Romans 9 29

Romans 9:29 kjv

And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Romans 9:29 nkjv

And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah."

Romans 9:29 niv

It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."

Romans 9:29 esv

And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah."

Romans 9:29 nlt

And Isaiah said the same thing in another place: "If the LORD of Heaven's Armies
had not spared a few of our children,
we would have been wiped out like Sodom,
destroyed like Gomorrah."

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 29 Meaning

Romans 9:29 conveys the profound truth of God's sovereign mercy in preserving a remnant of Israel, preventing the nation from utter destruction due to its corporate disobedience. Citing Isaiah, Paul asserts that without divine intervention—God Himself leaving a "seed"—Israel would have suffered the same catastrophic obliteration as Sodom and Gomorrah, symbolizing complete and irreversible judgment. The verse underscores that Israel's continued existence, even amidst unbelief, is solely an act of unmerited grace and faithfulness from the Lord of Hosts.

Romans 9 29 Context

Romans chapter 9 begins Paul's exploration of God's faithfulness to Israel despite their widespread rejection of the Messiah, Jesus. Paul grieves over his people's unbelief (9:1-5) and then explains that God's promises were never based solely on physical descent but on sovereign election (9:6-13, using examples like Isaac/Ishmael and Jacob/Esau). He then addresses potential objections concerning God's justice, asserting God's right to show mercy to whom He chooses and to harden others (9:14-23). Verses 9:24-29 conclude this section by showing that God's plan always included calling people not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles (quoting Hosea), and critically, that within Israel itself, salvation has always been for a chosen remnant, not the entire nation, a truth profoundly underscored by the prophecy from Isaiah 1:9 cited in this verse. Historically, Israel often provoked God's wrath through idolatry and disobedience, earning deserving judgment. The verse is thus set within an argument defending God's just and consistent actions in history and salvation, asserting that any continued existence or blessing for Israel is a result of His unilateral mercy.

Romans 9 29 Word analysis

• And as Isaiah said before (καθὼς καὶ προείρηκεν Ἠσαΐας, kathōs kai proeirēken Ēsaias): Paul directly links his theological argument to Old Testament prophecy. The Greek proeirēken (has said before) emphasizes that this truth about Israel's situation is not new but an ancient divine declaration, confirming the continuity of God's dealings.
• ‘Unless (εἰ μὴ, ei mē): This conditional conjunction sets up a counterfactual, emphasizing that what follows is the only reason for the present reality. It highlights divine initiative and underscores human powerlessness.
• the Lord of Sabaoth (κύριος Σαβαώθ, kyrios Sabaōth): A transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH Ts'va'ot. "Sabaoth" (צְבָאוֹת) means "hosts" or "armies." This title signifies God as the Almighty, the commander of heavenly and earthly forces, demonstrating His supreme power, authority, and ability to both judge and deliver. It is a war-like title often used in contexts of judgment and deliverance, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over creation and nations. Its inclusion here heightens the majesty and power of the Preserver.
• had left us (ἐγκατέλιπεν, enkateleipen): A strong Greek verb meaning "to leave behind," "to abandon," "to preserve." In this context, it speaks of God deliberately, actively, and graciously setting aside or preserving a portion for Himself, rather than entirely forsaking. This implies intentional preservation against what was due.
• a seed (σπέρμα, sperma): This metaphor denotes a small, surviving remnant, a germ of life or posterity from which something can grow again. It suggests that even if the majority is cut off, God preserves a spiritual lineage. The "seed" here signifies a select, faithful group within the larger body of Israel chosen by God's grace for salvation and the continuation of His covenant purposes, often contrasted with the "whole stump" (Isa 6:13). It is not just about physical lineage but about spiritual continuation.
• We would have become (ἐγενήθημεν, egenēthēmen): This perfect passive form (used with ei mē conditional) indicates a certain and complete past consequence if the condition had not been met. It implies what would have happened without God's mercy.
• like Sodom (ὡς Σόδομα, hōs Sodoma): Sodom is the epitome of absolute and fiery destruction due to extreme moral depravity (Gen 19:24-25). This comparison serves as a stark warning, indicating that Israel, despite its covenant status, was morally deserving of total annihilation by divine judgment.
• And would have been made like Gomorrah (καὶ ὡμοιώθημεν Γομόρρᾳ, kai homoiōthēmen Gomorrha): Gomorrah is linked with Sodom as another city utterly destroyed by God for its wickedness, reinforcing the severity and totality of the deserved judgment. The repetition emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the expected doom, contrasting with the preservation due to God's "seed."
• "Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed": This phrase highlights God's active, deliberate, and gracious preservation. It is not Israel's righteousness or inherent merit, but God's sovereign choice and mercy alone that prevents complete national annihilation.
• "Unless... We would have become like Sodom, And would have been made like Gomorrah": This contrast powerfully illustrates the extent of God's patience and the severity of deserved judgment. It stresses that Israel was as guilty as the most infamous cities of sin, yet preserved only by divine grace, making their physical and spiritual survival a miracle.

Romans 9 29 Bonus section

The concept of the "seed" (sperma) in Paul's theology is deeply intertwined with the Abrahamic covenant. In Galatians 3:16, Paul asserts that the "Seed" refers specifically to Christ, implying that the true lineage and heir of God's promises is not a multitude but ultimately centered in the Messiah, and through Him, all who are "in Christ" become Abraham's seed. In Romans 9:29, "seed" specifically refers to a remnant of ethnic Israel that believes, yet the underlying theological trajectory points towards a spiritual, not merely ethnic, definition of true Israel. This means God's purpose has always been to work through a faithful core, chosen by grace, whether in the Old Testament or the New, leading ultimately to Christ and the Church. This perspective subtly yet powerfully redefines Israel not by bloodline alone, but by faith and election, which includes both Jews and Gentiles who believe in the Messiah.

Romans 9 29 Commentary

Romans 9:29 functions as a capstone to Paul's argument regarding God's just yet merciful dealings with Israel. By quoting Isaiah 1:9, Paul affirms that Israel's continued existence as a people, and the ongoing presence of a believing segment within them, is solely a testament to God's undeserved grace, not their own merit. The reference to the "Lord of Sabaoth"—the sovereign Commander of all forces—emphasizes that this act of preservation comes from absolute power and authority, not from any weakness or indecisiveness on God's part. The "seed" denotes a remnant, a small but vital portion preserved by divine election to continue God's purposes, serving as the spiritual nucleus of a renewed Israel. The vivid imagery of "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" starkly portrays the degree of judgment Israel deserved due to its profound sinfulness, just as these ancient cities were completely annihilated. Thus, the verse unequivocally declares that Israel's survival, both nationally and spiritually, is a direct result of God's intervention to maintain a believing remnant, without which they would have been utterly wiped out like the most wicked nations. This profoundly shapes our understanding of divine election, grace, and judgment.