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 the word of promise is this: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10And not only this, but also Rebecca having twins, from one act with our father Isaac. Yet before the sons were even born and had not done anything good or bad—so that God’s purpose and choice might stand not because of works but because of Him who calls— 12it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13As 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 a father of many nations”). He is our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist.
• Psalms 51:5For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
• Ephesians 2:3We too all lived among them in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind. By nature we were children of wrath, just like the others.
• Romans 8:28Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
• Isaiah 14:24Adonai Tzva’ot has sworn, saying: “Surely, as I thought it, so it will be. As I have purposed, so it will stand.
• Isaiah 23:9Adonai-Tzva’ot has planned it, to defile the pride of all glory, to shame all the honored of earth.
• Isaiah 46:10declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, “My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.”
• Jeremiah 51:29Now the land shakes and writhes, for Adonai’s plans against Babylon arise— to make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.
• Ephesians 1:9He made known to us the mystery of His will, in keeping with His good pleasure that He planned in Messiah.
• Ephesians 3:11which is in keeping with the eternal purpose that He carried out in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
• 2 Timothy 1:9He has saved us and called us with a holy calling— not because of our deeds but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Messiah Yeshua before time began,
• Romans 11:5So in the same way also at this present time there has come to be a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
• Ephesians 1:4He chose us in the Messiah before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that you are chosen,
• 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble.
• Romans 11:6But 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