Passage

Romans 9.1-23

Book: Romans · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit, 2. that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3. For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4. who 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; 5. whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6. But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: 7. neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8. That 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. 9. For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10. And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, 11. for 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, 12. it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13. Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy. 17. For 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. 18. So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will? 20. Nay 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? 21. Or 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? 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: 23. and 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? 25. As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved." (Romans 9:1-25, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, 2. that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. 3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh, 4. who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; 5. of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen. 6. But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel. 7. Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.” 8. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9. For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10. Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 11. For 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 who calls, 12. it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.” 13. Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15. For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16. So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. 17. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18. So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires. 19. You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?” 20. But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21. Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 23. and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,"

"24. us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 25. As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.”" (Romans 9:1-25, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: ^{accursed: or, separated} 4. Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; ^{covenants: or, testaments} 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11. (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;) 12. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. ^{elder: or, greater} ^{elder: or, greater} ^{younger: or, lesser} 13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? ^{repliest: or, answerest again, or, disputest with God?} 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: ^{fitted: or, made up} 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,"

"24. Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved." (Romans 9:1-25, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit, 2. that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart, 3. for I was wishing, I myself, to be anathema from the Christ, for my brethren, my kindred, according to the flesh, 4. who are Israelites, whose [is] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service, and the promises, 5. whose [are] the fathers, and of whom [is] the Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed to the ages. Amen. 6. And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who [are] of Israel are these Israel; 7. nor because they are seed of Abraham [are] all children, but, 'in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;' 8. that is, the children of the flesh, these [are] not children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for seed; 9. for the word of promise [is] this; 'According to this time I will come, and there shall be to Sarah a son.' 10. And not only [so], but also Rebecca, having conceived by one, Isaac our father, 11. (for they being not yet born, neither having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to choice, might remain; not of works, but of Him who is calling,) it was said to her, 12. 'The greater shall serve the less;' 13. according as it hath been written, 'Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.' 14. What, then, shall we say? unrighteousness [is] with God? let it not be! 15. for to Moses He saith, 'I will do kindness to whom I do kindness, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;' 16. so, then, not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness: 17. for the Writing saith to Pharaoh, 'For this very thing I did raise thee up, that I might shew in thee My power, and that My name might be declared in all the land;' 18. so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden. 19. Thou wilt say, then, to me, 'Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?' 20. nay, but, O man, who art thou that art answering again to God? shall the thing formed say to Him who did form [it], Why me didst thou make thus? 21. hath not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make the one vessel to honour, and the one to dishonour? 22. And if God, willing to shew the wrath and to make known His power, did endure, in much long suffering, vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, 23. and that He might make known the riches of His glory on vessels of kindness, that He before prepared for glory, whom also He did call, us --"

"24. not only out of Jews, but also out of nations, 25. as also in Hosea He saith, 'I will call what [is] not My people, My people; and her not beloved, Beloved," (Romans 9:1-25, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

John Piper

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.