Romans 9:10-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 9:6-13

The apostle, having made his way to that which he had to say, concerning the rejection of the body of his countrymen, with a protestation of his own affection for them and a concession of their undoubted privileges, comes in these verses, and the following part of the chapter, to prove that the rejection of the Jews, by the establishment of the gospel dispensation, did not at all invalidate the word of God's promise to the patriarchs: Not as though the word of God hath taken no effect (Rom.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 9:14-24

The apostle, having asserted the true meaning of the promise, comes here to maintain and prove the absolute sovereignty of God, in disposing of the children of men, with reference to their eternal state. And herein God is to be considered, not as a rector and governor, distributing rewards and punishments according to his revealed laws and covenants, but as an owner and benefactor, giving to the children of men such grace and favour as he has determined in and by his secret and eternal will... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 9:7-13

9:7-13 But it is not as though the word of God had been completely frustrated. For not all who belong to the race of Israel are really Israel; nor are all really children because they can claim physical descent from Abraham. On the contrary, it is written: "In Isaac will your descendants be called." That is to say, it is not the children who can claim merely physical descent who are really the children of God. No! It is the children of the promise who are reckoned as the true descendants of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 9:14-18

9:14-18 What shall we then say? Are you going to say that there is injustice with God? God forbid! For, he says to Moses: "I will have mercy on whomsoever I will have mercy and I will have pity on whomsoever I will have pity." So then the whole matter depends not on man's will and not on man's effort, but entirely on the mercy of God. For scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this one thing I assigned you a part in the drama of history--that I might demonstrate my power by what happens to you, and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 9:19-29

9:19-29 But, then, you may ask, "If this is so how can God go on blaming men if they do not take his way? Who can withstand God's purpose?" Fellow! Who are you to be arguing with God? Surely the thing that is molded into shape cannot say to the man who molds it, "Why did you make me like this?" Has not the potter complete authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for an honourable use and another for a menial service? What if God, although it was his will to demonstrate... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:10

And not only this ,.... This instance of Ishmael and Isaac, is not the only one, proving that Abraham's natural seed, the children of the flesh, are not all children, the children of God: but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac , "it was said unto her", Romans 9:12 , being in a parenthesis, "the elder shall serve the younger". The apostle was aware, that the Jews would be ready to say, that the instance of Ishmael and Isaac was not a pertinent one; since... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:11

For the children being not yet born , So says F8 Targum in Hos. xii. 3. the Chaldee paraphrast, "the prophet said unto them, was it not said of Jacob, עד דלא אתיליד , "when he was not yet born", that he should be greater than his brother?' the Syriac version supplies, "his children", that is, Isaac's; and the Arabic version, "his two children". This shows, that the apostle designs not the posterity, but the very persons of Jacob and Esau; since as he speaks of their... read more

John Gill

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

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