Definition: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Romans 9:31. It's a really important and sometimes tricky one, so we'll go through it step-by-step. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: “Israel…” : This refers to the Jewish people, specifically the nation of Israel that lived in ancient times. “…which followed after the law of righteousness…” : This is the key part. “Law of righteousness” means following God's rules and guidelines – a moral code. Basically, it’s living according to what God says is right. "...has not attained to the law of righteousness." : This is where it gets a little more complex. It means that even though Israel tried to follow God's laws, they didn't fully understand or live up to them perfectly. They weren’t completely righteous – they weren't completely aligned with God's will. So, putting it all together: Romans 9:31 is saying that Israel, while striving to follow the rules of righteousness (like being good and moral), hasn’t truly become perfect in their relationship with God. They didn't reach a point where they perfectly understand and live by His laws completely. What does this mean for us today? This verse can be interpreted in a few ways: We all make mistakes: We are all flawed, and we often stumble along our own path. God's grace is important: It highlights that God’s love isn’t about perfect obedience, but about offering us a chance to come back to Him. He wants us to be able to follow His will, even if we don’t always do it perfectly. It’s okay for people not to fully follow the law: The verse doesn't say that Israel is inherently bad or unworthy of God's love. It simply acknowledges that they didn’t achieve full righteousness. Important Note: This verse isn’t about condemning Israel. It’s a reflection on their history and how they approached following God’s teachings. It’s a reminder to seek understanding, not just blindly follow rules. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or example? Answer any questions you have about it?