Romans 9 24

Romans 9:24 kjv

Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Romans 9:24 nkjv

even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Romans 9:24 niv

even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Romans 9:24 esv

even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Romans 9:24 nlt

And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 24 Meaning

Romans 9:24 asserts that the "vessels of mercy"—those whom God has prepared beforehand for glory, as mentioned in the preceding verse—are comprised of individuals called by God Himself, specifically drawn from both Jewish and Gentile communities. This verse is a powerful declaration of God's expansive and inclusive redemptive purpose, underscoring that His divine calling to salvation transcends ethnic boundaries and is not confined to any single nation.

Romans 9 24 Context

Romans chapter 9 forms a crucial part of Paul's explanation concerning God's faithfulness despite Israel's widespread rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Paul begins the chapter with deep sorrow for his Jewish brethren (Rom 9:1-5) before diving into the core argument: God's promises have not failed, because His election has always been sovereign and selective, not based on mere physical descent from Abraham (Rom 9:6-13). He uses examples like Jacob and Esau to show God's prerogative to choose. Paul then preemptively addresses the charge of injustice, affirming God's absolute sovereignty over creation, likened to a potter with clay (Rom 9:14-23).

Verse 23 introduces the concept of "vessels of mercy" whom God prepared for glory. Romans 9:24 directly clarifies who these "vessels" are. It identifies them not as an ethnically exclusive group (Jews only), but as a new community encompassing both Jews and Gentiles, all called by God. Historically, Jewish tradition often emphasized an exclusive covenant relationship with God. Paul directly challenges this ethnocentrism, affirming that Gentile inclusion is part of God's continuous, divinely-initiated plan, fulfilling prophetic texts (which Paul quotes immediately after in verses 25-26).

Romans 9 24 Word analysis

• Word-by-word analysis:

  • ἡμᾶς (hēmas - "us"): An emphatic first-person plural pronoun, referring directly to the "vessels of mercy" from Rom 9:23. It signifies a collective body of chosen individuals. Its position here underlines the immediate identification of who receives this glory, shifting from a theoretical discussion to a practical reality of inclusion.
  • οὓς (hous - "whom"): Relative pronoun, linking "us" to God's act of calling.
  • καὶ (kai - "also" or simply connective): Acts as an intensifier or a simple conjunction, reinforcing the inclusion of both groups or emphasizing the action of calling.
  • ἐκάλεσεν (ekalesen - "he has called"): From the Greek verb kaleō, meaning "to call, invite." In Pauline theology, this "calling" is often an effective, sovereign divine summons that brings about salvation (cf. Rom 8:28, 30; 1 Cor 1:9). It indicates a deliberate, initiated act by God, not merely an external offer, but a saving work.
  • οὐ μόνον (ou monon - "not only"): A standard Greek construction to indicate an expansion, not a limitation. It serves to include the first category while immediately opening the door to the second.
  • ἐξ (ex - "from" or "out of"): Preposition denoting origin or source. Here, indicating the origin of the called individuals.
  • Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn - "Jews"): Refers to those of Israelite descent, the people historically chosen and covenantally connected to God.
  • ἀλλὰ καὶ (alla kai - "but also"): A strong adversative conjunction that emphatically expands the previous statement. It explicitly includes what follows.
  • ἐξ ἐθνῶν (ex ethnōn - "from the Gentiles/nations"): Refers to non-Jews, often "the nations" (Goyim in Hebrew), traditionally perceived as outside of God's covenant blessings. Its inclusion here fundamentally broadens God's redemptive scope.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "even us, whom he has called" (ἡμᾶς οὓς καὶ ἐκάλεσεν): This phrase foregrounds the divine initiative and personal aspect of God's election. It's not an abstract decree, but a specific, powerful calling directed at individuals chosen for salvation. The passive reception of this "calling" underscores God's sovereign agency in their salvation and ultimate glorification. This effective call distinguishes these "vessels of mercy" from the "vessels of wrath."
  • "not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles" (οὐ μόνον ἐξ Ἰουδαίων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξ ἐθνῶν): This declaration is the verse's theological fulcrum. It dismantle any idea of ethnic exclusivity in salvation. Paul explicitly states that God's elect are not limited to Abraham's physical descendants. This dual inclusion fulfills Old Testament prophecies (which Paul references directly in the following verses) that speak of the nations coming to God, thereby demonstrating the expansive and impartial nature of God's redemptive plan from creation. It profoundly underpins the universality of the gospel.

Romans 9 24 Bonus section

• Continuity of God's Plan: While revolutionary to many Jewish listeners in Paul's day, the inclusion of Gentiles was not a new concept in God's mind or the Scriptures. From Abraham's call ("in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed," Gen 12:3) to numerous prophetic utterances (like Isaiah and Hosea), the scope of God's redemptive activity was always intended to reach beyond Israel's borders. Romans 9:24 simply asserts this ancient, overarching truth.
• A "Remnant" Idea Expanded: Prior to this, Israel often focused on a faithful remnant within Israel itself. Here, Paul expands the idea of a "remnant according to election" (Rom 11:5) to include Gentiles. God's "Israel" is truly spiritual, encompassing those chosen and called by Him regardless of physical lineage, blurring the lines of what "chosen people" meant.
• Theological Foundation for Mission: This verse provides profound theological backing for the Gentile mission (Paul's specific calling) and universal evangelism. If God Himself is calling people from all nations, then the Church is mandated to preach the gospel to every creature, knowing that God's effective call will reach His chosen.

Romans 9 24 Commentary

Romans 9:24 is a cornerstone of Paul's argument for the inclusion of Gentiles within God's redemptive purpose, seamlessly tying it to His sovereign election. After declaring God's right to prepare "vessels of mercy" for glory (v. 23), Paul defines who these recipients of mercy truly are. He clearly states they are not just Jews, but a composite group originating "from the Jews but also from the Gentiles." This demonstrates that God's "calling" (ἐκάλεσεν – ekalesen) is an active, divine, and effectual summons, extending beyond any national or ethnic boundary.

The verse clarifies that God's fidelity to His promises is upheld, not by limiting salvation to ethnic Israel, but by exercising His sovereign prerogative to choose and call people from all nations. This directly challenges the Jewish understanding of their unique status as exclusively "chosen" people for salvation, showing God's ultimate plan was always universal. The inclusion of "Gentiles" is not a deviation, but a fulfillment of God's pre-ordained counsel. This unified "us"—believing Jews and Gentiles—becomes the manifestation of God's rich glory (v. 23) and lays the theological groundwork for the universal mission of the Church. It reminds believers that our inclusion in God's family is purely by His sovereign choice and effectual call, breaking down all human-made distinctions in the face of His impartial grace.