Romans 9 · Verse 13

Romans 9:13

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Romans 9:13, King James Version

Romans 9:13 in other translations

BSBSo it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
WEBEven as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
ASVEven as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
YLTaccording as it hath been written, ‘Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.'
DARBYaccording as it is written, I have loved Jacob, and I have hated Esau.
BBEEven as it is said, I had love for Jacob, but for Esau I had hate.
WebsterAs it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

What does Romans 9:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:10-13

10-13. And not only this; but when Rebecca, &c.--It might be thought that there was a natural reason for preferring the child of Sarah, as being Abraham's true and first wife, both to the child of Hagar, Sarah's maid, and to the children of Keturah, his second wife. But there could be no such reason in the case of Rebecca, Isaac's only wife; for the choice of her son Jacob was the choice of one of two sons by the…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. As it is written. Mal 1:2,3. That is, the distribution of favours is on the principle advanced by the prophet, and is in accordance with the declaration that God had, in fact, loved the one and hated the other.

Jacob. This refers, doubtless, to the posterity of Jacob.

Have I loved. I have shown affection for that people; I have bestowed on them great privileges and blessings, as proofs of attachment. I have preferred Jacob to Esau.

Esau. The descendants of Esau, the Edomites. See Mal 1:4.

Have I hated. This does not mean any positive hatred; but that he had preferred Jacob, and had withheld from Esau those privileges and blessings which he had conferred on the posterity of Jacob. This is explained in Mal 1:3, "And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness," Comp. Jer 49:17,18, Eze 35:3. It was common among the Hebrews to use the terms love and hatred in this comparative sense, where the former implied strong positive attachment, and the latter, not positive hatred, but merely as a less love, or the withholding of the expressions of affection. Comp. Gen 29:30,31, Prov 13:24. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." Mt 6:24. "No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other," etc. Lk 14:26, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother," etc.

(n) "Jacob" Mal 1:2,3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 9:6-13

The rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatenings shall be fulfilled. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God therein wrought according to the counsel of his own will. God foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born…

Read the full comment on Romans 9:6-13 →

Romans 9:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καθὼςkathōsEven asG2531
γέγραπται·gegraptaiit has been written:G1125
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸακὼβIakōbJacobG2384
ἠγάπησα,ēgapēsaI loved,G25
τὸνton<the>G3588
δὲdebutG1161
ἨσαῦĒsauEsauG2269
ἐμίσησα.¶emisēsaI hated.G3404

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 9:13

  • Malachi 1:2-3

    I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jacob.
Mal 1:2,3
hated.
Ge 29:31,33; De 21:15; Pr 13:24; Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26; Joh 12:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 9:12

    It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

  • Romans 9:13

    As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

  • Romans 9:14

    What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

Read all of Romans 9

Romans 9:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Como está escrito: A Jacob amé, mas á Esaú aborrecí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		ainsi qu’il est écrit: « J’ai aimé Jacob, et j’ai haï Ésaü ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		wie geschrieben steht: "Den Jakob habe ich geliebt, aber den Esau habe ich gehaßt."
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sicut scriptum est: Jacob dilexi, Esau autem odio habui.