Romans 9 8

Romans 9:8 kjv

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Romans 9:8 nkjv

That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

Romans 9:8 niv

In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.

Romans 9:8 esv

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.

Romans 9:8 nlt

This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 8 Meaning

Romans 9:8 signifies that true lineage and belonging to God's family are not determined by physical descent from Abraham (children of the flesh), but by God's sovereign choice and promise (children of the promise). Only those who are brought into existence through divine promise and power, like Isaac, are considered the genuine "offspring" of God in the spiritual sense, inheriting the covenant blessings. This verse redefines the basis of covenant inclusion, moving from natural birthright to spiritual selection based on God's initiative.

Romans 9 8 Context

Romans chapter 9 begins Paul's defense of God's faithfulness despite Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Paul laments over his kinsmen according to the flesh (Rom 9:1-5), but then immediately asserts that God's word has not failed (Rom 9:6). This verse directly addresses the question of who truly constitutes Israel within God's divine plan. Paul demonstrates that God's covenant promises were never intended for all physical descendants of Abraham, but only for a chosen "seed." Romans 9:7 immediately precedes this, quoting Gen 21:12, where God clarifies that "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." Verse 8 then interprets and expands upon this declaration, emphasizing that it is not about "children of the flesh" (like Ishmael) but "children of the promise" (like Isaac) who are regarded as the true heirs or "offspring." This sets the stage for Paul's argument about God's sovereign choice exemplified through Isaac and Jacob, countering the prevalent Jewish assumption that physical lineage alone secured covenant blessings.

Romans 9 8 Word analysis

• That is (τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν - tout' estin): A Greek phrase meaning "this is" or "that is," serving to clarify, explain, or interpret what has just been said. It indicates that the following statement provides the meaning or summation of the preceding point (Gen 21:12 about Isaac). Its significance here is to underscore Paul's interpretation of an Old Testament text, establishing the theological principle.
• it is not (οὐ - ou): A strong negative particle, emphatically denying the premise that follows.
• the children (τὰ τέκνα - ta tekna): "The children." Tekna refers to direct, biological offspring or close, affectionate relationship, denoting kinship. Paul uses it here to contrast types of descendants.
• of the flesh (τῆς σαρκός - tēs sarkos): Literally "of the flesh." In this context, sarx (flesh) refers to physical, natural, human birth and lineage. These are children born according to human ability, strength, and timing, or simply by natural procreation, without a special divine intervention or promise. Examples include Ishmael and Esau, or any Israelite by natural descent. Its significance highlights reliance on human ability versus divine intervention.
• who are children of God (τέκνα τοῦ Θεοῦ - tekna tou Theou): This phrase specifies the desired status—true members of God's family, heirs of His promises. It moves beyond mere biological descent to spiritual relationship. The possessive "of God" defines the ultimate identity and belonging.
• but (ἀλλ᾽ - all'): A strong adversative conjunction, signaling a direct contrast and alternative.
• the children (τὰ τέκνα - ta tekna): Again, "the children," reiterating the group.
• of the promise (τῆς ἐπαγγελίας - tēs epangelias): "Of the promise." Epangelia (promise) refers specifically to God's divinely given, authoritative word that guarantees an outcome. Isaac was born not through natural ability (Abraham and Sarah were too old) but through God's miraculous intervention, as promised. Its significance is that divine initiation and power are the foundation.
• are counted (λογίζεται - logizetai): From the verb logizomai, meaning "to calculate, reckon, credit, count, consider." This is a crucial theological term. It does not mean they become offspring, but that they are reckoned as, or imputed to be the true offspring. It's a divine act of declaring something to be the case, a formal designation. Its significance emphasizes God's judicial and sovereign act of defining true identity, as seen in Rom 4 with Abraham's faith credited as righteousness.
• as offspring (εἰς σπέρμα - eis sperma): Literally "unto seed." Sperma (seed) here means "descendants" or "offspring," echoing the Genesis narrative, especially Gen 21:12. Paul is re-interpreting Abraham's "seed" not as the whole biological progeny but specifically the line born through divine promise, embodying the true spiritual continuation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God": This powerful negative statement dismantles the prevailing assumption that physical heritage automatically qualifies one as a "child of God." It draws a clear line of distinction, denying that mere physical lineage (like Ishmael) can secure spiritual heirship.
• "but the children of the promise are counted as offspring": This clause provides the alternative and definitive criterion. True belonging is based on God's active promise and His miraculous power to fulfill it (as with Isaac's birth). The term "counted" (logizetai) underlines that this designation is not intrinsic to them by birth, but divinely conferred. They are deemed, or divinely recognized, as the true heirs, the genuine "seed" from Abraham.

Romans 9 8 Bonus section

The argument in Romans 9:8, leveraging the Ishmael-Isaac narrative, provides a vital backdrop for the allegorical interpretation in Galatians 4, where Paul directly links Ishmael with the Old Covenant "of the flesh" (Mount Sinai) and Isaac with the New Covenant "of promise" (heavenly Jerusalem). This further solidifies the theological boundary Paul is drawing. Moreover, the emphasis on God "counting" (λογίζεται - logizetai) in Romans 9:8 directly resonates with Paul's use of the same verb in Romans 4 regarding Abraham's faith being "counted as righteousness." This semantic link underscores that just as justification is by divine reckoning of faith, so too is the designation of true "offspring" for Abraham. It is always God's sovereign initiative and declaration that determines standing. This serves as a strong rebuttal against any notion that Israel's rejection of Christ negates God's covenant, instead showing God always operated by selecting an internal spiritual remnant through promise.

Romans 9 8 Commentary

Romans 9:8 serves as the hermeneutical key to understanding God's method of choosing His people. Paul clarifies that being an "offspring" (sperma) of Abraham in God's eyes is not about biological connection alone, but about being linked to God's special, divinely initiated promise. The distinction between "children of the flesh" and "children of the promise" is fundamental. "Children of the flesh" represent those who come into existence by natural means, without specific divine intervention beyond general providence, akin to Ishmael, born of human initiative (Gen 16). In contrast, "children of the promise" are those whose existence or standing is a direct fulfillment of a specific divine word and requires a miraculous act of God (like Isaac's birth, Gen 21:1-3, Gen 18:10).

The pivotal verb "counted" (logizetai) further amplifies this, denoting a divine act of imputation or reckoning. God deems or declares the children of promise to be the legitimate offspring, highlighting His sovereign freedom to define who belongs to His covenant family, irrespective of human lineage or works. This profound shift redefines the "Israel of God," pointing not to a universally included national Israel, but to a chosen remnant—those born not of the will of man, but of God (Jn 1:13). The implications are vast, extending to the church as the true "seed" of Abraham by faith (Gal 3:29), emphasizing that God's purposes of salvation are always rooted in His unmerited grace and sovereign election rather than human merit or ancestry.