And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that a Deliverer will "turn away ungodliness from Jacob." This isn't just about removing outward sin, but actively taking away the very root and disposition toward rebellion and godlessness that characterized Jacob's history, pointing to a profound internal transformation.
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining a "mystery" – that Israel's temporary blindness is part of God's plan to bring in the Gentiles. This verse then promises that after the full number of Gentiles have come to faith, "all Israel" will be saved. This incredible turnaround will happen when a Deliverer comes from Zion to remove ungodliness from them, fulfilling ancient prophecies.
Paul just spent verses talking about how Gentiles are being brought into God's family. But what does that have to do with Israel? This verse reveals the crucial connection.
Paul's argument builds to a crescendo. He's shown how Israel's temporary 'blindness' (Romans 11:25) has created an opening for Gentiles to be grafted into the olive tree of God's promises. But this isn't the end goal; it's the means to a greater end. The 'and so' (Greek: kai houto) at the beginning of verse 26 signals a consequence and a fulfillment. Because the Gentiles have come in, the stage is set for Israel's ultimate salvation. It's not that God is done with Israel; their temporary rejection was precisely to bring about a broader salvation that would eventually encompass them too. The ingathering of the Gentiles serves to 'stir up' Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11), leading to their restoration.
The promise of salvation for Israel is rooted in ancient prophecy. Who is this Deliverer, and why does He come from Zion?
Paul grounds this incredible promise of national salvation in Scripture, quoting Isaiah 59:20. The prophecy speaks of a 'Deliverer' (Greek: ho ruomenos) who will come 'from Zion.' This isn't just any rescuer; the Hebrew term ( goel) implies a kinsman-redeemer. Jesus Christ, the ultimate Kinsman, comes from the line of David, whose capital was Zion. Zion, the city of God, becomes the birthplace of our salvation. But this Deliverer does more than just appear; He 'will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.' This speaks of a profound, internal transformation. It's not merely outward observance, but the removal of sin's power and presence from the heart of the nation. This points directly to the atoning work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about true repentance and restoration.
Ask a follow-up
Does 'all Israel' mean every single Jewish person, or something else? Paul's use of the term is precise and significant.
The phrase 'all Israel' (Greek: pas Israel) is a key point of discussion. While some might interpret it to mean every single individual of Jewish descent throughout history, the context suggests something more specific. Paul is referring to the entirety of the people of Israel – the nation as a whole – being brought to salvation, not necessarily every single person in every generation. It contrasts with the 'blindness in part' mentioned earlier (Romans 11:25). When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, a comprehensive turning will occur among the Jewish people. This doesn't negate the reality that individuals might reject the Deliverer, just as individuals reject Christ today. However, it signifies God's ultimate, saving purpose for His chosen people as a collective, fulfilling His ancient covenant promises through the Messiah.
Understand the original words
Israēl · Greek Noun
A general term referring to the ethnic descendants of Jacob. In theological contexts, it can denote the historical nation, the remnant within the nation, or the expanded people of God.
rhyomenos · Greek Noun/Participle
One who rescues or sets free from peril, bondage, or destruction. In the New Testament, this refers definitively to Jesus Christ as the Savior from sin and judgment.
This verse speaks of a future, corporate salvation for the Jewish people, an event deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecy and intertwined with God's plan for the Gentiles.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah prophesies about a coming Deliverer who will bring salvation and turn away ungodliness.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Many Jews are exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon, an event that marks a period of spiritual reflection and eventual return for some.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Babylonian exile, many Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, fulfilling aspects of earlier prophecies.
c. 150 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek, making them accessible to a wider audience and influencing later quotations in the New Testament.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus, the Deliverer, begins his public ministry, teaching and healing, and is ultimately crucified, offering atonement for sins.
c. AD 33 onwards— this verse
Early Church Expansion
The Gospel begins to spread rapidly among both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling the 'fullness of the Gentiles' that Paul discusses.
c. AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem
Jerusalem and the Second Temple are destroyed by the Romans, a catastrophic event that disperses the Jewish people further.
This is the primary prophetic passage Paul is quoting, directly linking the coming of a Redeemer from Zion with the turning away of ungodliness from Jacob, echoing the promise of salvation for Israel.
Jeremiah 31:33This passage speaks of God writing His law on their hearts and forgiving their iniquity, which is the essence of the new covenant Paul connects to Israel's salvation in the subsequent verse (Romans 11:27).
Zechariah 12:10This prophecy describes a future outpouring of a spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, leading them to mourn and look upon Him whom they pierced, a powerful image of national repentance and salvation.
Ezekiel 36:24-27God promises to take the Israelites from the nations, sprinkle them with clean water, give them a new spirit, and remove their stony hearts, all aligning with the cleansing and renewal implied in Israel's salvation.
ellicottRomans 11:26: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
(26) When this ingathering of the Gentiles is complete, then the turn of Israel will come round again, and the prophecies of their conversion will be fulfilled. There shall come . . .—This prophecy is peculiarly appropriate, as it refers to the exiles who had apostatised in Babylon. Then, as now, a part of the nation had remained true, and t…
gillRomans 11:26: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
And so all Israel shall be saved,.... Meaning not the mystical spiritual Israel of God, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, who shall appear to be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, when all God's elect among the latter are gathered in, which is the sense many give into; but the people of the Jews, the generality of them, the…
The verse emphasizes that a Deliverer will "turn away ungodliness from Jacob." This isn't just about removing outward sin, but actively taking away the very root and disposition toward rebellion and godlessness that characterized Jacob's history, pointing to a profound internal transformation.
Paul is explaining a "mystery" – that Israel's temporary blindness is part of God's plan to bring in the Gentiles. This verse then promises that after the full number of Gentiles have come to faith, "all Israel" will be saved. This incredible turnaround will happen when a Deliverer comes from Zion to remove ungodliness from them, fulfilling ancient prophecies.
Paul is explaining a "mystery" – that Israel's temporary blindness is part of God's plan to bring in the Gentiles. This verse then promises that after the full number of Gentiles have come to faith, "all Israel" will be saved. This incredible turnaround will happen when a Deliverer comes from Zion to remove ungodliness from them, fulfilling ancient prophecies.
"And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;" — The verse emphasizes that a Deliverer will "turn away ungodliness from Jacob." This isn't just about removing outward sin, but actively *taking away* the very root and disposition toward rebellion an…
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Last reviewed October 2026