Romans 9:10 kjv
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Romans 9:10 nkjv
And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac
Romans 9:10 niv
Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.
Romans 9:10 esv
And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
Romans 9:10 nlt
This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.
Romans 9 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 9:10 | ...when Rebekah also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; | Genesis 25:21 (Identifies Rebekah as Isaac's wife and her barrenness prior to conception) |
| Romans 9:11 | For the children were not yet born, nor had they done any good or evil... | Genesis 25:22-23 (Prophecy concerning the two nations within her womb) |
| Genesis 17:16 | ...and will give you a son of her, and bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations... | Genesis 21:1-7 (Fulfillment of God's promise regarding Sarah and Isaac) |
| Genesis 25:23 | And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body... | Malachi 1:2-3 (God states His love for Jacob and hatred for Esau, referencing their relationship) |
| Galatians 1:15-16 | But when it pleased God... to reveal his Son in me... | Ephesians 1:4-5 (God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world) |
| Romans 8:29 | For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... | Jeremiah 1:5 (God foreknew Jeremiah and consecrated him before his birth) |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you... | Acts 13:48 (As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed) |
| Romans 4:1-3 | What then is Abraham our father as to the flesh? | Romans 11:1-6 (Paul's discussion on God's election and Israel's rejection) |
| Deuteronomy 7:7-8 | The LORD did not set his love upon you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people... | Isaiah 41:8-9 (God chose Jacob, His servant, Abraham's descendants) |
| Psalm 139:13-16 | For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. | Jeremiah 31:33 (God's New Covenant with Israel, writing His laws on their hearts) |
| Romans 9:13 | “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” | Malachi 1:3 (Reinforces the divine preference established from the womb) |
| Genesis 25:24 | When her days were fulfilled for her to be delivered, indeed there were twins in her womb. | John 3:3-7 (Spiritual birth and rebirth; not by flesh but by Spirit) |
| Romans 9:12 | it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." | Isaiah 55:8-9 (God's thoughts and ways are higher than human thoughts and ways) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise... | Luke 18:14 (The tax collector went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee) |
| Philippians 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | Colossians 3:12 (Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience) |
| Matthew 19:26 | With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. | Ephesians 2:8-9 (By grace you have been saved through faith. It is the gift of God) |
| Acts 18:10 | ...for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you... | Romans 1:20 (God's invisible attributes are clearly seen... from the creation of the world) |
| Romans 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | 1 Samuel 15:29 (God does not relent regarding His pronouncements) |
| Galatians 3:16 | Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but as referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. | John 8:56 (Abraham rejoiced to see My day) |
| Romans 9:15 | For He said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” | Exodus 33:19 (God's declaration to Moses about His sovereign mercy) |
Romans 9 verses
Romans 9 10 Meaning
This verse describes a foundational event in biblical history: the conception of Jacob and Esau through Rebekah. It highlights that their conception was not due to the ordinary process of human desire or choice, but was divinely ordained. The foreknowledge and predetermined plan of God are central, emphasizing His sovereignty over human lineage and future actions even before the individuals were born or had done anything to merit or demerit His favor.
Romans 9 10 Context
Romans chapter 9 addresses Paul's deep sorrow over the rejection of Jesus by many of his own people, the Israelites. He explores God's sovereign right to choose who is part of His redemptive plan, using the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Esau, as well as Pharaoh. This specific verse (Romans 9:10) directly precedes the famous declaration about Jacob and Esau. The immediate context is Paul's defense of God's election and justice, assuring Jewish believers and addressing potential objections that God's plan had failed because many Jews rejected the Messiah. He asserts that God's purposes are not thwarted by human unbelief, as His choosing is based on His sovereign will, not human merit.
Romans 9 10 Word Analysis
- When (ὅτε - hote): An adverb of time, indicating the specific point in time when this event occurred.
- Rebekah (Ῥεβέκκα - Rhebekka): The name of Isaac's wife and mother of Jacob and Esau, directly referencing the Genesis narrative.
- Also (καί - kai): A conjunction used here to connect this fact to previous statements or examples. It means "and" or "also."
- Had conceived (συνέλαβεν - synellaben): The aorist tense of the verb sylambano, meaning "to conceive," "to take together," or "to get with child." It highlights the completed action of conception.
- By (ἐκ - ek): A preposition often translated as "from" or "out of." Here it signifies the source or origin of the conception.
- One (ἑνός - henos): The genitive singular of the numeral eis, meaning "one." It refers to Isaac, the father.
- Even (καί - kai): Used here for emphasis, further linking the act of conception to a specific individual.
- By (τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰσαάκ - tou patros hēmōn Isaak): Literally "of the father of us Isaac." This explicitly identifies Isaac as the father.
- Our Father Isaac (τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰσαάκ - tou patros hēmōn Isaak): Refers to Isaac as their common ancestor in both a physical and spiritual sense, being the son of Abraham.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "When Rebekah also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;": This clause establishes the specific lineage of Jacob and Esau through Isaac, emphasizing their paternal origin. It sets the stage for the preceding narrative where Rebekah was barren and then miraculously conceived, a theme of divine intervention. The phrase "our father Isaac" connects the patriarch to the audience, highlighting a shared heritage.
Romans 9 10 Bonus Section
The concept of divine election before birth is a recurring theme in the Bible, predating Jacob and Esau. Examples include Isaac (Genesis 17:19), Samson (Judges 13:3-5), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5), and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), all of whom were set apart by God even before their birth for specific purposes. This reinforces the pattern Paul establishes to illustrate God's sovereign control over His redemptive history and the people through whom His will is accomplished. This contrasts with notions of human merit or lineage-based favoritism, emphasizing grace.
Romans 9 10 Commentary
Paul anchors his argument for divine sovereignty in the Old Testament narrative of Jacob and Esau's birth. The conception was not random; it was divinely orchestrated before the children had done anything. This demonstrates that God's choosing of Jacob over Esau, and by extension His choosing of individuals for salvation, is based on His sovereign will and foreknowledge, not on human works or merit. This is a foundational principle in understanding God's election, as revealed through scripture and the life of Abraham's descendants. God's plan operates according to His unchangeable purposes, predating human action or circumstance.