Romans 9:6 kjv
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Romans 9:6 nkjv
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
Romans 9:6 niv
It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
Romans 9:6 esv
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
Romans 9:6 nlt
Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people!
Romans 9 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 9:7 | "Nor because they are Abraham's descendants, are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, 'Through Isaac your offspring will be named.'" | Genesis 21:12 (Seed of Isaac) |
| Genesis 21:12 | "But God said to Abraham, 'Do not let it grieve you because of the boy or your female slave. Whatever Sarah tells you, do as she says, for it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." | (Election by Divine Declaration) |
| Romans 9:8 | "This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." | Galatians 3:29 (Spiritual Seed) |
| Galatians 3:29 | "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise." | (Belonging to Christ) |
| John 8:39 | "They answered him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.'" | (Obedience as Proof) |
| Romans 2:28-29 | "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and in the flesh. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter." | (Inner Circumcision) |
| Romans 11:1 | "I ask then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin." | (Paul's Israelite Identity) |
| Romans 11:5 | "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace." | (Remnant Chosen by Grace) |
| Galatians 4:22-23 | "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise." | (Hagar and Sarah Analogy) |
| Genesis 18:10 | "He said, 'I will surely return to you at this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.' And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him." | (Promise of Isaac) |
| Romans 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." | (Faith and Promise) |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | "since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." | (Imperishable Seed) |
| Hebrews 11:11 | "By faith alone even Sarah herself, who was barren, received strength to conceive, even though she was past the age, because she considered him who had promised to be faithful." | (Sarah's Faith) |
| Isaiah 10:22 | "For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness." | (Remnant in Isaiah) |
| Jeremiah 31:36 | "If that ordinance departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall Israel also cease from being a nation before me forever." | (Endurance of Israel) |
| John 1:12-13 | "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." | (Born of God) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:18 | "Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?" | (Physical Relationship) |
| Ephesians 2:12 | "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world." | (Gentiles and Promises) |
| Romans 9:18 | "So then he has mercy on whom he has mercy, and he hardens whom he has." | (Sovereign Mercy) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:2 | "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours." | (Called Saints) |
Romans 9 verses
Romans 9 6 Meaning
This verse clarifies that God's promises and selection are not based on the literal lineage of Israel but on a spiritual principle. Not all who are physically descended from Israel are true Israelites in God's sight, nor is every descendant of Abraham truly Abraham's seed, according to God's sovereign purpose. The inclusion of both groups ("from Israel") highlights a distinction within the people of God, emphasizing election over mere ethnic descent.
Romans 9 6 Context
Romans chapter 9 addresses the perceived problem of the rejection of Jesus by many ethnic Israelites. Paul is explaining God's sovereign plan and how it pertains to both Jews and Gentiles within His redemptive purposes. This specific verse, Romans 9:6, follows the introduction of God's sovereign choice, emphasizing that not all who bear the name "Israel" are true Israel in God's eyes. Paul is drawing a distinction between outward, ethnic identity and an inward, spiritual reality based on God's election and the promise. The broader context of Romans 9-11 explores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating that God's plan includes both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling His purposes through a chosen remnant of both.
Romans 9 6 Word Analysis
- Οὐ (Ou): Not. A strong negation, indicating a definite absence of something.
- μὴ (mē): Not. Another form of negation, often used with participles or in specific grammatical constructions, reinforcing the negative.
- δέ (de): But. A conjunction that introduces a contrast or qualification to what has just been stated.
- Οὐκ (Ouk): Not. Another variant of negation.
- ἔστιν (estin): is. The third person singular present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "to be."
- Ἐξ (ex): From, out of. A preposition indicating origin or source.
- Ἰσραήλ (Israel): Israel. Refers to the patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. It also refers to his descendants, the nation of Israel, and the spiritual people of God.
- γὰρ (gar): for, because. A conjunction that explains or gives a reason for a preceding statement.
- οὐ (ou): not. Negation.
- πάντες (pantes): all. The masculine nominative plural of πᾶς (pas), meaning "all" or "every."
- οἱ (hoi): the. The masculine nominative plural definite article.
- ἐκ (ek): from, out of. Same as Ἐξ (ex).
- σώματος (sōmatos): body. Genitive singular of σῶμα (sōma), referring to physical descent or lineage.
- οἱ (hoi): the.
- εἰσιν (eisin): are. The third person plural present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "to be."
- τέκνα (tekna): children. The nominative plural of τέκνον (teknon), meaning children.
- ἀλλ’ (all’): but. A strong adversative conjunction.
- οἱ (hoi): the.
- ἐκ (ek): from, out of.
- τῆς (tēs): the. The feminine genitive singular definite article.
- ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias): promise. Genitive singular of ἐπαγγελία (epangelia), meaning promise, announcement, or covenant promise.
- τέκνα (tekna): children.
- λογίζονται (logizontai): are counted, are reckoned. The third person plural present passive indicative of λογίζομαι (logizomai), meaning to count, calculate, reckon, or impute.
- εἰς (eis): into, to. A preposition indicating direction or destination.
- σπέρμα (sperma): offspring, seed. The accusative singular of σπέρμα (sperma).
Words group by words:
- "But it is not as though the word of God has failed.": This sets the stage for the explanation, directly addressing a potential implication of Israel's unbelief.
- "For not all who are from Israel belong to Israel": This is the core assertion of the verse, distinguishing between physical and spiritual Israel.
- "nor are all who are offspring of Israel...": This reiterates the previous point, focusing on the "offspring" aspect.
- "...because they are all children of the flesh.": This explains why mere physical descent does not qualify one as true Israel – it is based on flesh, not divine will.
- "But the children of the promise are counted as offspring.": This presents the true basis of belonging to Israel – being a child of the promise, which is by faith and divine election, not by flesh.
Romans 9 6 Bonus Section
This verse connects deeply with the Old Testament concept of the "remnant." God's covenant was with Israel, but His redemptive purposes often focused on a faithful remnant within the nation. Prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah speak of a chosen remnant that would be preserved and through whom God's plan would ultimately be fulfilled. This spiritual distinction also underpins Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders of His day; being a physical descendant of Abraham did not automatically make one a true child of Abraham in terms of righteousness and obedience to God. The emphasis on "children of the promise" aligns with the New Testament understanding of the church, comprising both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ, thus becoming spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs of the promises made to him. The chosenness is rooted in God's unfettered grace and His specific design.
Romans 9 6 Commentary
The essential message here is about divine selectivity. Paul, in response to potential doubts about God's faithfulness, asserts that God's covenant faithfulness does not mean His promises are universally applied to every single person within the ethnic nation of Israel. True Israel, in God's plan, is a spiritual entity, comprised of those born not of physical descent ("children of the flesh") but of God's sovereign promise and choice. This principle was established early in Abraham's lineage, specifically through Isaac, whose birth was a direct fulfillment of a promise, contrasting with Ishmael's natural birth. Paul uses this distinction to demonstrate that God's election has always been based on His sovereign purpose, which predates and transcends physical birth. Therefore, the rejection of Christ by many in the ethnic nation of Israel does not negate God's promises because His true people are identified by their relation to the promise through faith.