New Living Translation
Romans 9:11
11But 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;
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 God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 10This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 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; 12he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” 13In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”
Read all of Romans 9Romans 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 4:17That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
- Psalms 51:5For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
- Ephesians 2:3All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
- Romans 8:28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
- Isaiah 14:24The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath: “It will all happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided.
- Isaiah 23:9The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has done it to destroy your pride and bring low all earth’s nobility.
- Isaiah 46:10Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
- Jeremiah 51:29The earth trembles and writhes in pain, for everything the Lord has planned against Babylon stands unchanged. Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant.
- Ephesians 1:9God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
- Ephesians 3:11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Timothy 1:9For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
- Romans 11:5It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them.
- Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
- 2 Peter 1:10So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
- Romans 11:6And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
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
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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