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 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 is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” 10And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (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), 12it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13As 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

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 a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
• Psalms 51:5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
• Ephesians 2:3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
• Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
• Isaiah 23:9The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
• Jeremiah 51:29And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.
• Ephesians 1:9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
• Ephesians 3:11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
• 2 Timothy 1:9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
• Romans 11:5Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
• Ephesians 1:4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
• Romans 11:6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

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
• Purpose, of God
• Continual
• Fault
• Jacob
• Predestination
• Resist
• Bible, the
• Choose; Chosen
• Election

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