Amplified Bible
Romans 9:7
7and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “Your descendants will be named through Isaac” [though Abraham had other sons].
Romans 9:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
- New International Version (NIV)Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
- New King James Version (NKJV)nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
Context of Romans 9:7
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. 6However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing]. For not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel; and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “Your descendants will be named through Isaac” [though Abraham had other sons]. 8That is, it is not the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants. 9For this is what the promise said: “About this time [next year] I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Read all of Romans 9Romans 9:7 word by word
οὐδ᾽ ὅτι εἰσὶν σπέρμα Ἀβραὰμ πάντες τέκνα, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the seedσπέρμαsperma · seed: offspringG4690
- of AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- Inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- IsaacἸσαάκIsaak · IsaacG2464
- shallκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
- thyσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Romans 9:7
- Luke 3:8Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient].
- Luke 16:24And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’
- John 8:37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart].
- Philippians 3:3for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh—
- Genesis 21:12God said to Abraham, “Do not let it distress you because of Ishmael and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her and do what she asks, for your descendants will be named through Isaac.
- Hebrews 11:18to whom it was said, “Through Isaac your descendants shall be called.”
Commentaries on Romans 9:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, etc. - Nor can they conclude, because they are the natural descendants of Abraham, that therefore they are all of them, without exception, the children in whom the promise is to be fulfilled. But, in Isaac shall thy seed be called - The promise is not confined to immediate natural descent, but may be accomplished in any part of Abraham's posterity. For Abraham had several sons besides Isaac, Genesis 25:1…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 The rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatenings shall be fulfilled. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God therein wrought according to the counsel of his own will. God foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born in sin, by nature children…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7This quotation is from Genesis 21:12. God spoke these words to Abraham when he hesitated to follow Sarah’s advice. She told him to send away his son Ishmael, who had been born to the slave woman Hagar. God reassured Abraham that Isaac, Sarah’s child, was the son through whom God would fulfill his promises.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children--"Not in the line of mere fleshly descent from Abraham does the election run; else Ishmael, Hagar's child, and even Keturah's children, would be included, which they were not." but--the true election are such of Abraham's seed as God unconditionally chooses, as exemplified in that promise. in Isaac shall thy seed be called--(Ge 21:12).Read the comment
- Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 77. But, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Paul mentions this, to show that the hidden election of God overrules the outward calling, and that it is yet by no means inconsistent with it, but, on the contrary, that it tends to its confirmation and completion. That he might then in due order prove both, he in the first place assumes, that the election of God is not tied to the natural descendants of Abraham, and that it is not a thing that is included in…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 9:7
In the dictionaries
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
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