What Does Romans 11:7 Mean in the King James?
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse separates seeking from receiving, and its “blinding” carries the deeper image of perception hardened like a callus.
THE MEANING
In you, wanting what is true does not itself mean you have received it. The verse names a painful split: some receive what is sought, while others become hardened in perception. It leaves the mystery of that distinction in view rather than reducing it to a formula.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the assumption that sincere seeking guarantees reception; wanting and obtaining remain distinct in the verse.
THE ROOT
ἐπωρώθησαν
epōrōthēsan
GROWS FROM
πωρ- (por-), from πῶρος (pōros)
To harden or make callous; the underlying image is a hard surface or callus.
The KJV’s “blinded” here is ἐπωρώθησαν (epōrōthēsan), from πωρόω (pōroō), a word family associated with forming a callus or hard surface. The image adds insensibility to the loss of sight: a callus dulls touch, so perception itself has become less responsive.
ALSO GROWS
pōros: Callus; hard stone
πῶρος
This physical image behind the verb makes the verse’s blindness a loss of sensitivity as well as sight.
pōrōsis: Hardening; callousness
πώρωσις
This noun names the hardened condition elsewhere, including the “blindness” spoken of later in Romans 11:25.
THE PATTERN
A callused inner surface dulls perception, so hearing and seeing fail to register.
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.THE THREAD
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.The “blindness” here is πώρωσις (pōrōsis), from the same callus and hardening word family as “blinded” in verse 7. The phrase “in part” leaves the image of dulled perception open rather than total.
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