Romans 9:3

Romans 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
• New International Version (NIV)For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Context of Romans 9:3

1I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For [if it were possible] I would wish that I myself were accursed, [separated, banished] from Christ for the sake [of the salvation] of my brothers, my natural kinsmen, 4who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, the glory (Shekinah), the [special] covenants [with Abraham, Moses, and David], the giving of the Law, the [system of temple] worship, and the [original] promises. 5To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to His natural descent, came the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), He who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 9:3 word by word

ηὐχόμην γὰρ ἀνάθεμα εἶναι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν συγγενῶν μου κατὰ σάρκα·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• could wish thatεὔχομαιeuchomai · to pray/wish forG2172
• myselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• accursedἀνάθεμαanathema · devotedG331
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• kinsmenσυγγενήςsuggenēs · kindredG4773
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561

Cross-references for Romans 9:3

• Exodus 32:32Yet now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written (kill me)!”
• Deuteronomy 21:23his body shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall most certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed by God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.
• Joshua 6:17The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent.
• 1 Samuel 14:24But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.
• Galatians 1:8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!
• Galatians 3:10For all who depend on the Law [seeking justification and salvation by obedience to the Law and the observance of rituals] are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed (condemned to destruction) is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, so as to practice them.”
• Romans 11:1I say then, has God rejected and disowned His people? Certainly not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
• Genesis 29:14Then Laban said to him, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him a month.
• Esther 8:6For how can I endure to see the tragedy that will happen to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”
• Acts 7:23But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
• Acts 13:26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [obtained through faith in Jesus Christ].

Commentaries on Romans 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ - This and the two preceding verses are thus paraphrased by Dr. Taylor: I am so far from insisting on the doctrine (of the rejection of the Jews) out of any ill-will to my countrymen, that I solemnly declare, in the sincerity of my heart, without the least fiction or dissimulation - and herein I have the testimony of my own conscience, enlightened and directed by the Spirit of God - that I am so far…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3I could wish that I myself were cursed: The Greek word anathema is used in the Greek Old Testament to translate a Hebrew expression that means “set apart for God.” In most cases, it has a negative meaning. It refers to something that is devoted to destruction as an offering to God (see Leviticus 27:28–29; Joshua 6:17–18; 7:1, 11–13; 22:20; 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Chronicles 2:7). Paul knows that he cannot actually be cut off from Christ. His words express deep…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for--"in behalf of" my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh--In proportion as he felt himself severed from his nation, he seems to have realized all the more vividly their natural relationship. To explain away the wish here expressed, as too strong for any Christian to utter or conceive, some have rendered the opening words, "I did wish," referring it to his former unenlightened state; a…Read the comment
• Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 33. For I could wish, etc. He could not have expressed a greater ardour of love than by what he testifies here; for that is surely perfect love which refuses not to die for the salvation of a friend. But there is another word added, anathema, which proves that he speaks not only of temporal but of eternal death; and he explains its meaning when he says, from Christ, for it signifies a separation. And what is to be separated from Christ, but to be excluded…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 9:3

• Love
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Absalom
• Anathema
• Continual
• Fault
• Resist
• Bible, the
• Countryman
• Election

Commentaries on Romans 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings