Romans 9:12 kjv
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Romans 9:12 nkjv
it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger."
Romans 9:12 niv
not by works but by him who calls?she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
Romans 9:12 esv
she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
Romans 9:12 nlt
he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, "Your older son will serve your younger son."
Romans 9 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 25:23 | "Two nations are in your womb..." | Predestination / Divine Choice |
| Genesis 27:41 | "...Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated." | God's sovereign choice |
| Malachi 1:2-3 | "‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’" | Election / God's Sovereignty |
| Romans 9:10-11 | "...when they had neither been born nor yet done anything good or bad... it was said to her, 'The older will serve the younger.'" | Purpose of God not based on works |
| Romans 9:13 | "As it is written, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.'" | God's sovereign preference |
| Acts 17:24-25 | "The God who made the world and everything in it... gives to all life and breath and all things." | Creator's Authority |
| Ephesians 1:4-5 | "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world... In love he predestined us for adoption as sons..." | Foreknowledge and Predestination |
| 2 Timothy 1:9 | "...who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace..." | Grace and Purpose |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." | Divine Election |
| Deuteronomy 7:7 | "The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples..." | God's Unconditional Choice |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." | Foreknowledge of God |
| Psalm 139:13-16 | "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb... your eyes saw my unformed substance..." | God's Knowledge in Gestation |
| Matthew 11:25-26 | "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children..." | Divine Revelation |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;" | God's Election |
| Galatians 3:16 | "Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'And to your offspring,' who is Christ." | Abrahamic Covenant |
| Romans 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." | Faith over Law |
| Isaiah 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." | God's Ways vs. Human Ways |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." | Trust and Understanding |
| John 3:8 | "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." | Freedom of the Spirit |
| Romans 11:33-36 | "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" | Unsearchable Judgments |
Romans 9 verses
Romans 9 12 Meaning
It was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." This refers to a divine choice, independent of the children's actions before or after birth, determining who would fulfill God's plan.
Romans 9 12 Context
Romans 9 is part of Paul's extensive discussion on God's sovereign plan and election within the context of His relationship with Israel and the Gentiles. In this chapter, Paul addresses the apparent issue of why, if God is faithful, so many in Israel did not receive Jesus as Messiah, while many Gentiles did. He uses examples from Israel's history, starting with Abraham and his descendants, Isaac and Jacob, to illustrate that God's sovereign choice is not based on lineage or human effort but on His divine purpose. This verse, 9:12, is a direct application of this principle to the chosen lineage, demonstrating that God’s selection predates any actions of the individuals involved.
Romans 9 12 Word Analysis
- kai (καὶ): "And." A conjunction connecting clauses, showing continuity or addition.
- eipēthe (εἴπῃτε): "it was said to you" (aorist passive subjunctive of eipon). The passive voice indicates God is the ultimate speaker, and the subjunctive mood often conveys a conditional or reported statement, here relating to a past divine pronouncement.
- autē (αὐτῇ): "to her" (dative feminine singular of autos). Refers to Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
- o (ὁ): "The." Definite article.
- meizōn (μείζων): "older" (comparative of megas, "great"). Here, it refers to the eldest son by birth order.
- douleusei (δουλεύσει): "will serve" (future active indicative of douleō, "to serve"). Implies a subjection or servitude, which can be in the context of God's decree for their lives and roles.
- tōi (τῷ): "the" (dative neuter singular of autos). Article.
- elatton (ἐλάττονι): "younger" (comparative of mikros, "small"). Refers to the younger son.
Words-group analysis:
- "the older will serve the younger" (ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάττονι): This specific phrase is a direct quote echoing Genesis 25:23. It highlights a divine prerogative to choose according to His will, not according to the natural order of primogeniture. This choice operates before the individuals have acted, underscoring God's sovereignty.
Romans 9 12 Bonus Section
The inclusion of the Genesis 25:23 quote in Romans 9:12 emphasizes that God’s sovereign plan operates consistently throughout biblical history. The concept of God's election is not a novel idea introduced by Paul but a recurring theme rooted in the Old Testament. Scholars note that the election of Jacob over Esau serves as a type or foreshadowing of God’s broader election of a people for Himself, which culminates in Christ and extends to both Jews and Gentiles who believe. The focus here is not on proving Esau's condemnation but on demonstrating God's freedom to choose the instruments of His purpose, even contrary to human expectation or conventional status. This also highlights that God’s sovereign choice is for blessing and fulfilling His redemptive plan, not necessarily for universal favor in every aspect of life without distinction.
Romans 9 12 Commentary
Paul’s assertion that "the older will serve the younger" underscores a foundational theological concept: divine election is sovereign. God’s choices for His purposes, illustrated through the lineage of Isaac and Rebekah, are not predetermined by human merit, gender, or birth order. The narrative of Jacob and Esau, prophesied even in the womb, serves as a case study. God’s selection of Jacob, despite Esau being the firstborn, is not an arbitrary act but a demonstration that His calling and purposes are independent of human considerations or works. This principle is essential for understanding God's dealings with both Israel and the Church, revealing that salvation and roles within God's kingdom are a result of His gracious initiative.