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,
• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

Context of Romans 9:3

1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 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. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, 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 32:32But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."
• Deuteronomy 21:23his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
• Joshua 6:17And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
• 1 Samuel 14:24And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food.
• Galatians 1:8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
• Galatians 3:10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."
• Romans 11:1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
• Genesis 29:14and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.
• Esther 8:6For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"
• Acts 7:23"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
• Acts 13:26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

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