Romans 9:11-13

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

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:11

For the children being not yet born - As the word children is not in the text, the word nations would be more proper; for it is of nations that the apostle speaks, as the following verses show, as well as the history to which he refers. Neither having done any good - To merit the distinction of being made the peculiar people of God; nor evil, to deserve to be left out of this covenant, and the distinguishing national blessings which it conferred; that the purpose of God according to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:12

The elder shall serve the younger - These words, with those of Malachi, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated, are cited by the apostle to prove, according to their typical signification, that the purpose of God, according to election, does and will stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; that is, that the purpose of God, which is the ground of that election which he makes among men, unto the honor of being Abraham's seed, might appear to remain unchangeable in him; and to be even... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:11

Verse 11 11.For when the children, etc. He now begins to ascend higher, even to show the cause of this difference, which he teaches us is nowhere else to be found except in the election of God. He had indeed before briefly noticed, that there was a difference between the natural children of Abraham, that though all were adopted by circumcision into a participation of the covenant, yet the grace of God was not effectual in them all; and hence that they, who enjoy the favor of God, are the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:12

Verse 12 12.The elder shall serve the younger See how the Lord makes a difference between the sons of Isaac, while they were as yet in their mother’s womb; for this was the heavenly answer, by which it appeared that God designed to show to the younger peculiar favor, which he denied to the elder. Though this indeed had reference to the right of primogeniture, yet in this, as the symbol of something greater, was manifested the will of God: and that this was the case we may easily perceive, when... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:13

Verse 13 13.As it is written, Jacob I loved, etc. He confirms, by a still stronger testimony, how much the heavenly answer, given to Rebecca, availed to his present purpose, that is, that the spiritual condition of both was intimated by the dominion of Jacob and servitude of Esau, and also that Jacob obtained this favor through the kindness of God, and not through his own merit. Then this testimony of the prophet shows the reason why the Lord conferred on Jacob the primogeniture: and it is... read more

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