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However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing]. For not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel; and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “Your descendants will be named through Isaac” [though Abraham had other sons].(A) That is, it is not the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants. For this is what the promise said: “About this time [next year] I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”(B) 10 And not only that, but this too: Rebekah conceived twin sons by one man [under the same circumstances], by our father Isaac; 11 and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them, 12 it was said to her, “The [a]older (Esau) will serve the [b]younger (Jacob).”(C) 13 As it is written and forever remains written, “[c]Jacob I loved (chose, protected, blessed), but [d]Esau I hated (held in disregard compared to Jacob).”(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:12 The descendants of Esau, the Edomites.
  2. Romans 9:12 The descendants of Jacob (Israel), the Israelites.
  3. Romans 9:13 The Israelites received God’s protection and blessing.
  4. Romans 9:13 The Edomites were left to God’s judgment.

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