The big picture
Romans 10 opens in verse 1 with “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”, and closes in verse 21 with “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient…” Repeated or prominent terms include righteousness, heart, Lord, believeth, call. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Romans · King James Version · 21Romans 10:1-7
1–7: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they…
Romans 10:1–7 opens with “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” and reaches “Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 10 develops its own movement around righteousness, heart, Lord, believeth, call, with particular weight carried by righteousness, Christ, ascend.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Naming Brethren keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Romans 10:1-7
King James Version1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Romans 10:8-14
8–14: What saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy…
Romans 10:8–14 opens with “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word…” and reaches “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 10 develops its own movement around righteousness, heart, Lord, believeth, call, with particular weight carried by call, heart, Lord.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Romans 10:8-14
King James Version8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:15-21
15–21: How shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How…
Romans 10:15–21 opens with “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of…” and reaches “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 10 develops its own movement around righteousness, heart, Lord, believeth, call, with particular weight carried by Esaias, gospel, hearing.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Romans 10:15-21
King James Version15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Romans 10:1 begins with “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
Where the chapter turns
Romans 10:8 forms a natural hinge: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”
The final note
Romans 10:21 leaves the reader with “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words righteousness, heart, Lord, believeth, call, Christ help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.