⁶ But it is not as if the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, ⁷ nor are they all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but “In Isaac will your descendants be named.”^{[a] 8} That is, it is not the children by human descent^[b] who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. ⁹ For the statement of the promise is this: “At this time I will return and Sarah will have^[c] a son.”^{[d] 10} And not only this, but also when^[e] Rebecca conceived children by one man,^[f] Isaac our father— ¹¹ for although they^[g] had not yet been born, or done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God according to election might remain, ¹² not by works but by the one who calls—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”^{[h] 13} just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[i]