Romans 11:4

ὁ χρηματισμός : the word is related to χρηματίζω (Matthew 2:12; Matthew 2:22; Acts 10:22; Hebrews 8:5) as χρησμὸς to χράω : it means the oracle, or answer of God. Here only in N.T., but see Malachi 2:4; Malachi 2:4; 2Ma 11:17. The quotation is from 1 Kings 19:18 with ἐμαυτῷ added, by which Paul suggests God's interest in this remnant, and the fact that He has a purpose of His own identified with them. God has reserved the seven thousand; He has reserved them for Himself; it is on this the proof depends that He has not cast off His people. The seven thousand are Israel to Him. Yet His unchanging faithfulness in keeping a people is not represented as a merely unconditional decree, having no relation to anything but His own will, for the seven thousand are described by their character: οἵτινες οὐκ ἔκαμψαν γόνυ τῇ Βάαλ. οἵτινες is qualitative: such were those whom God reserved for Himself, men who never bowed knee to Baal. Βάαλ takes the fem. art [3] because it was often replaced in reading by בּשֶׁת (LXX αἰσχύνη).

[3] grammatical article.