Found of Them That Sought Me Not

What Your Bible Says

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans 10:20–21 KJV

Paul splits the two verses of Isaiah. The first is about the nations, who never looked for Yahuah and found Him anyway. The second is about Israel, to whom He held out His hands all day.

What the Jewish Bible Says

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

Isaiah 65:1 KJV

In the Hebrew, Yahuah lets Himself be sought and found by people who never asked. Some readers join this verse to the next and read both as one complaint against Israel.

What Changed

In the Greek, Yahuah steps out and shows Himself to people who never asked. That is why Paul calls it bold. In the Hebrew, He lets Himself be sought.

A second small difference sits in the vowels: “a nation who called not on my name” in the Greek, “a nation not called by my name” in the Masoretic. The Hebrew letters are the same in both places.

Which One Is Right?

The Greek Bible, translated before Messiah, reads “I became manifest.” Paul follows that wording and sets the verse on the Gentiles.

The Masoretic text reads “I am sought.” Its “a nation not called by my name” also fits the Gentiles well.

Purpose of the Change

No motive evident: wording variation only. The pair still matters because Paul quoted the Greek wording, and he kept verse 1 for the nations and verse 2 for Israel.