Berean Standard Bible

Romans 9

1I speakλέγωlegōG3004thetruthἈλήθειανAlētheianG225inἐνenG1722ChristΧριστῷ,ChristōG5547;I am not lyingοὐ ψεύδομαι,ou pseudomaiG3756 G5574,as confirmedσυμμαρτυρούσηςsummarturousēsG4828 G1473by myG1473τῆςtēsG3588conscienceσυνειδήσεώςsuneidēseōsG4893inἐνenG1722theHolyἁγίῳ,hagiōG40SpiritπνεύματιpneumatiG4151.

2ὅτιhotiG3754IG1473haveἐστινestinG1510deepμεγάληmegalēG3173sorrowλύπηlupēG3077andκαὶkaiG2532unceasingἀδιάλειπτοςadialeiptosG88anguishὀδύνηodunēG3601inτῇtēaG3588myG1473heartκαρδίᾳkardiaG2588.

3ForγὰρgarG1063IG1473could wish thatηὐχόμηνēuchomēnG2172I myselfαὐτὸςautosG846wereG1510cursedἀνάθεμαanathemaG331andcut off fromἀπὸapoG575τοῦtouG3588ChristΧριστοῦChristouG5547for the sake ofὑπὲρhuperG5228myG1473τῶνtōnG3588brothersἀδελφῶνadelphōnG80,myG1473τῶνtōnG3588own flesh and bloodσυγγενῶν κατὰ σάρκα·sungenōn kata sarkaG4773 G2596 G4561,

4the people ofοἵτινέςoitinesG3748εἰσινeisinG1510IsraelἸσραηλῖται,IsraēlitaiG2475. Theirs isὧνhōnG3739theἡhēG3588adoption as sonsυἱοθεσίαhuiothesiaG5206; theirsκαὶkaiG2532theἡhēG3588divine gloryδόξαdoxaG1391andκαὶkaiG2532theαἱhaiG3588covenantsδιαθῆκαιdiathēkaiG1242; theirsκαὶkaiG2532theἡhēG3588giving of the lawνομοθεσίαnomothesiaG3548καὶkaiG2532,theἡhēG3588temple worshipλατρείαlatreiaG2999,andκαὶkaiG2532theαἱhaiG3588promisesἐπαγγελίαι,epangeliaiG1860.

5Theirs areὧνhōnG3739theοἱhoiG3588patriarchsπατέρεςpateresG3962,andκαὶkaiG2532fromἐξexG1537themὧνhōnG3739proceedsὁhoG3588thehumanκατὰ σάρκα,kata sarkaG2596 G4561descentτὸtoG3588of ChristΧριστὸςChristosG5547,whoὁhoG3588isὢνōnG1510GodθεὸςtheosG2316overἐπὶepiG1909allπάντωνpantōnG3956,foreverεἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας,eis tous aiōnasG1519 G3588 G165worthy of praiseεὐλογητὸςeulogētosG2128!Amenἀμήν.¶amēnG281.

God’s Sovereign Choice

(Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)

6δὲdeG1161It isnotΟὐχOuchG3756as thoughοἷονhoionG3634ὅτιhotiG3754ὁhoG3588God’sθεοῦ.theouG2316τοῦtouG3588wordλόγοςlogosG3056has failedἐκπέπτωκενekpeptōkenG1601.ForγὰρgarG1063notοὐouG3756allπάντεςpantesG3956whoοἱhoiG3588aredescended fromἐξexG1537IsraelἸσραὴλIsraēlG2474areοὗτοιhoutoiG3778IsraelἸσραήλ·IsraēlG2474.

7Norοὐδ᾽oud᾽G3761becauseὅτιhotiG3754they areεἰσὶνeisinG1510Abraham’sἈβραὰμAbraamG11descendantsσπέρμαspermaG4690arethey allπάντεςpantesG3956hischildrenτέκνα,teknaG5043.On the contraryἀλλ᾽all᾽G235, “ThroughἐνenG1722IsaacἸσαὰκIsaakG2464yourσοιsoiG4771offspringσπέρμα.spermaG4690will be reckonedκληθήσεταίklēthēsetaiG2564.”

8Soτοῦτ᾽tout᾽G3778it isἔστιν,estinG1510notοὐouG3756theτὰtaG3588childrenτέκναteknaG5043of theτῆςtēsG3588fleshσαρκὸςsarkosG4561who areταῦταtautaG3778τοῦtouG3588God’sθεοῦ,theouG2316childrenτέκναteknaG5043,butἀλλὰallaG235it istheτὰtaG3588childrenτέκναteknaG5043of theτῆςtēsG3588promiseἐπαγγελίαςepangeliasG1860who are regardedλογίζεταιlogizetaiG3049asεἰςeisG1519offspringσπέρμα.spermaG4690.

