Romans 9 7

Romans 9:7 kjv

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Romans 9:7 nkjv

nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."

Romans 9:7 niv

Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."

Romans 9:7 esv

and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."

Romans 9:7 nlt

Being descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. For the Scriptures say, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted," though Abraham had other children, too.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 7 Meaning

Romans 9:7 clarifies that being a physical descendant of Abraham does not automatically grant one the status of a "child of God" or heir to all His covenant promises. Paul quotes Gen 21:12, emphasizing God's specific declaration: "through Isaac your offspring shall be named." This signifies that God's choice is sovereign, establishing a line of promise chosen by Him, not determined by universal biological lineage. It differentiates between those born of natural human effort ("children of the flesh") and those born by divine promise and intervention ("children of the promise").

Romans 9 7 Context

Romans 9 begins with Paul's heartfelt lament for his kinsmen, the Jews (Rom 9:1-5). Despite possessing immense privileges as God's chosen people – including the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, temple service, promises, the patriarchs, and the very lineage from which Christ came – many have rejected the Messiah. This painful reality raises a profound theological question: Has God's word failed, or have His promises to Israel been broken?

Romans 9:6 directly addresses this, stating, "But it is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." Verse 7 immediately follows as the foundational biblical evidence for this assertion. It provides the initial proof point that God’s plan of salvation was never merely a blanket over all biological descendants. From the very beginning of Abraham’s lineage, God made a crucial distinction, revealing His sovereign prerogative to choose. This argument prepares for the later discussion of Jacob and Esau, further demonstrating that God's elect people are identified by His divine calling rather than by their human heritage alone.

Romans 9 7 Word analysis

• nor (οὐδὲ - oude): Meaning "and not," or "nor." It links this verse directly to the preceding statement (Rom 9:6), reinforcing the point that God's word has not failed, because God's covenant was always selective, not universally applied to all biological descendants.
• because (ἐπειδὴ - epeidē): "inasmuch as," "because." It introduces the faulty premise that Paul is refuting – the idea that mere biological descent is sufficient.
• they are descendants (σπέρμα - sperma): Refers to physical "seed" or "offspring." The term is crucial in Paul's writings, often distinguishing between biological lineage and the spiritual "seed" through Christ. Here, it denotes simple, genetic lineage from Abraham.
• of Abraham (τοῦ Ἀβραάμ - tou Abraam): Abraham is the patriarch through whom the promises were given. For the Jewish audience, direct physical descent from Abraham was deeply tied to their identity and belief in divine favor. Paul challenges this inherited privilege as a sole basis for inclusion.
• are they all children (πάντες τέκνα - pantes tekna):
  • all (πάντες - pantes): Emphasizes the inclusivity Paul refutes. Not every single descendant automatically qualifies.
  • children (τέκνα - tekna): Denotes true children, specifically those in covenant with God and heirs of the promises, implying a spiritual relationship, not just physical parentage.
• but (ἀλλ᾽ - all'): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a contrast and correcting the previous false assumption with God's actual criteria.
• through Isaac (ἐν Ἰσαάκ - en Isaak): "In Isaac." This phrase is a direct quote from Gen 21:12. It points to God's sovereign and specific choice. Isaac was born of divine promise to Sarah, in contrast to Ishmael, who was born of Abraham's own attempt to produce an heir through Hagar (Gen 16). Isaac's birth thus represents the "children of promise" versus the "children of the flesh."
• your offspring (σπέρμα - sperma): Again refers to "seed" or "descendants." Here, it specifically means the particular line of descendants God has chosen to carry on the covenant promise, rather than all possible physical offspring.
• shall be named (κληθήσεται - klēthēsetai): "shall be called," "shall be designated." This future passive verb (from Gen 21:12) highlights God's authoritative decree. To be "named" by God here is to be specifically designated as the legitimate, covenanted line, the one through whom the promises would be fulfilled. It’s an act of divine appointment, not merely a natural event.

Words-group analysis:

• "nor because they are descendants of Abraham are they all children": This initial clause forcefully refutes the notion that simply being a biological heir of Abraham guarantees one's status as a covenant child of God. The "all" (πάντες) is key, dismantling any automatic, inclusive claim based purely on genealogy.
• "but through Isaac your offspring shall be named": This clause provides the biblical justification for God's selective election. It pivots from human lineage to divine choice, pointing to Isaac's unique birth as an act of promise, distinguishing him from all other offspring and making him the chosen conduit for God's covenantal plan. God actively designates who truly carries the name of His promised line.

Romans 9 7 Bonus section

• Challenging Assumptions: This verse directly confronts a deep-seated assumption within Jewish thought of Paul's era (and often recurring throughout history) that being a "child of Abraham" by blood was an automatic passport to God's favor and kingdom. Paul’s exegesis dismantles this ethnic presumption, showing that God's election is deeper and more nuanced than simple heredity.
• Foundation for Gentile Inclusion: By establishing that physical descent from Abraham does not automatically confer covenant privilege, Paul lays critical groundwork for the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) into God’s people. If Isaac's lineage was about God's choice and promise, rather than biological birth alone, then true Abrahamic "offspring" could extend beyond a specific ethnicity to all who share Abraham's faith (Rom 4).
• Illustrates God's Freedom: The choice between Ishmael and Isaac is a powerful biblical precedent for God’s freedom to choose and define His covenant people according to His own wisdom and purpose, irrespective of human expectations, seniority, or merit. It shows that God is bound by His word and covenant, but not by human lineage or merit-based systems.

Romans 9 7 Commentary

Romans 9:7 is a cornerstone of Paul's argument that God's faithfulness to Israel has not failed, but rather His promise was always intended for a chosen remnant, not the entire biological nation. By quoting Gen 21:12, Paul draws an ancient distinction within Abraham's own household: Ishmael, the natural firstborn, was not the heir of promise; Isaac, the miraculously born second son, was specifically designated by God. This underscores that God's method of identifying His people for covenant blessings has never been solely through physical descent. Instead, it relies on His sovereign election, His supernatural work, and the fulfillment of His specific promises. The "offspring" referred to, ultimately culminating in Christ, are those whom God, in His grace and power, designates as His own. This principle reframes Israel's rejection of Christ not as a failure of God's word, but as a demonstration of His consistent selective working throughout salvation history, drawing a spiritual distinction from physical lineage.