Romans 11:4
New International Version
And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

New Living Translation
And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

English Standard Version
But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Berean Standard Bible
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Berean Literal Bible
But what was the divine answer spoken to him? "I have left to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

King James Bible
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

New King James Version
But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

New American Standard Bible
But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

NASB 1995
But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

NASB 1977
But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But what does the divine response say to him? “I HAVE LEFT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

Amplified Bible
But what is God’s response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

Christian Standard Bible
But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

American Standard Version
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Contemporary English Version
But the Lord told Elijah, "I still have 7,000 followers who have not worshiped Baal."

English Revised Version
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But what was God's reply? God said, "I've kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal."

Good News Translation
What answer did God give him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal."

International Standard Version
But what was the divine reply to him? "I have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal."

Majority Standard Bible
And what was the divine reply to him? ?I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.?

NET Bible
But what was the divine response to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."

New Heart English Bible
But how does God answer him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand people, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Webster's Bible Translation
But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Weymouth New Testament
But what did God say to him in reply? "I have reserved for Myself 7,000 men who have never bent the knee to Baal."

World English Bible
But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but what does the divine answer say to him? “I left to Myself seven thousand men who did not bow a knee to Ba‘al.”

Berean Literal Bible
But what was the divine answer spoken to him? "I have left to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Young's Literal Translation
but what saith the divine answer to him? 'I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'

Smith's Literal Translation
But what say to him the intimations of divine will I have left to myself seven thousand men, who bent not the knee to Baal.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men, that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But what is the Divine response to him? “I have retained for myself seven thousand men, who have not bent their knees before Baal.”

New American Bible
But what is God’s response to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt to Baal.”

New Revised Standard Version
But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it was said to him in a vision: Behold I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not knelt on their knees to worship Baal.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It was said to him by revelation, “Behold, I have left for myself 7000 men who have not bowed their knees and worshiped Baal.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But what says the answer of God to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Godbey New Testament
But what says the answer to him? I have left unto myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Haweis New Testament
But what saith the oracle of God to him? ?I have left to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.?

Mace New Testament
but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Weymouth New Testament
But what did God say to him in reply? "I have reserved for Myself 7,000 men who have never bent the knee to Baal."

Worrell New Testament
But what says the answer of God to him? "I left for Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Worsley New Testament
But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Remnant of Israel
3“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? 4And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.…

Cross References
1 Kings 19:18
Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:10
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

1 Kings 19:14
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”

1 Kings 19:9-18
There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” / “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” / Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ...

1 Kings 19:1-21
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. / So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!” / And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ...

1 Kings 18:22
Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.

1 Kings 18:19
Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

1 Kings 18:13
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.

1 Kings 18:36-39
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” / Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. ...

1 Kings 18:20-40
So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. / Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. / Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. ...

1 Kings 18:1-46
After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.” / So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria, / and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD, ...

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

1 Kings 17:2-6
Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. / And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” ...

1 Kings 17:7-16
Some time later, however, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: / “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

But what said the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

I have reserved.

1 Kings 19:18
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Baal.

Numbers 25:3
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Deuteronomy 4:3
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

Judges 2:13
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

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Baal Ba'al Bent Bow Bowed Divine God's Image Kept Knee Knees Reserved Response Seven Thousand
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Romans 11
1. God has not cast off all Israel.
7. Some were elected, though the rest were hardened.
16. There is hope of their conversion.
18. The Gentiles may not exult over them;
26. for there is a promise of their salvation.
33. God's judgments are unsearchable.














And what was the divine reply to him?
This phrase refers to God's response to Elijah, found in 1 Kings 19:18. Elijah, feeling isolated and believing he was the only faithful servant left, receives reassurance from God. This highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to preserve a remnant, even when circumstances seem dire. The divine reply emphasizes that God is always in control and aware of His faithful followers, countering human perceptions of abandonment or defeat.

“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men
The number seven thousand is symbolic, often representing completeness or perfection in biblical numerology. This remnant signifies God's intentional preservation of a faithful group, underscoring His covenant faithfulness. Historically, this remnant was preserved during a time of widespread idolatry in Israel, demonstrating God's commitment to His people despite their unfaithfulness. This concept of a remnant is echoed throughout Scripture, such as in Isaiah 10:22 and Romans 9:27, where God consistently preserves a faithful group for His purposes.

who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Baal was a prominent Canaanite deity, and worship of Baal was a significant issue in Israel, often leading to syncretism and apostasy. The act of bowing the knee symbolizes submission and worship. By stating that these men have not bowed to Baal, God highlights their faithfulness and resistance to cultural pressures. This resistance is a type of Christ, who remained faithful and obedient to God despite temptation and opposition. The refusal to worship Baal also connects to the broader biblical theme of idolatry versus true worship, as seen in passages like Exodus 20:3-5 and Daniel 3:16-18, where God's people are called to exclusive devotion to Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elijah
A prophet in the Old Testament who felt isolated and believed he was the only one left serving God. His account is a backdrop to this verse.

2. Baal
A Canaanite deity often associated with idolatry in Israel. Worship of Baal was a significant issue during Elijah's time.

3. God's Remnant
The concept of a faithful group preserved by God, even when the majority turn away.

4. Israel
The nation chosen by God, often struggling with faithfulness, which is central to the context of Romans 11.

5. Paul
The apostle who wrote the letter to the Romans, addressing the issue of Israel's unbelief and God's faithfulness.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God always preserves a remnant, demonstrating His faithfulness even when it seems like all have turned away.

The Danger of Isolation
Like Elijah, believers may feel isolated in their faith, but God assures us that we are not alone.

Idolatry's Subtlety
Baal worship represents any form of idolatry that can creep into our lives. We must remain vigilant.

Divine Sovereignty
God's plan is not thwarted by human unfaithfulness. He is sovereign and will fulfill His promises.

Encouragement in Trials
In times of spiritual drought or opposition, remember that God has His people everywhere.(4) To the image of Baal.--The name "Baal" is here, as frequently in the LXX., in the feminine gender, and it is to account for this that our translators have inserted the word "image." How the feminine really came to be used is uncertain. Some have thought that the deity was androgynous, others have conjectured that the feminine is used contemptuously. Baal was originally the sun-god. The sun, it may be remembered, is feminine in German and some other languages.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[And]
Ἀλλὰ (Alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

what [was]
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

divine reply
χρηματισμός (chrēmatismos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5538: An oracle, divine response. From chrematizo; a divine response or revelation.

to him?
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“I have reserved
Κατέλιπον (Katelipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2641: From kata and leipo; to leave down, i.e. Behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining.

for Myself
ἐμαυτῷ (emautō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683: Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.

seven thousand
ἑπτακισχιλίους (heptakischilious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2035: Seven thousand. From heptakis and chilioi; seven times a thousand.

men
ἄνδρας (andras)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

who
οἵτινες (hoitines)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

{have} not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

bowed
ἔκαμψαν (ekampsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2578: To bend, bow. Apparently a primary verb; to bend.

[the] knee
γόνυ (gony)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1119: The knee. Of uncertain affinity; the 'knee'.

to Baal.”
Βάαλ (Baal)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 896: Baal, chief deity of the Phoenicians and other Semitic nations. Of Hebrew origin; Baal, a Phoenician deity.


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NT Letters: Romans 11:4 But how does God answer him? (Rom. Ro)
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