Romans 9:11

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 this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10And not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Romans 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

• bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• and had not doneπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
• anythingτιςtis · oneG5100
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• orἤē · orG2228
• badφαῦλοςphaulos · evilG5337
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• God’sθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• purposeπρόθεσιςprothesis · purposeG4286
• accordingκατάkata · according toG2596
• choiceἐκλογήeklogē · selectingG1589
• standμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• becauseἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• of worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• of Him who callsκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564

Cross-references for Romans 9:11

• Romans 4:17(as it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist.
• Psalms 51:5Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, And in sin my mother conceived me.
• Ephesians 2:3Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.
• Romans 8:28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord of armies has sworn, saying, “Certainly, just as I have intended, so it has happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand,
• Isaiah 23:9The Lord of armies has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To despise all the honored of the earth.
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
• Jeremiah 51:29So the land quakes and writhes, For the plans of the Lord against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants.
• Ephesians 1:9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him,
• Ephesians 3:11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
• 2 Timothy 1:9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
• Romans 11:5In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
• Ephesians 1:4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
• Romans 11:6But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

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

• Circumcision
• Covenant
• Grace of God
• Predestination

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Purpose, of God
• Continual
• Fault
• Jacob
• Predestination
• Resist
• Bible, the
• Choose; Chosen

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