But it is not as though (A)the word of God has failed. (B)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children (C)because they are Abraham’s [a](D)descendants, but: “[b](E)through Isaac your [c]descendants shall be named.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh [d]who are (F)children of God, but the (G)children of the promise are regarded as [e](H)descendants. For this is the word of promise: “(I)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 (J)And not only that, but there was also (K)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (L)God’s purpose according to His choice would [f]stand, not [g]because of works but [h]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(M)The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “(N)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  2. Romans 9:7 Lit in
  3. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  4. Romans 9:8 Lit these
  5. Romans 9:8 Lit seed
  6. Romans 9:11 Lit remain
  7. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  8. Romans 9:11 Lit from

Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham’s descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.”[a] That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God’s children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants. For this is the language of the promise: “At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[b] 10 Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. 11 Yet before their children[c] had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s plan of election might continue to operate 12 according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca[d] was told, “The older child will serve the younger one.”[e] 13 So it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[f]

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