Romans 10:19-20
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This isn't just a quote; it's a divine setup! Paul is pointing out that the reason God would give favor to those considered "no people" or "foolish nations" was a direct consequence of Israel's own straying from Him. It's not about God arbitrarily picking favorites, but about divine justice and a way to provoke Israel to jealousy because they had first provoked God with their own unfaithfulness.
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the question of why Israel, as a nation, didn't believe in Jesus. He argues that the Old Testament itself predicted that God would draw people from other nations to Himself, even those considered "no people" or "foolish" by Israel, in order to provoke Israel's own jealousy and anger. This anticipation, found even in Moses' writings, shows that the universality of God's plan was not entirely unknown to them.
Did Israel really not know God's plan included the Gentiles? Paul insists they did, pointing to ancient Scripture. Let's uncover what God revealed.
Paul argues that Israel had ample warning about God's intention to include Gentiles among His people, even foreseeing their own eventual rejection if they remained unbelieving.
A Divine Foreshadowing
Paul uses the question, 'Did not Israel know?' to emphatically state that the Jewish people should have known. The concept they missed or ignored was the universal scope of God's plan – that the Gospel message would extend beyond Israel to the Gentiles.
The Song of Moses
He immediately grounds this claim in the Old Testament, quoting from Moses' song in Deuteronomy 32:21. This passage, originally referring to Israel's idolatry provoking God's jealousy, is reinterpreted by Paul.
This wasn't a new or sudden idea from God; it was woven into the fabric of their own Law and history.
Ask a follow-up
Who were these 'no people' and 'foolish nation' that God would use? This reveals so much about God's perspective versus human opinion.
The terms 'no people' and 'foolish nation' highlight Israel's own prejudiced view of the Gentiles, a view that God intended to challenge and overturn.
God's Reversal of Perception
Paul uses the description from Deuteronomy 32:21 to show how God would act contrary to Israel's expectations:
God's Sovereign Choice
Paul's point isn't that these terms were inherently accurate descriptions of the Gentiles' worth, but that God, in His sovereignty, would choose to bestow His favor and make them His own people. This act would inherently provoke the Jews, who felt entitled to God's exclusive attention. It was a divine way of saying: 'My ways are higher than your ways, and My people will be defined by My choice, not your prejudice.'
Understand the original words
Israēl · Greek Noun
The covenant people of God, descendants of Jacob. Throughout Scripture, they are the objects of God's special calling and the recipients of His covenants, yet they are often noted for their struggles with spiritual blindness or disobedience.
parazēloō · Greek Verb
A strong, usually negative emotion provoked by perception or experience. Biblically, God sometimes uses the success of others (often Gentiles) to provoke His people to spiritual jealousy, aiming to stir them toward repentance.
asynetos · Greek Adjective
A state of lacking spiritual wisdom or understanding, especially regarding the knowledge of God. It often refers to those who are outside of the covenant community and therefore spiritually 'unwise' or 'senseless' by worldly standards.
By referencing Moses' ancient song, Paul reminds his readers that the inclusion of Gentiles and the potential rejection of Israel were not sudden developments but part of God's long-standing prophetic plan, intended to provoke Israel to self-reflection and, ultimately, faith.
c. 1400 BC
Song of Moses
Moses recites a song containing prophecies about Israel's future faithfulness and unfaithfulness, including a warning that God will provoke Israel to jealousy through a 'no-people' and a 'foolish nation'. This song is recorded in Deuteronomy 32.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians, leading to the exile of many Israelites. This event marked a profound crisis for Jewish identity and their understanding of God's covenant.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marked a restoration, but also a period of reflection on their relationship with God and surrounding nations.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry and Early Church
Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, followed by the spread of the gospel message by his apostles. Initially, the message was primarily proclaimed to Jews, but increasingly extended to Gentiles.
c. AD 57-58— this verse
Paul's Letter to the Romans
Paul writes his letter to the believers in Rome. In Romans 10:19, he quotes Deuteronomy 32:21 to argue that Israel should have understood that God's salvation plan included Gentiles, thus provoking jealousy in Israel.
This is the direct source of the quote Paul uses, showing that the idea of God provoking Israel to jealousy through other nations was present in the foundational Law given by Moses.
Isaiah 65:1This passage from Isaiah describes God being found by those who did not seek Him, directly paralleling the idea of God calling 'those who are not a nation' and expressing His presence to those who weren't looking for Him.
Romans 9:25-26Paul quotes Hosea here, applying it to the inclusion of Gentiles, echoing the theme that God would call 'not my people' and 'not my beloved' into His favor, which is directly related to the 'no people' mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Acts 13:46-47This passage shows Paul and Barnabas directly quoting Isaiah 49:6 (which echoes the sentiment of Romans 10:19) to explain why they are turning to the Gentiles after Israel rejected the message of salvation.
barnesRomans 10:19: "But 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."
But I say ... - Still further to meet the objection, he shows that the doctrine which he was maintaining was actually taught in the Old Testament. Did not Israel know? - Did not the Jews understand. Is it not recorded in their books, etc. that they had full opportunity to be acquainted with this truth? This question is an emphati…
vincentRomans 10:19: "But 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."
Did Israel not know?As in Romans 10:18, a negative answer is implied. "It is surely not true that Israel did not know." Did not know what? That the Gospel should go forth into all the earth. Moses and Isaiah had prophesied the conversion of the Gentiles, and Isaiah the opposition of the Jews thereto.First MosesFirst in order; the…
This isn't just a quote; it's a divine setup! Paul is pointing out that the reason God would give favor to those considered "no people" or "foolish nations" was a direct consequence of Israel's own straying from Him. It's not about God arbitrarily picking favorites, but about divine justice and a way to provoke Israel to jealousy because they had first provoked God with their own unfaithfulness.
Paul is addressing the question of why Israel, as a nation, didn't believe in Jesus. He argues that the Old Testament itself predicted that God would draw people from other nations to Himself, even those considered "no people" or "foolish" by Israel, in order to provoke Israel's own jealousy and anger. This anticipation, found even in Moses' writings, shows that the universality of God's plan was not entirely unknown to them.
Paul is addressing the question of why Israel, as a nation, didn't believe in Jesus. He argues that the Old Testament itself predicted that God would draw people from other nations to Himself, even those considered "no people" or "foolish" by Israel, in order to provoke Israel's own jealousy and anger. This anticipation, found even in Moses' writings, shows that the universality of God's plan was not entirely unknown to them.
"But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those w…" — This isn't just a quote; it's a divine setup! Paul is pointing out that the *reason* God would give favor to those considered "no people" or "foolish nations" was a direct consequence of Israel's own…
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Last reviewed October 2026