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;)
• 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),
• New Living Translation (NLT)But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;

Context of Romans 9:11

9For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” 10Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “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 4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
• Psalms 51:5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
• Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
• Romans 8:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
• Isaiah 23:9The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.
• Isaiah 46:10I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
• Jeremiah 51:29The land trembles and writhes, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand— to lay waste the land of Babylon so that no one will live there.
• Ephesians 1:9he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
• Ephesians 3:11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 2 Timothy 1:9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
• Romans 11:5So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
• Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
• Romans 11:6And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, 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