11:2a
God did not reject His people: This repeats the thought in 11:1a but in a statement rather than a question. Here the word not is explicit.
His people, whom He foreknew: The clause whom He foreknew further describes His people. It does not separate some of his people from other of his people. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word whom. For example:
his people. He foreknew them.
-or-
his people, indeed, he foreknew them
foreknew: This word refers to knowing about something before it exists or before it happens. Here it also implies that God chose Israel as his people before they existed. For example:
chose from the very beginning (New Living Translation (2004))
See how you translated this word in 8:29.
11:2b–c
Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that the believers in Rome should know what the Scripture says about what Elijah said against Israel (11:3) and God’s reply (11:4). Translate with that meaning. This question is not a rebuke. Here are some ways:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do/Maybe you know what the Scripture says about Elijah and how he appealed to God against Israel?
-or-
Have you thought about the talk in Scripture about Elijah when he asked God to punish Israel?
• As a statement. For example:
You know what the scripture says in the passage where Elijah pleads with God against Israel. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Think ⌊again⌋ about the talk in Scripture about Elijah when he asked God to punish Israel
Paul here only questioned their knowledge. He did not question what Elijah said to God. For example:
Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet appealed to God about the people of Israel and said, (New Living Translation (2004))
11:2b
the Scripture: This is more literally “the writing.” But in the New Testament this word is always used for all or part of God’s Holy written Word. At the time only Genesis to Malachi, what Christians now call the Old Testament, was called Scripture.
Elijah: Elijah was a prophet of God. Scripture talks about him in 1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2.
11:2c
appealed to God against Israel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appealed here refers to Elijah accusing Israel of wrongdoing. Here are other ways to translate this word:
complained to God about the people of Israel (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
blamed Israel before God
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