9ForγὰρgarG1063thisοὗτος·houtosG3778iswhatὁhoG3588thepromiseἐπαγγελίαςepangeliasG1860statedλόγοςlogosG3056: “AtκατὰkataG2596τοῦτονtoutonG3778theτὸνtonG3588appointed timeκαιρὸνkaironG2540I will returnἐλεύσομαιeleusomaiG2064,andκαὶkaiG2532τῇtēaG3588SarahΣάρρᾳSarraG4564will haveἔσταιestaiG1510a sonυἱός.¶huiosG5207.”

10NotΟὐOuG3756onlyG3440thatδέ,deG1161,butἀλλὰallaG235καὶkaiG2532Rebecca’sῬεβέκκαRhebekkaG4479childrenwereἔχουσαechousaG2192conceivedκοίτηνkoitēnG2845byἐξexG1537oneἑνὸςhenosG1520man,ourG1473τοῦtouG3588fatherπατρὸςpatrosG3962IsaacἸσαὰκIsaakG2464.

11YetγὰρgarG1063beforeG3380the twinswere bornγεννηθέντωνgennēthentōnG1080orμηδὲmēdeG3366had doneπραξάντωνpraxantōnG4238anythingτιtiG5100goodἀγαθὸνagathonG18orἢēG2228badφαῦλον,phaulonG5337,in order thatἵναinaG2443ἡhēG3588τοῦtouG3588God’sθεοῦtheouG2316planπρόθεσιςprothesisG4286ofκατ᾽kat᾽G2596electionἐκλογὴνeklogēnG1589might standμένῃ,menēG3306,

12notG3756byG1537worksG2041butG235byG1537Him whoG3588callsG2564,sheαὐτῇautēaG846was toldἐρρέθηerrethēG2046ὅτιhotiG3754, “TheG3588olderμείζωνmeizōnG3173will serveδουλεύσειdouleuseiG1398theG3588youngerἐλάσσονι·elassoniG1640.”

13SoκαθὼςkathōsG2531it is writtenγέγραπται·gegraptaiG1125τὸνtonG3588: “JacobἸακὼβIakōbG2384I lovedἠγάπησα,ēgapēsaG25,butδὲdeG1161τὸνtonG3588EsauἨσαῦĒsauG2269I hatedἐμίσησα.¶emisēsaG3404.”

14WhatΤίTiG5101thenοὖνounG3767shall we sayG2046? IsμὴmēG3361παρὰparaG3844τῷtōG3588Godθεῷ;theōG2316unjustἀδικίαadikiaG93?Certainly notμὴ γένοιτο.mē genoitoG3361 G1096!

15ForγὰρgarG1063He saysλέγει·legeiG3004toτῷtōG3588MosesΜωϋσεῖMōuseiG3475: “I will have mercy onἐλεήσωeleēsōG1653whomὃνhonG3739I have mercyἂν ἐλεῶan eleōG302 G1653,andκαὶkaiG2532I will have compassion onοἰκτιρήσωoiktirēsōG3627whomὃνhonG3739I have compassionἂν οἰκτίρω.an oiktirōG302 G3627.”

16SoἄραaraG686thenοὖνounG3767, it doesnotοὐouG3756dependon man’sτοῦtouG3588desireθέλοντοςthelontosG2309orοὐδὲoudeG3761τοῦtouG3588effortτρέχοντοςtrechontosG5143,butἀλλὰallaG235onτοῦtouG3588God’sθεοῦ.theouG2316mercyἐλεῶντοςeleōntosG1653.

17ForγὰρgarG1063theἡhēG3588ScriptureγραφὴgraphēG1124saysλέγειlegeiG3004toτῷtōG3588PharaohΦαραὼPharaōG5328ὅτιhotiG3754: “I raised you upἐξήγειρά σεexēgeira seG1825 G4771forεἰςeisG1519this veryαὐτὸautoG846purposeτοῦτοtoutoG3778,thatὅπωςhopōsG3704I might displayἐνδείξωμαιendeixōmaiG1731MyG1473τὴνtēnG3588powerδύναμίνdunaminG1411inἐνenG1722youσοὶsoiG4771,andκαὶkaiG2532thatὅπωςhopōsG3704MyG1473τὸtoG3588nameὄνομάonomaG3686might be proclaimedδιαγγελῇdiangelēaG1229inἐνenG1722allπάσῃpasēG3956theτῇtēaG3588earthγῇ.gēaG1093.”

