The phrase “All Israel will be saved” in Romans 11:26 has been the subject of much theological debate. Many Christians today interpret this passage through the lens of Western theology, assuming that salvation refers to being saved from eternally burning in God’s cosmic furnace. However, when examined through a Hebraic lens, Paul is likely not referring to afterlife destiny at all but rather to historical, national restoration.
A closer look at Hebraic thought and the use of the word salvation (יְשׁוּעָה) in the Hebrew Scriptures reveals a much more earthly and national meaning than many assume.
‘Salvation’ in the Hebrew Bible
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה), often translated as salvation or redemption, was never about the afterlife. Rather, it referred to deliverance from crisis, oppression, exile, or some form of earthly suffering. Throughout the Old Testament, salvation is a practical, tangible event—like a rescue from war, famine, or distress.
✔ Example 1: When Israel was delivered from Egypt, it was called salvation (Exodus 14:13).
✔ Example 2: When Hannah, after years of barrenness, finally conceived a son, she rejoiced in God’s salvation (1 Samuel 2:1).
✔ Example 3: A person finding relief from suffering or financial hardship was often said to have been saved (Psalm 34:6).
More examples of the meaning of salvation in the Hebrew Scriptures are here.
Nowhere in the Hebrew Bible does salvation ever refer to escaping afterlife eternal punishment in hell. This is key to understanding Paul’s words in Romans 11:26. Nations, in theory, can face judgment, exile, or destruction—but they cannot go to hell.
Israel in Paul’s Argument in Romans 9–11
Paul spends Romans 9–11 discussing the role of Israel in God’s plan. He acknowledges that Israel, as a nation, has rejected Jesus, yet he argues that this rejection is only temporary and ultimately part of God’s universal redemptive plan.
- Romans 11:11-12 – Israel’s stumbling is not final but will eventually lead to greater blessings.
- Romans 11:15 – Israel’s rejection led to reconciliation for the world, but its acceptance will bring even greater renewal.
- Romans 11:25 – A temporary hardening has come upon Israel, but this will not last forever.
This leads to Romans 11:26, where Paul declares, “And so all Israel will be saved.”
If we read this through the Hebraic lens, Paul is not suggesting that every Jewish person will avoid hell. In fact, he is not referring to the afterlife at all. Instead, he is speaking of Israel as a nation, which will experience a collective, spiritual restoration.
All Israel Will Be Saved – From What?
A nation cannot be saved from hell, but it can be restored spiritually, politically, or in its religious role in God’s plan. When Paul speaks of “all Israel,” he is referring to the corporate redemption of the Jewish people as a nation.
Paul envisions a time when the entire nation will collectively recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This may be the only time in history where an entire nation experiences a communal confession of faith—a true miracle of God.
This way, Israel will be redeemed into its rightful place and role in representing God as the Chosen People:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
(Isaiah 49:6)
Israel’s historical role as God’s chosen people seemed lost when they rejected Jesus. However, Paul argues that in the future, Israel will embrace their Messiah, and their covenantal purpose will be restored.
The Shift from Western Individualism to Biblical Communal Redemption
In Romans 11:26, Paul envisions a future where Israel’s current spiritual blindness will end, and the Jewish people, as a whole, will turn to Jesus as their Messiah. This shifts the focus from Western individualism to a biblical, communal understanding of redemption.
Rather than viewing salvation in purely personal, afterlife terms, Paul speaks of Israel’s role in history being restored. He is describing a national awakening, a corporate movement back to God, not a theological teaching about an afterlife heaven and hell.
Conclusion: Israel’s Redeemed
Understanding Romans 11:26’s “all Israel will be saved” in its proper context clarifies that Paul is not making a statement about personal afterlife salvation but about the future redemption of Israel as a nation.
✔ Salvation in Jewish thought is earthly and practical, not about escaping hell.
✔ Israel’s rejection of Jesus is temporary, not permanent.
✔ The future will bring a national restoration where Israel embraces Jesus as Messiah.
In the end, Paul’s words in Romans 11:26 should not be read through the lens of Western theology but through the communal, covenantal perspective of Jewish restoration. “All Israel will be saved” does not speak about an afterlife destination, heaven or hell—it means that the nation as a whole will one day fulfill its divine calling when ultimately embracing the Messiah it once rejected. And that, in itself, is an act of profound divine grace and a “salvation” of the story of Israel.
