Romans 15:12 kjv
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Romans 15:12 nkjv
And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
Romans 15:12 niv
And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope."
Romans 15:12 esv
And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."
Romans 15:12 nlt
And in another place Isaiah said, "The heir to David's throne will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him."
Romans 15 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 11:10 | "The root of Jesse will stand as a banner of the peoples..." | Fulfillment of prophecy about Messiah's reign |
| Isa 42:1, 4, 6 | "I will put my Spirit on him... a light for the Gentiles." | Messiah as a light and covenant for nations |
| Psa 72:11 | "All nations will serve him." | Prophecy of universal dominion of the Messiah |
| Psa 2:8 | "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance..." | God granting nations to His Son |
| Jer 10:7 | "Who would not fear you, O King of nations?" | Acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over nations |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord..." | Inauguration of Christ's eternal kingdom |
| Gal 3:16 | "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ." | Abraham's seed is Christ, through whom all nations are blessed |
| Gal 3:8 | "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith..." | Foresight of Gentile salvation in the Old Testament |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'" | Peter's realization of the Gospel's inclusion of Gentiles |
| Rom 1:3 | "...concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh..." | Jesus' lineage connecting Him to Israel and its promises |
| Rom 3:29 | "Or is God only the God of Jews? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?" | God's universal authorship, not exclusive to Jews |
| Eph 2:11-14 | "Remember that you were separated from Christ, alienated from the community of Israel... But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility..." | Christ breaking down the wall between Jews and Gentiles |
| John 1:16 | "Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." | The abundance of grace through Christ available to all |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." | God's universal love extended to the whole world |
| Luke 2:10, 11, 30-32 | "...great news of joy that will be for all the people. ...today in the town of David a Savior has been born... Simeon said, 'My eyes have seen your salvation— which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Israel.'" | Prophecies about the Savior being for all people, specifically a light for Gentiles |
| Acts 28:28 | "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." | The Apostle Paul's declaration about the Gospel reaching the Gentiles |
| Rom 4:13, 16 | "...it was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ... This is why it depends on faith, in order that it may be according to grace and thereby sure to all the offspring, not only to the one who is of the law, but also to the one who is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." | Abraham's inheritance and righteousness by faith, inclusive of all believers |
| Titus 2:11 | "For the grace of God has appeared that offers the salvation of all people." | The universal reach of God's saving grace |
| 1 Tim 2:4 | "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." | God's desire for universal salvation |
| Heb 2:9 | "But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." | Christ's death for the benefit of all humanity |
Romans 15 verses
Romans 15 12 Meaning
This verse presents Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah, specifically highlighting His universal call to all nations. It signifies the inclusive nature of God's salvation plan, extended beyond the Jewish people to encompass Gentiles as well, establishing Christ as a banner of hope and a ruler over nations.
Romans 15 12 Context
Romans chapter 15 focuses on the unity of believers, particularly the inclusion of Gentiles into God's kingdom and the importance of the stronger believers accommodating the weaker ones, especially regarding matters of diet and observance. Paul cites Old Testament scriptures to undergird his arguments for this unity and mutual acceptance. Verse 12, situated within this discussion, specifically quotes Isaiah 11:10 as a prophecy that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, signifying His role as a rallying point for all peoples. Paul is encouraging the Roman church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, to live in harmony and mutual respect, overcoming any potential divisions that might arise from differing cultural or religious backgrounds.
Romans 15 12 Word Analysis
“kai” (καὶ): A common Greek conjunction, typically translated as "and." It serves to connect phrases and clauses, here linking the mention of Isaiah's prophecy to its fulfillment in Christ.
“Ioudaiōn” (Ἰουδαίων): The genitive plural of "Ioudaios" (Ἰουδαῖος), meaning "Jew." It signifies "of the Jews," referring to the Jewish people.
“tes” (τῆς): The feminine genitive singular definite article, "the." It modifies "ritsēs" (ῥίζης), meaning "root."
