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 what the promise declared: “About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.” 10Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac – even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling) – 12it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” 13just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I 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

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 4:17(as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
• Psalms 51:5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
• Ephesians 2:3among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
• Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord who commands armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.
• Isaiah 23:9The Lord who commands armies planned it – to dishonor the pride that comes from all her beauty, to humiliate all the dignitaries of the earth.
• Isaiah 46:10who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’
• Jeremiah 51:29The earth will tremble and writhe in agony. For the Lord will carry out his plan. He plans to make the land of Babylonia a wasteland where no one lives.
• Ephesians 1:9He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
• Ephesians 3:11This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
• 2 Timothy 1:9He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
• Romans 11:5So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
• Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.
• Romans 11:6And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be 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