Nearby Context

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:18 But I say, have they never heard? On the contrary, they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 10:19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

Romans 10:20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

Romans 10:21 But as for Israel He says, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "israel", "first", "moses", "says", "make", "jealous", 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 have they never heard..." into verse 20's "And Isaiah is very bold and says...", 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.