Romans 9:1-26 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:12

It was said unto her ,.... To Rebecca, Genesis 25:23 , the elder shall serve the younger , or "the greater shall serve the lesser", an Hebrew way of speaking; so Japheth is called הגדול , "the great", or, as we render it, "the elder", Genesis 10:21 ; and the evil imagination is said F9 Midrash Kohelet, fol. 80. 1. to be גדול , "greater", that is, elder than the good, thirteen years; See Gill on Luke 22:26 ; The sense is, Esau shall be a servant to Jacob; which is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:13

As it is written ,.... In Malachi 1:2 ; Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated . These words are explanative of the former; they are of like import, and the one interpret the other; and show, that the former are to be understood in a spiritual, and not in a temporal sense, and of the persons, and not the posterity of Jacob and Esau; for though Malachi prophesied long after Jacob and Esau were personally dead, yet the Lord in that prophecy manifestly directs the murmuring Jews to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:14

What shall we say then ?.... A form of expression the apostle frequently uses, when he is about to introduce an objection, as is what follows: is there unrighteousness with God ? This is not an objection of his own, but of an adversary, which he takes up and returns an answer to; and which itself greatly serves to settle and confirm the true sense and meaning of the apostle in this place; as that it could not be, that election and rejection of men should proceed according to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:15

For he saith to Moses ,.... That is, God said to Moses. The apostle goes on to answer to the above objections, by producing some testimonies out of the writings of Moses, in favour of both branches of predestination; showing, that the doctrine he had advanced, was no other than what God himself had delivered to Moses, whose name and writings were in great esteem with the Jews, whereby the apostle might hope to give full satisfaction in this point. The first passage he cites, is in Exodus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:16

So then it is not of him that willeth ,.... This is not a consequence drawn by an adversary, showing that if this be the case, it signifies nothing for men to will or do, they may even sit still and do nothing, but depend on the mercy of God; but this is a conclusion of the apostle's from the above cited testimony, inferring from thence, that election, which is what he is discoursing of, is "not of him that willeth", nor of him that runneth : that is, is not owing to the will or works of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:17

For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh ,.... אמר קרא , "The Scripture saith", is a Talmudic F12 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 82. 2. & 84. 1. Bava Metzia, fol. 47. 1. Zebachim, fol. 4. 1, 2. & passim. way of speaking, used when any point is proved from Scripture; and is of the same signification with אמר רחמנא , "the merciful God says"; and so the sense of it here is, God said to Pharaoh; the testimony here cited, stands in Exodus 9:16 ; where it is read thus, "for this cause... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:18

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will ,.... These are the express words of the former testimony: it follows, and whom he will he hardeneth ; which is the just and natural consequence of what is contained in the latter; for if God could, or he did, without any injustice, raise up Pharaoh, and harden his heart against him and his people, that he might rise up against him and destroy him by his power for his own glory, then he may harden any other person, and even whom he will: now this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:19

Thou wilt say then unto me ,.... That is, thou wilt object to me; for this is another objection of the adversary, against the doctrine the apostle was advancing: and it is an objection of a mere natural man, of one given up to a reprobate mind, of an insolent hardened sinner; it discovers the enmity of the carnal mind to God; if is one of the high things that exalts itself against the knowledge of him; it is with a witness a stretching out of the hand against God, and strengthening a man's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:20

Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God ?.... Or "answerest again to God": some have been so weak and wicked as to suggest, that the apostle met with an objection he could not answer, or give a fair solution of, and therefore takes the method he does: but when the several things returned in answer by the apostle are considered, it will appear that he has taken the wisest method to silence such an audacious objector, and that he abundantly clears God from the charge of cruelty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:21

Hath not the potter power over the clay ,.... By the power the potter has over the clay, to shape it in what form he pleases, and out of it to make what vessels he pleases, and for what purposes he thinks fit, which will be most to his own advantage, the apostle expresses the sovereign and unlimited powder which God has over his creatures; the passages referred to, are Isaiah 64:8 , in which God is represented as the potter, and men as clay in his hands; now if the potter has such power... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:21

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