Romans 9 4

Romans 9:4 kjv

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Romans 9:4 nkjv

who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;

Romans 9:4 niv

the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.

Romans 9:4 esv

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.

Romans 9:4 nlt

They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 4 Meaning

Romans 9:4 describes the exceptional spiritual privileges granted by God exclusively to the Israelites. It enumerates eight distinct divine benefits that defined their unique relationship with the Creator: their adoption as God's special son, the manifest presence of His glory among them, the foundational covenants He established, the incomparable gift of His law, the prescribed system of worship centered on the Temple, and the entirety of His prophetic promises concerning their future and the Messiah. Paul itemizes these trusts to underscore Israel's unparalleled favored position and heritage from God.

Romans 9 4 Context

Romans chapter 9 opens a critical section of Paul's letter, often referred to as the "Israel question" (chapters 9-11). Following the triumphant affirmations of God's unshakeable love and grace for believers in Christ in chapters 1-8, Paul confronts the uncomfortable reality that many of his own Jewish kinsmen have rejected Jesus as Messiah. This presented a profound theological dilemma: Had God failed His promises to Israel? Had He abandoned His chosen people?

Verse 4 specifically outlines eight immense privileges given to Israel by God, directly preceding Paul's statement about Christ coming from them according to the flesh (v. 5). This detailed list serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates Paul's deep respect for his heritage, it refutes any notion that Israel was ever neglected by God, and it sets the stage for his argument that God's faithfulness remains, despite Israel's partial unbelief. He is acknowledging the undeniable, historical, and sacred status of the Jewish people, thereby emphasizing the profound sadness of their present spiritual condition. The verse establishes the foundational truths of Israel's unique calling, against which Paul will then explore the mystery of their stumbling and God's sovereign plan for their future.

Romans 9 4 Word analysis

• οἵτινές (hoitines) - "They are": This indefinite relative pronoun ("those who are," "inasmuch as they are") serves to emphatically introduce the description of the Israelites, focusing on their inherent characteristics and divine benefits. It's not just a general group but precisely these Israelites who possess these unique attributes.
• Ἰσραηλῖται (Israelitai) - "Israelites": More than a mere ethnic or national identifier, "Israelite" refers to those who descend from Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) and are part of the covenant people. It denotes a people chosen by God, having a distinct spiritual identity and destiny.
• ἡ υἱοθεσία (hē huiothesia) - "the adoption" / "the sonship": Refers to Israel's national status as God's chosen "firstborn son" (Exod 4:22; Deut 14:1; Jer 31:9). Unlike individual spiritual adoption through Christ, this was a corporate designation, placing them in a uniquely privileged familial relationship with God among the nations, signifying His special care, protection, and ownership.
• ἡ δόξα (hē doxa) - "the glory": This primarily denotes the visible, tangible manifestation of God's majestic presence, often referred to as the Shekinah glory. It was seen in the pillar of cloud and fire (Exod 16:10, 40:34), the Tabernacle, and Solomon's Temple (1 Kgs 8:10-11), signifying God's direct dwelling with and approval of His people.
• αἱ διαθῆκαι (hai diathēkai) - "the covenants": The plural emphasizes the various sacred agreements God initiated with Israel's patriarchs (Abraham, Gen 12, 15, 17), with the nation through Moses (Sinai, Exod 19-24), and with David (2 Sam 7), as well as the promise of a "new covenant" (Jer 31). These covenants collectively outlined God's redemptive plan, promises, and legal requirements for His people.
• ἡ νομοθεσία (hē nomothesia) - "the giving of the law": This highlights the singular privilege Israel had in receiving the divine moral and ceremonial law (Torah) directly from God through Moses at Sinai (Exod 20; Deut 4:8). This set them apart, providing direct insight into God's character, will, and righteous standards.
• ἡ λατρεία (hē latreia) - "the temple service" / "the worship": This refers to the divinely prescribed system of religious service and worship, including the priesthood, sacrifices, feasts, and rituals conducted in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. It was the only God-ordained way for people to approach and worship the one true God, pointing ultimately to Christ.
• αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι (hai epangeliai) - "the promises": This refers to all of God's gracious pledges to Israel, encompassing everything from land and descendants to blessings and, most significantly, the coming of the Messiah (e.g., Gen 12:7; Num 10:29; Isa 9:6-7; Acts 13:32). These promises guaranteed their future hope and God's ongoing faithfulness.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "to whom belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants...": This cumulative list underscores the exclusivity and immensity of God's bestowal on Israel. Each item is a profound theological truth, forming the bedrock of Israel's national and spiritual identity, marking them as profoundly unique among all peoples. The use of the definite article for each privilege ("the adoption," "the glory," etc.) further highlights that these were well-known, specific, and definitive components of their national identity.

Romans 9 4 Bonus section

The eight specific privileges listed in Romans 9:4 can be seen as an encapsulation of Israel's entire national and spiritual heritage from the call of Abraham through the Temple era. They illustrate how deeply intertwined God was with Israel's identity and history. For a first-century Jewish reader, this list would resonate powerfully, confirming their understanding of their chosen status and God's historical intervention. The number eight in some Jewish thought symbolizes a new beginning or a new creation. While Paul likely isn't intentionally using numerology here, the completeness of the list — covering relationship, presence, agreement, instruction, worship, and future hope — strongly conveys the fullness of what God entrusted to them, emphasizing that no other nation received such a comprehensive set of divine benefits. This sets a very high bar, making Israel's partial rejection of the Messiah even more poignant in Paul's theological dilemma.

Romans 9 4 Commentary

Romans 9:4 is a powerful declaration of God's enduring covenant faithfulness to Israel, even in the midst of their corporate unbelief in Christ, which deeply pains Paul. The verse serves as a crucial theological and historical bedrock for the rest of his argument in chapters 9-11. By meticulously listing these eight privileges, Paul isn't merely recounting history; he is establishing a theological framework.

Each privilege reveals a facet of God's special relationship with Israel: from their status as "sons" (reflecting intimate connection and divine claim) and the visible "glory" (denoting God's personal dwelling among them), to the comprehensive "covenants" and the peerless "giving of the Law" (revealing divine revelation and guidance). The "temple service" highlights the ordained means of atonement and fellowship with a holy God, all undergirded by the certainty of God's multifaceted "promises." These blessings were sovereignly granted, not earned, testifying to God's electing love. Paul underscores that these foundational truths about Israel's past cannot be nullified, setting up the complex and sensitive discussion about how God's unfulfilled promises to Israel will ultimately be reconciled through Christ, despite their current partial hardening. It demonstrates that God's plan is continuous, purposeful, and profoundly rooted in His faithfulness to His initial choice of Israel.