God’s Word Translation
Romans 9:11
11Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice,
Romans 9:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
- New International Version (NIV)Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
- English Standard Version (ESV)though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
- New King James Version (NKJV)(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),
Context of Romans 9:11
9For example, this is what the promise said, “I will come back at the right time, and Sarah will have a son.” 10The same thing happened to Rebekah. Rebekah became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice, 12a choice based on God’s call and not on anything people do. 13The Scriptures say, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”
Read all of Romans 9Romans 9:11 word by word
μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον, ἵνα ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ μένῃ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- beingγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
- not yetμήπωmēpō · not yetG3380
- neitherμηδέmēde · norG3366
- having doneπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
- anyτιςtis · oneG5100
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- orἤē · orG2228
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- the purposeπρόθεσιςprothesis · purposeG4286
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- according toκατάkata · according toG2596
- electionἐκλογήeklogē · selectingG1589
- might standμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- him that callethκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
Cross-references for Romans 9:11
- Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
- Psalms 51:5Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.
- Ephesians 2:3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
- Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
- Isaiah 14:24The Lord of Armies has taken an oath: “It will happen exactly as I’ve intended. It will turn out exactly as I’ve planned.
- Isaiah 23:9The Lord of Armies planned this in order to dishonor all arrogant people and to humiliate all the honored people of the world.
- Isaiah 46:10From the beginning I revealed the end. From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying, “My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.”
- Jeremiah 51:29The earth trembles and writhes in pain. The Lord carries out his plans against Babylon to make Babylon a wasteland so that no one will live there.
- Ephesians 1:9when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ.
- Ephesians 3:11This was God’s plan for all of history which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Timothy 1:9God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness. Before the world began, God planned that Christ Jesus would show us God’s kindness.
- Romans 11:5So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.
- Ephesians 1:4Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4Brothers and sisters, we never forget this because we know that God loves you and has chosen you.
- 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers and sisters, use more effort to make God’s calling and choosing of you secure. If you keep doing this, you will never fall away.
- Romans 11:6If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness.
Commentaries on Romans 9:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11For the children being not yet born - As the word children is not in the text, the word nations would be more proper; for it is of nations that the apostle speaks, as the following verses show, as well as the history to which he refers. Neither having done any good - To merit the distinction of being made the peculiar people of God; nor evil, to deserve to be left out of this covenant, and the distinguishing national blessings which it conferred; that the…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. 10-11twins were born: There were no human differences between Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau. They were born to the same mother, and they were conceived at the same time. Nothing about their birth set one apart from the other. Paul argues that the difference between them came from God’s choice, not from human actions or circumstances.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1310-13. And not only this; but when Rebecca, &c.--It might be thought that there was a natural reason for preferring the child of Sarah, as being Abraham's true and first wife, both to the child of Hagar, Sarah's maid, and to the children of Keturah, his second wife. But there could be no such reason in the case of Rebecca, Isaac's only wife; for the choice of her son Jacob was the choice of one of two sons by the same mother and of the younger in…Read the comment
- Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 1111. For when the children, etc. He now begins to ascend higher, even to show the cause of this difference, which he teaches us is nowhere else to be found except in the election of God. He had indeed before briefly noticed, that there was a difference between the natural children of Abraham, that though all were adopted by circumcision into a participation of the covenant, yet the grace of God was not effectual in them all; and hence that they, who enjoy…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 9:11
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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