18Thereforeἄρα οὖνara ounG686 G3767Godhas mercyἐλεεῖ,eleeiG1653on whomὃνhonG3739He wantsθέλειtheleiG2309to have mercy,andδὲdeG1161He hardensσκληρύνει.¶sklēruneiG4645whomὃνhonG3739He wantsθέλειtheleiG2309to harden.

19οὖν·ounG3767One of you will sayG2046to meG1473, “ThenοὖνounG3767whyτίtiG5101does God still find faultἔτι μέμφεται;eti memphetaiG2089 G3201?ForγὰρgarG1063whoτίςtisG5101can resistἀνθέστηκεν;anthestēkenG436HisαὐτοῦautouG846τῷtōG3588willβουλήματιboulēmatiG1013?”

20Butμενοῦνγε,menoungeG3304whoτίςtisG5101are youεἶeiG1510,OὦōG5599manἄνθρωπε,anthrōpeG444σὺsuG4771ὁhoG3588,to talk backἀνταποκρινόμενοςantapokrinomenosG470τῷtōG3588to Godθεῷ;theōG2316? ShallμὴmēG3361whatτὸtoG3588is formedπλάσμαplasmaG4110sayG2046to Him whoτῷtōG3588formedπλάσαντι·plasantiG4111it, “WhyτίtiG5101did You makeἐποίησαςepoiēsasG4160meG1473like thisοὕτως;houtōsG3779?”

21ἢēG2228Does notοὐκoukG3756theὁhoG3588potterκεραμεὺςkerameusG2763haveἔχειecheiG2192the rightἐξουσίανexousianG1849to makeποιῆσαιpoiēsaiG4160fromἐκekG1537theτοῦtouG3588sameαὐτοῦautouG846lumpφυράματοςphuramatosG5445τοῦtouG3588of clayπηλοῦpēlouG4081oneὃhoG3739vesselσκεῦοςskeuosG4632μὲνmenG3303forεἰςeisG1519special occasionsτιμὴνtimēnG5092andδὲdeG1161anotherὃhoG3739forεἰςeisG1519common useἀτιμίαν;¶atimianG819?

22δὲdeG1161What ifΕἰEiG1487ὁhoG3588GodθεὸςtheosG2316,intendingθέλωνthelōnG2309to showἐνδείξασθαιendeixasthaiG1731HisτὴνtēnG3588wrathὀργὴνorgēnG3709andκαὶkaiG2532makeγνωρίσαιgnōrisaiG1107HisαὐτοῦautouG846τὸtoG3588power knownδυνατὸνdunatonG1415,boreἤνεγκενēnegkenG5342withἐνenG1722greatπολλῇpollēaG4183patienceμακροθυμίᾳmakrothumiaG3115thevesselsσκεύηskeuēG4632of His wrathὀργῆςorgēsG3709,preparedκατηρτισμέναkatērtismenaG2675forεἰςeisG1519destructionἀπώλειαν,apōleianG684?

23What if He did thisκαὶkaiG2532toἵναinaG2443makeγνωρίσῃgnōrisēG1107theτὸνtonG3588richesπλοῦτονploutonG4149ofτῆςtēsG3588HisαὐτοῦautouG846glory knownδόξηςdoxēsG1391toἐπὶepiG1909thevesselsσκεύηskeuēG4632of His mercyἐλέουςeleousG1656,whomἃhaG3739He prepared in advanceπροητοίμασενproētoimasenG4282forεἰςeisG1519gloryδόξαν;doxanG1391—

24includingκαὶkaiG2532usG1473,whomοὓςhousG3739He has calledἐκάλεσενekalesenG2564notοὐouG3756onlyG3440fromἐξexG1537theJewsἸουδαίωνIoudaiōnG2453,butἀλλὰallaG235alsoκαὶkaiG2532fromἐξexG1537theGentilesἐθνῶν,ethnōnG1484?

25AsὡςhōsG5613καὶkaiG2532He saysλέγει·legeiG3004inἐνenG1722τῷtōG3588HoseaὩσηὲHōsēeG5617: “I will callκαλέσωkalesōG2564them ‘MyG1473PeopleλαόνlaonG2992’whoτὸνtonG3588arenotοὐouG3756MyG1473peopleλαόνlaonG2992,andκαὶkaiG2532I will call her ‘MyBelovedἠγαπημένηνēgapēmenēnG25’whoτὴνtēnG3588isnotοὐκoukG3756Mybelovedἠγαπημένην.ēgapēmenēnG25,”

26andκαὶkaiG2532, “It will happen thatἔσταιestaiG1510inἐνenG1722theτῷtōG3588very placeτόπῳtopōG5117whereG3739it was saidἐρρέθηerrethēG2046to themαὐτοῖς·autoisG846, ‘Youὑμεῖς,humeisG4771arenotοὐouG3756MyG1473peopleλαόςlaosG2992ἐκεῖekeiG1563,’they will be calledκληθήσονταιklēthēsontaiG2564‘sonsυἱοὶhuioiG5207of the livingζῶντος.zōntosG2198GodθεοῦtheouG2316.’”

