Romans 11:10
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow downe their backe alway. Romans 11:10 (KJV)
Romans 11:10 is part of the larger context of Romans 9‑11, where the apostle Paul addresses the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation. In these chapters Paul reflects on God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Israel and the inclusion of Gentiles in the new covenant through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Romans 11:10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament, specifically from Psalm 69:23‑24, to illustrate a spiritual blindness that has affected some within Israel. The surrounding passage reads (KJV):
“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.”
The phrase “Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see” is a direct quotation from Psalm 69:24, describing the psalmist’s anguish and persecution. By applying this verse to the Jews of his time, Paul suggests that a hardening of hearts and spiritual blindness has resulted in the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
The clause “bow down their back always” (or “ever”) may symbolize a posture of perpetual subservience or spiritual stiffness, emphasizing the state of those who have rejected God’s salvation and remain resistant to the Gospel.
Paul’s intention in highlighting this spiritual blindness is not to condemn the entire Jewish nation but to demonstrate God’s mercy and grace in extending salvation to the Gentiles. He stresses that the hardening is temporary and ultimately serves a greater purpose in God’s redemptive plan (see Romans 11:11‑32).
Overall, Romans 11:10 reminds believers of the consequences of rejecting God’s offer of salvation and the importance of maintaining a receptive heart. It underscores the need for humility and faith in Jesus Christ as the means of salvation, regardless of one’s religious heritage.
