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Romans Chapter 9

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 33 Verses

What is Romans 9 about?

Paul's systematic exposition of the gospel — justification by faith, the sovereignty of God, sin's universality, and life in the Spirit. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren`s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;
5whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:
7neither, because they are Abraham`s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.
9For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac--
11for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,
12it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.
18So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?
21Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
24[even] us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
25As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved.
26And it shall be, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.
27And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:
28for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.
29And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.
30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law.
32Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
33even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, etc..] The apostle being about to discourse concerning predestination, which he had mentioned in the preceding chapter, and to open the springs and causes of it, and also concerning the induration and rejection of the Jewish nation; he thought it necessary to preface his account of these things with some strong assurances of his great attachment to that people, and his affection for them, lest it should be thought he spoke out of prejudice to them; and well knowing in what situation he stood in with them, on account of his preaching up the abrogation of the ceremonial law,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“THE BEARING OF THE FOREGOING TRUTHS UPON THE CONDITION AND DESTINY OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE--ELECTION--THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. (Rom. 9:1-33) I say the truth in Christ--as if steeped in the spirit of Him who wept over impenitent and doomed Jerusalem (compare Rom 1:9; Co2 12:19; Phi 1:8). my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost--"my conscience as quickened, illuminated, and even now under the direct operation of the Holy Ghost."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“I say the truth - In what I am about to affirm respecting my attachment to the nation and people. In Christ - Most interpreters regard this as a form of an oath, as equivalent to calling Christ to witness. It is certainly to be regarded, in its obvious sense, as an appeal to Christ as the searcher of the heart, and as the judge of falsehood. Thus, the word translated “in” ἐν en is used in the form of an oath in Matthew 5:34-36; Revelation 10:6, Greek. We are to remember that the apostle was addressing those who had been Jews; and the expression has all the force of an oath “by the Messiah.” This shows that it is…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“In Christ - This seems to imply an appeal to him. In the Holy Ghost - Through his grace. Romans 9:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“9:1–11:36 In this section, Paul takes up the problem raised by the unbelief of so many Jews. If God had promised salvation to Israel yet so few Jews were being saved, how could Jesus truly be the fulfillment of God’s plan (9:1-5)? In his response to this objection, Paul cites the Old Testament as evidence that God had always intended to save only a remnant of Israel (9:6-29), and he faults the Jews for refusing to embrace Christ (9:30–10:21). Paul then shows that God has not discarded Israel from his plan of salvation. Many Jews have already believed in Christ (11:1-10), and many more will believe in the future…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“I say: Rom 1:9; Co2 1:23, Co2 11:31, Co2 12:19; Gal 1:20; Phi 1:8; Th1 2:5; Ti1 2:7, Ti1 5:21 my conscience: Rom 2:15, Rom 8:16; Co2 1:12; Ti1 1:5; Jo1 3:19-21 Romans 9:2”
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