27δὲdeG1161IsaiahἨσαΐαςĒsaiasG2268cries outκράζειkrazeiG2896concerningὑπὲρhuperG5228τοῦtouG3588IsraelἸσραήλ·IsraēlG2474: “ThoughἐὰνeanG1437theὁhoG3588numberἀριθμὸςarithmosG706of theτῶνtōnG3588Israelitesυἱῶν Ἰσραὴλhuiōn IsraēlG5207 G2474isᾖēG1510likeὡςhōsG5613theἡhēG3588sandἄμμοςammosG285of theτῆςtēsG3588seaθαλάσσης,thalassēsG2281, onlytheτὸtoG3588remnantG5275will be savedσωθήσεται·sōthēsetaiG4982.

28ForγὰρgarG1063theLordκύριοςkuriosG2962will carry outποιήσειpoiēseiG4160HissentenceλόγονlogonG3056onἐπὶepiG1909theτῆςtēsG3588earthγῆς.gēsG1093thoroughlyσυντελῶνsuntelōnG4931andκαὶkaiG2532decisivelyσυντέμνωνsuntemnōnG4932.”

29καὶkaiG2532It isjust asκαθὼςkathōsG2531IsaiahἨσαΐας·ĒsaiasG2268foretoldG4302: “Unlessεἰ μὴei mēG1487 G3361theLordκύριοςkuriosG2962of HostsσαβαὼθsabaōthG4519had leftἐγκατέλιπενegkatelipenG1459usG1473descendantsσπέρμα,spermaG4690,we would have becomeἂν ἐγενήθημενan egenēthēmenG302 G1096likeὡςhōsG5613SodomΣόδομαSodomaG4670καὶkaiG2532,we would have resembledὡς ἂν ὡμοιώθημεν.¶hōs an hōmoiōthēmenG302 G3666 G5613GomorrahΓόμορραGomorraG1116.”

Israel’s Unbelief

30WhatΤίTiG5101thenοὖνounG3767will we sayG2046?ThatὅτιhotiG3754theGentilesἔθνηethnēG1484,whoτὰtaG3588did not pursueμὴ διώκονταmē diōkontaG3361 G1377righteousnessδικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnG1343,have obtainedκατέλαβενkatelabenG2638itδικαιοσύνην,dikaiosunēnG1343δὲdeG1161,a righteousnessδικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnG1343thatτὴνtēnG3588isbyἐκekG1537faithπίστεως·pisteōsG4102;

31butδὲdeG1161IsraelἸσραὴλIsraēlG2474,who pursuedδιώκωνdiōkōnG1377a lawνόμονnomonG3551of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηςdikaiosunēsG1343,has not attainedοὐκ ἔφθασεν.ouk ephthasenG3756 G5348itεἰς νόμονeis nomonG1519 G3551.

32Whyδιὰ τί;dia tiG1223 G5101not?BecauseὅτιhotiG3754their pursuit wasnotοὐκoukG3756byἐκekG1537faithπίστεωςpisteōsG4102,butἀλλ᾽all᾽G235as ifὡςhōsG5613it werebyἐξexG1537worksἔργωνergōnG2041.They stumbledπροσέκοψανprosekopsanG4350over theτῷtōG3588stumblingτοῦ προσκόμματοςtou proskommatosG3588 G4348stoneλίθῳlithōG3037,

33asκαθὼςkathōsG2531it is writtenγέγραπται·gegraptaiG1125: “SeeἰδοὺidouG2400,I layτίθημιtithēmiG5087inἐνenG1722ZionΣιὼνSiōnG4622a stoneλίθονlithonG3037of stumblingπροσκόμματοςproskommatosG4348andκαὶkaiG2532a rockπέτρανpetranG4073of offenseσκανδάλου,skandalouG4625;andκαὶkaiG2532theὁhoG3588one whobelievesπιστεύωνpisteuōnG4100inἐπ᾽ep᾽G1909HimαὐτῷautōG846will never be put to shameοὐ καταισχυνθήσεται.¶ou kataischunthēsetaiG3756 G2617.”

God’s Sovereign Choice

(Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)

Israel’s Unbelief

Commentaries on Romans 9