Romans 9 3

Romans 9:3 kjv

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Romans 9:3 nkjv

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Romans 9:3 niv

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,

Romans 9:3 esv

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Romans 9:3 nlt

for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed ? cut off from Christ! ? if that would save them.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 3 Meaning

Romans 9:3 reveals the Apostle Paul's profound and selfless anguish for the spiritual state of his Jewish countrymen. Driven by an intense love for them, he expresses a hyperbolic, agonizing desire to be eternally separated from Christ, even accursed, if that would somehow secure their salvation. This verse immediately follows his declaration of "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" over Israel's rejection of Christ, establishing the depth of his intercessory burden.

Romans 9 3 Context

Romans 9:3 sits at the beginning of a crucial theological discussion within Paul's letter to the Romans, spanning chapters 9-11. Having meticulously laid out the doctrine of justification by faith in chapters 1-8, Paul now addresses the apparent conundrum of Israel's widespread rejection of their Messiah. Chapter 9 opens with Paul expressing profound sorrow (v. 2) and anguish over his kinsmen. This intense lament serves as a poignant prelude, underscoring the sincerity and personal cost of his subsequent theological argument concerning God's faithfulness and Israel's place in His plan. Historically, the early Christian church faced challenges in reconciling God's covenant with Israel with the predominantly Gentile composition of new believers. Paul, a devout Jew who encountered the Risen Christ, intimately felt the tension, and this verse illustrates his unparalleled identification with his people and his desperate plea for their salvation.

Romans 9 3 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): A particle signifying explanation or a continuation, linking this intense desire to the "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" declared in the preceding verse (Rom 9:2). It clarifies the reason for his deep distress.
• I could wish (ηὐχόμην, ēuchomēn): This verb is in the imperfect tense, signifying an unrealizable wish or a wish from the past that could not be fulfilled. It conveys the strength of a hypothetical and deeply personal desire, bordering on a prayer, though not necessarily expected to be answered. It's a statement of fervent intent rather than a literal prayer.
• that I myself (αὐτὸς ἐγώ, autos egō): Emphatic personal pronoun phrase. Paul highlights his personal, individual willingness and self-identification in this unimaginable sacrifice. He is not speaking generally but personally and with strong conviction.
• were accursed (ἀνάθεμα, anathema): This powerful Greek term denotes something "set apart," often for destruction or as an offering to God. In its most severe sense, as used here and elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., Gal 1:8-9, 1 Cor 16:22), it means to be separated from God, utterly condemned, or devoted to eternal destruction. It's the most severe form of curse, implying separation from all spiritual blessings.
• from Christ (ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, apo tou Christou): The preposition apo means "from" or "away from," indicating separation. For Paul, who repeatedly stresses the centrality of Christ for life, righteousness, and hope (Phil 1:21, Rom 8:38-39), being "accursed from Christ" would be the ultimate spiritual torment and eternal damnation. It is the antithesis of everything he cherishes.
• for my brothers' sake (ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου, hyper tōn adelphōn mou): Hyper indicates "on behalf of," or "instead of." It carries a substitutionary implication, echoing the sacrifice of Christ. Paul desires to take their place. "Brothers" here refers to his kinsmen, as clarified in the following phrase.
• my kinsmen according to the flesh (οἱ συγγενεῖς μου κατὰ σάρκα, hoi syngeneis mou kata sarka): "Kinsmen" explicitly refers to those of his own blood, his ethnic relatives, the people of Israel. "According to the flesh" further specifies their physical lineage from Abraham, differentiating them from a "spiritual Israel" or those who are "children of God by faith." This underscores his concern for his specific Jewish heritage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ: This phrase encapsulates the staggering depth of Paul's intercessory love. It's an unimaginable statement from someone who defines his existence by his union with Christ, indicating a love so radical it momentarily disregards his own salvation for the sake of his people.
• for my brothers' sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh: This clarifies the specific recipients of Paul's agonizing desire. It's not a generic love for humanity but a deeply personal, ethnic solidarity rooted in shared heritage and divine covenant, highlighting the historical and redemptive narrative tied to Israel.

Romans 9 3 Bonus section

Paul's dramatic utterance in Rom 9:3 reveals not just deep emotional pain, but a theological truth about the nature of divine election and human will. He, who fiercely opposed Christ, was radically transformed; now his greatest desire is that those who still reject Christ—his own people—might be saved. This self-cursing wish draws a direct parallel to the sacrificial nature of the Law's requirements and anticipates Christ's ultimate act. Just as a consecrated anathema object was set apart, often for God's judgment, Paul offers himself as such an object if it could effect redemption. This highlights the concept that true love, following the example of Christ, is often costly, self-giving, and willing to bear immense suffering for the good of others, even for those who reject the truth.

Romans 9 3 Commentary

Romans 9:3 profoundly reveals the heart of the Apostle Paul, echoing the unparalleled self-sacrificial love found in both Moses (Ex 32:32) and ultimately in Christ Himself (Phil 2:6-8). Paul's hypothetical wish to be accursed from Christ—a state he views as ultimate spiritual doom and antithetical to his every conviction—underscores an intercessory burden so intense it pushes the boundaries of human love. His anguish over Israel's rejection of Jesus, despite their divine privileges, leads him to this radical expression of identification with their lostness. It signifies that for Paul, the eternal salvation of his own people held a value so immense that, in the agony of his spirit, he considered giving up his most precious possession: his relationship with Christ. This is not a theological proposition or a practical offering, but a raw, emotional outpouring that illustrates the essence of redemptive love and a model for profound intercession.