God’s Word Translation
Romans 9:8
8This means that children born by natural descent ⌞from Abraham⌟ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants.
Romans 9:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
- New International Version (NIV)In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.
- English Standard Version (ESV)This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
- New King James Version (NKJV)That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Context of Romans 9:8
6Now it is not as though God’s word has failed. Clearly, not everyone descended from Israel is part of Israel 7or a descendant of Abraham. However, ⌞as Scripture says,⌟ “Through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name.” This means that children born by natural descent ⌞from Abraham⌟ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants. 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.
Read all of Romans 9Romans 9:8 word by word
τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν, οὐ τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκὸς ταῦτα τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας λογίζεται εἰς σπέρμα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- They which are the childrenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- They which are the childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- of the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- notοὐou · noG3756
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- of the promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
- are countedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the seedσπέρμαsperma · seed: offspringG4690
Cross-references for Romans 9:8
- Romans 4:11Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God.
- Galatians 4:22Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by a woman who was a slave and the other by a free woman.
- Genesis 31:15Doesn’t he think of us as foreigners? Not only did he sell us, but he has used up the money that was paid for us.
- Psalms 22:30There will be descendants who serve him, a generation that will be told about the Lord.
- Psalms 87:6The Lord will record this in the Book of Nations: “Every race ⌞claims that it⌟ was born there.” Selah
- John 1:13These people didn’t become God’s children in a physical way—from a human impulse or from a husband’s desire ⌞to have a child⌟. They were born from God.
- Galatians 3:26You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 4:28Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.
- 1 John 3:1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.
Commentaries on Romans 9:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8That is, They which are the children of the flesh - Whence it appears that not the children who descend from Abraham's loins, nor those who were circumcised as he was, nor even those whom he might expect and desire, are therefore the Church and people of God; but those who are made children by the good pleasure and promise of God, as Isaac was, are alone to be accounted for the seed with whom the covenant was established.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. 1-33n this section, Paul addresses a serious question. Many Jews did not believe in Jesus. If God had promised salvation to Israel, how could Jesus truly fulfill God’s plan when so few Jews believed (9:1–5)? In response, Paul uses the Old Testament to show that God always planned to save only a remnant, that is, a smaller group within Israel (9:6–29). Paul also explains that many Jews did not accept Christ because they refused to trust in him (9:30–10:21)…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. 88. That is, They are not, etc. He now gathers from God’s answer a proposition, which includes the whole of what he had in view. For if Isaac, and not Ishmael, was the seed, though the one as well as the other was Abraham’s son, it must be that all natural sons are not to be regarded as the seed, but that the promise is specially fulfilled only in some, and that it does not belong commonly and equally to all. He calls those the children of the flesh, who…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 9:8
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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