Read & explore together
God’s Sovereign Choice
Romans 9:6–29 explains why God’s word has not failed, even when many people in Israel have not believed. Paul traces his point through promise, God’s calling, mercy, and quotations from Scripture about both Israel and the Gentiles.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is part of a letter and teaching section. Paul answers a serious question about God’s word and God’s righteousness. He uses examples from Abraham’s family, then speaks about mercy, hardening, the potter and clay, and finishes with Hosea and Isaiah to show God’s calling and a remnant.
Romans 9:6–29Main takeaway
Romans 9:6–29 teaches that God’s saving purpose stands by his promise, calling, mercy, and righteousness.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01God’s word and the children of promisePaul begins by saying God’s word has not failed. He explains that belonging to Israel by physical descent is not the whole point.
Explanation
Paul begins by saying God’s word has not failed. He explains that belonging to Israel by physical descent is not the whole point. Abraham had offspring, yet the promised line is counted through Isaac. So the passage says the children of God are counted as heirs by promise, not simply by fleshly descent.
02God’s purpose according to electionPaul adds the example of Rebekah’s children. Before they were born or had done good or bad, God’s purpose according to election was stated, so that it would stand by the one who calls, not by works.
Explanation
Paul adds the example of Rebekah’s children. Before they were born or had done good or bad, God’s purpose according to election was stated, so that it would stand by the one who calls, not by works. The passage then raises the question of unrighteousness with God and answers it strongly: “May it never be!”
03Mercy, compassion, and hardeningPaul supports his answer with God’s words to Moses about mercy and compassion. He concludes that this does not rest on human willing or running, but on God who has mercy.
Explanation
Paul supports his answer with God’s words to Moses about mercy and compassion. He concludes that this does not rest on human willing or running, but on God who has mercy. He also quotes Scripture about Pharaoh, saying God’s power and name were shown, then sums up that God has mercy and hardens as he desires.
04The potter, the clay, and God’s patienceWhen someone asks why God still finds fault, Paul does not give a full philosophical explanation.
Explanation
When someone asks why God still finds fault, Paul does not give a full philosophical explanation. Instead, he stresses God’s authority as maker, using the image of a potter with clay. He speaks of vessels of wrath endured with much patience, and vessels of mercy prepared beforehand for glory, including people called from Jews and Gentiles.
05Called people and a saved remnantPaul finishes with Hosea and Isaiah. Hosea is used to speak of people once called “not my people” becoming “my people” and “children of the living God”.
Explanation
Paul finishes with Hosea and Isaiah. Hosea is used to speak of people once called “not my people” becoming “my people” and “children of the living God”. Isaiah says only a remnant of Israel will be saved, and that without the Lord leaving a seed, they would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Paul explain in verses 6–9 that God’s word has not failed?
Look for the contrast between physical descent and the promise, especially the phrases about Israel, Abraham’s offspring, Isaac, and the children of promise.
02What reason does the passage give for mentioning Jacob and Esau before they were born?
Notice the purpose statement in verse 11 and the contrast between works and the one who calls.
03Which two groups are included among those God called in verses 24–29, and how do the quotations support that point?
Read verse 24 first, then see how Hosea speaks about those once not called God’s people, and how Isaiah speaks about a remnant of Israel.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 9:6–29
6But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel.
7Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.”
8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs.
9For this is a word of promise: “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”
10Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac.
11For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
12it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.”
13Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!
15For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
19You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?”
20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
21Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
22What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory—
24us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
25As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.”
26“It will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ”
27Isaiah cries concerning Israel, “If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved;
28for he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”
29As Isaiah has said before, “Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah.”