Romans 9:25 kjv
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Romans 9:25 nkjv
As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved."
Romans 9:25 niv
As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"
Romans 9:25 esv
As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'"
Romans 9:25 nlt
Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, "Those who were not my people,
I will now call my people.
And I will love those
whom I did not love before."
Romans 9 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hos 2:23 | "I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will have mercy on Lo-Ruhamah..." | Original source of the prophecy for restoration. |
| Hos 1:9 | Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God." | God's initial declaration of rejection for Israel. |
| Hos 1:10 | Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea... | Promise of future numerical expansion. |
| Rom 9:26 | "And in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,'..." | Paul's direct continuation of this prophecy. |
| Rom 10:19 | Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous..." | Foreshadowing Gentile inclusion to provoke Israel. |
| Rom 11:11 | So I ask, did they stumble in order to fall? By no means!... | Israel's temporary stumble for Gentile salvation. |
| Eph 2:11-12 | "remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh... were without Christ..." | Gentile past condition before inclusion. |
| Eph 2:13 | "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near..." | Gentile present status of being brought near. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession... | Description of the redeemed community (Jew and Gentile). |
| 1 Pet 2:10 | "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." | Direct echo and application to New Covenant believers. |
| Acts 15:14 | Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. | Peter affirming God's plan for Gentile inclusion. |
| Acts 15:16-17 | After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David... that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles... | James quoting Amos on the rebuilding and Gentile inclusion. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach..." | OT prophecy of Messiah bringing salvation to Gentiles. |
| Psa 22:27 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD... | Universal worship from all nations predicted. |
| Gen 12:3 | "...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | Abrahamic covenant promising blessing to all nations. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you..." | Israel's election as a special people by God. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom..." | God's sovereign right to show mercy. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free... | Unity and equality in Christ regardless of origin. |
| Tit 3:3-5 | For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient... He saved us, not because of works... | Emphasizes salvation by grace, not merit, for all. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-28 | For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise... but God chose what is foolish... | God's choice often falls on the humble and undeserving. |
| Eph 1:4-5 | "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy..." | God's pre-ordained election of believers. |
Romans 9 verses
Romans 9 25 Meaning
This verse proclaims God's sovereign act of calling into covenant relationship those who were previously outside of it. Specifically, it applies a prophecy from the book of Hosea to reveal God's intention to include non-Israelites (Gentiles) among "My people" and to grant His love and favor to those who were once "not beloved." It underscores divine initiative and mercy in extending salvation beyond ethnic boundaries, fulfilling an ancient promise through unexpected means.
Romans 9 25 Context
Romans 9:25 is situated within Paul's sustained argument in Romans chapters 9-11 concerning Israel's historical position as God's chosen people and their present unbelief in Jesus as Messiah. Paul grapples with the seeming contradiction between God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and the rejection of Christ by many Israelites, while Gentiles are embracing the Gospel. In Romans 9, Paul explains that God's promises are not based on ethnic descent alone but on His sovereign election. He illustrates this principle through historical examples (Jacob and Esau, Pharaoh) and then explicitly introduces Old Testament prophecies, such as Hosea 2:23, to demonstrate that God had always intended to include a people beyond ethnic Israel within His salvific plan, particularly those who were "not His people" and "not beloved." The larger context involves defending God's justice and sovereignty in election, highlighting the spiritual nature of God's true Israel, and revealing the mystery of Gentile inclusion as part of God's overarching redemptive purpose. The historical backdrop is the burgeoning Gentile church in Rome, which likely harbored questions about God's plan for Israel, and potentially felt superior to Jewish believers. Paul's message is a theological underpinning for both Gentile inclusion and ultimately, Israel's future restoration.
Romans 9 25 Word analysis
- As He says also in Hosea: Paul directly quotes the prophet Hosea (specifically Hos 2:23, and conceptually drawing from 1:6, 1:9, 1:10) to anchor his argument in the Hebrew Scriptures. This establishes the continuity of God's plan across Testaments and validates Gentile inclusion as a prophetic fulfillment, not a deviation.
- 'I will call': (Greek: kaléō - "to call, invite, summon"). This emphasizes God's divine initiative and authoritative action. It's not a response to human merit but a sovereign decree. God actively makes and constitutes a people for Himself. This "calling" is effectual, leading to transformation and inclusion.
- 'those who were not My people,': (Greek: ou laon mou - "not my people"). In Hosea, this phrase ("Lo-Ammi") initially described unfaithful Israel, symbolizing God's temporary rejection due to their idolatry and rebellion. Paul applies this principle broadly to Gentiles, who historically lacked a covenant relationship with God, were outside the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise.
- '"My people,"': (Greek: laon mou - "my people"). This signifies being brought into an intimate, covenant relationship with God, receiving His protection, care, and blessings. It entails identity, belonging, and divine favor. The change from "not My people" to "My people" is profound and wholly God's doing.
- 'and her who was not beloved,': (Greek: ouk ēgapēmenēn - "not having been loved" or "unloved"). In Hosea, this (from "Lo-Ruhamah") indicated a lack of divine mercy or compassion, again primarily referring to unfaithful Israel. Paul again applies this to the Gentiles, who were not recipients of God's covenantal love or special affection enjoyed by Israel. They were spiritually alienated and without hope.
- '"beloved." ': (Greek: ēgapēmenēn - "having been loved" or "beloved one"). This denotes God's active choice to bestow His covenantal love, mercy, and favor. It signifies being a recipient of His compassion and grace, transitioning from a state of alienation to one of intimate affection and care from God. This is the ultimate status change in God's eyes.
- 'I will call those who were not My people, "My people," and her who was not beloved, "beloved."': This entire prophetic statement highlights God's radical redefinition of "His people." It shows that belonging to God's family is not solely by birthright but by His merciful choice and calling. The repeated "I will" emphasizes divine sovereignty and purpose. The change of status from "not" to being fully "His" (people, beloved) signifies an extraordinary act of grace and new creation.
Romans 9 25 Bonus section
Paul's appropriation of Hosea's prophecy is a classic example of re-contextualization in biblical interpretation. While Hosea's original context referred to Israel's apostasy and future restoration, Paul interprets the principle behind God's naming ("Lo-Ammi," "Lo-Ruhamah") and ultimate promise ("Ammi," "Ruhamah") as applicable to the Gentile situation. This shows that the Spirit can reveal broader theological truths and fulfillments from earlier texts that go beyond the initial historical scope, highlighting God's overarching and often multi-layered redemptive purpose. This hermeneutical move is crucial for understanding how the New Testament frequently sees Gentile inclusion as consistent with, rather than antithetical to, the Old Testament. The prophecy speaks to a common spiritual reality: those undeserving and outside receive divine favor through sovereign election.
Romans 9 25 Commentary
Romans 9:25 presents a powerful declaration of God's sovereign right and intention to form a people for Himself from those who were previously considered outsiders. Paul skillfully draws upon Hosea's prophecy, originally depicting God's eventual restoration of unfaithful Israel, to illustrate God's consistent character of extending mercy and incorporating the unexpected. It decisively shatters the exclusive notion that God's people were solely those of ethnic Israelite descent. Instead, it demonstrates that the inclusion of Gentiles is not an improvisation but a foretold part of God's eternal plan, fulfilling Old Testament scriptures. This verse underlines the profound truth that salvation and membership in God's covenant community are gifts of divine grace and sovereign choice, not human merit or lineage. It reassures Gentile believers of their legitimate standing before God and prepares the way for understanding God's continued faithfulness to Israel in subsequent chapters.