The Greek that is translated “scripture” or “scriptures” in English is translated as “God’s word which people wrote” in Guerrero Amuzgo (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “paper writings” in Copainalá Zoque (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.), and “writing that one believes” in Cherokee (putting the focus on the ones who interact with them rather the scriptures themselves) (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 101).
The Greek that is translated as “intercede” or similar in English is translated as “speaking in favor of” in Highland Totonac, as “praying to God for” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui, and as “pleading with God for” in Huehuetla Tepehua. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 11:2:
Uma: “God did not discard the people that he had already chosen from the first. Remember the story of the prophet Elia that is written in the Holy Book. Elia accused the Israel people to God, he said:” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “God did not turn-his-back-on/reject the people chosen by him at the beginning long ago yet. You (pl.) know what the holy-book says about Nabi Eliyas. He hep complained to God because of the deeds of the people of Isra’il.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for God, it’s not possible that He abandoned the people He chose long ago before anything was created. The reason He chose them, is so that they might be His subjects. We can understand this in the written word long ago about Elijah, because when he prayed to God because of the evil behavior of his fellow descendants of Israel, he said to God,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “So I repeat to say that God has not turned-away-from his people whom he originally chose. Remember the story in God’s word concerning Elias. He complained to God because of what his fellow Jews were doing and said,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “God already before chose the Jews to become his children. Therefore he does not separate from them. Remember what is said in the Holy Book when Elijah accused the Jews, praying to God. He said:” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
In these verses Paul makes a formal denial of the question raised in the previous verse: God has not rejected his people, a statement based on Psalm 94.14.
Whom he chose from the beginning (New English Bible “which he acknowledged of old as his own”; Jerusalem Bible “the people he chose specially long ago”; An American Translation* “which he had marked out from the first”) translates the same verb rendered had already chosen in 8.29. As a comparison of the Good News Translation and An American Translation* with the New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible clearly shows, the question is whether this choice took place before history began or whether it was a choice made in the course of history even though long ago. If one adopts the interpretation of a choice before history, the closest equivalent may be “whom he chose before he created the world.” The alternative interpretation may lead to a translation such as “whom he chose long, long ago.”
The passage quoted in verse 3 comes from 1 Kings 19.10, 14. The last part of this quotation literally reads “they are seeking my soul,” which is merely a Semitic way of saying they are trying to kill me.
Passage may be rendered in some languages as “what the scripture says (in that part where Elijah pleads with God)” or “… (in the story where Elijah pleads with God).”
An equivalent of pleads may be “speaks strongly” or “speaks … and urges.”
Torn down may be translated as “destroyed,” “caused to fall down,” or even “smashed.”
I am the only one left may be rendered as “I am the only prophet who remains.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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