“ritsēs” (ῥίζης): The genitive singular of "rhiza" (ῥίζα), meaning "root." It signifies "of the root." This points to Jesse, the father of David, highlighting Christ's Davidic lineage, a key aspect of His messianic identity.
“Ese” (Jesse): A proper noun, "Jesse." He was the father of King David, and therefore an ancestor of Jesus. His name evokes the Davidic covenant.
“tōn” (τῶν): The genitive plural definite article, "the." It modifies "ethōn" (ἐθνῶν), meaning "nations" or "Gentiles."
“ethōn” (ἐθνῶν): The genitive plural of "ethnos" (ἔθνος), meaning "nation," "people," or "Gentile." Here, it signifies "of the nations," indicating people groups outside of Israel.
“archō” (ἄρχων): The nominative singular masculine of "archōn" (ἄρχων), meaning "ruler," "prince," or "chief." It signifies "ruler." This title is applied to the Messiah.
“kai” (καὶ): Another instance of "and," connecting the "root of Jesse" to the "ruler of the nations."
“ethōn” (ἐθνῶν): Again, "of the nations," reinforcing the universal scope of Christ's rule.
“elasai” (ἐλπίζousin): From the verb "elpiro" (ἐλπίζω), meaning "to hope" or "to expect." The present participle here means "who hope" or "in whom is hoped." However, some manuscripts and textual critics prefer "elpei" (ἐλπεῖ) from Isaiah 11:10, meaning "shall hope," or "elesei" (ἐλέει) from a variant reading referring to mercy. The NKJV uses "will hope," aligning with a common interpretive understanding and textual preference that Isaiah's prophecy itself stated the nations would hope.
“pantes” (πάντες): The nominative plural masculine of "pas" (πᾶς), meaning "all." It signifies "all." This "all" refers back to the nations mentioned.
Groups of words:
- "Ho erchomenos ex autou" (ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐξ αὐτοῦ): "He who comes from him." This phrase emphasizes the lineage and origin of the Messiah from Jesse. It points to His humanity and His covenantal heritage.
- "ethōn archōn" (ἐθνῶν ἄρχων): "Ruler of the nations." This title encapsulates the universal scope of Christ's authority and dominion, transcending ethnic and national boundaries.
- “en autō ta ethne elpiousin” (ἐν αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν - a common rendering reflecting the Isaianic quote): "in him will the nations hope." This signifies that all peoples, regardless of their background, will place their trust and hope in Christ.
Romans 15 12 Bonus Section
The prophecy in Isaiah 11:10, directly referenced here, speaks of a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a branch that will bear fruit. This imagery underscores the restoration and new beginning that Christ brings, emerging from a seemingly dead lineage (the stump of David's line during the exile). The "root of Jesse" is also a title that points to Jesus' humanity and His grounding in the history and promises of Israel, from which He springs forth. The phrase "a banner for the peoples" indicates that He will be a focal point, an ensign of hope and gathering for all nations, drawing them to Himself. This verse in Romans therefore serves as a foundational statement for Gentile inclusion and the global nature of the Gospel.
Romans 15 12 Commentary
This verse is a profound declaration of Christ's universal kingship and the inclusiveness of God's salvation plan. By quoting Isaiah 11:10, Paul demonstrates that the inclusion of Gentiles in the covenant community was not a new, unexpected development, but a long-foretold aspect of the Messiah's mission. Jesus, the root of Jesse and the promised descendant of David, is indeed the "ruler of the nations." His reign extends beyond Israel to encompass all peoples who will place their hope in Him. This truth should foster unity and acceptance within the church, breaking down any remaining divisions between Jew and Gentile. It reminds believers that their hope is not in their ethnicity or their adherence to specific laws, but in the person and work of Christ, who is the banner of salvation for everyone. The universality of Christ's reign calls for a spirit of mission and an embrace of all who are brought into God's family through faith.