Romans 9 · Verse 6

Romans 9:6

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Romans 9:6, King James Version

Romans 9:6 in other translations

BSBIt is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
WEBBut it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel.
ASVBut it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:
YLTAnd it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;
DARBYNot however as though the word of God had failed; for not all are Israel which are of Israel;
BBEBut it is not as if the word of God was without effect. For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel:
WebsterNot as though the word of God hath taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, who are descendants from Israel?

What does Romans 9:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. Not as though the word of God had taken none effect--"hath fallen to the ground," that is, failed: compare Lu 16:17, Greek. for they are not all Israel which are of Israel--better, "for not all they which are of Israel are Israel." Here the apostle enters upon the profound subject of Election, the treatment of which extends to the end of the eleventh chapter--"Think not that I mourn over the total loss of Israel; for that would involve the failure of God's word to Abraham; but not all that belong to the natural seed, and go under the name of 'Israel,' are the Israel of God's irrevocable choice." The difficulties which encompass this subject lie not in the apostle's teaching, which is plain enough, but in the truths themselves, the evidence for which, taken by themselves, is overwhelming, but whose perfect harmony is beyond human comprehension in the present state. The great source of error here lies in hastily inferring (as Tholuck and others), from the apostle's taking tip, at the close of this chapter, the calling of the Gentiles in connection with the rejection of Israel, and continuing this subject through the two next chapters, that the Election treated of in the body of this chapter is national, not personal Election, and consequently is Election merely to religious advantages, not to eternal salvation. In that case, the argument of Ro 9:6, with which the subject of Election opens, would be this: "The choice of Abraham and his seed has not failed; because though Israel has been rejected, the Gentiles have taken their place; and God has a right to choose what nation He will to the privileges of His visible kingdom." But so far from this, the Gentiles are not so much as mentioned at all till towards the close of the chapter; and the argument of this verse is, that "all Israel is not rejected, but only a portion of it, the remainder being the 'Israel' whom God has chosen in the exercise of His sovereign right." And that this is a choice not to mere external privileges, but to eternal salvation, will abundantly appear from what follows.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. Not as though, etc. Not as though the promise of God had entirely failed. Though I grieve thus, (Rom 9:2,3) though I am deeply apprehensive for the nation, yet I do not affirm that all the nation is to be destroyed. The promise of God will not entirely fail.

Not all Israel. Not all the descendants of Jacob have the true spirit of Israelites, or are Jews in the scriptural sense of the term. Rom 2:28,29.

(g) "none effect" Isa 55:11 (h) "for they are not" Rom 2:28,29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect - A Jew might have objected, as in Rom 3:3 : "Is not God bound by his faithfulness to continue the Jews as his peculiar Church and people, notwithstanding the infidelity of the major part of them? If they are brought to a level with the Gentiles, will it not follow that God hath failed in the performance of his promise to Abraham? Gen 17:7, Gen 17:8 : I will establish my covenant between me and thee for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and thy seed after thee." To which it may be answered: This awful dispensation of God towards the Jews is not inconsistent with the veracity of the Divine promise; for even the whole body of natural born Jews are not the whole of the Israelites comprehended in the promise. Abraham is the father of many nations; and his seed is not only that which is of the law, but that also which is of the faith of Abraham, Rom 4:16, Rom 4:17. The Gentiles were included in the Abrahamic covenant as well as the Jews; and therefore the Jews have no exclusive right to the blessings of God's kingdom.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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 in sin, by nature children of wrath even as others. If left to themselves they would have continued in sin through life; but for wise and holy reasons, not made known to us, he purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his perverseness. This instance of Esau and Jacob throws light upon the Divine conduct to the fallen race of man. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward privileges are bestowed on many who are not the children of God. There is, however, full encouragement to diligent use of the means of grace which God has appointed.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 9:6 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.

ΟὐχOuch[It is] notG3756
οἷονhoionasG3634
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐκπέπτωκενekpeptōkenhas failedG1601
ὁhotheG3588
λόγοςlogoswordG3056
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316
οὐouNotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
πάντεςpantesallG3956
οἱhoiwho [are]G3588
ἐξexofG1537
ἸσραὴλIsraēlIsraelG2474
οὗτοιhoutoi[are] theseG3778
Ἰσραήλ·IsraēlIsrael;G2474

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

Cross references for Romans 9:6

  • Romans 2:28-29

    For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

  • Galatians 6:16

    And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

  • Romans 11:1-2

    I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

  • Romans 4:12-16

    And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. …

  • Romans 3:3

    For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

  • John 1:47

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

  • Numbers 23:19

    God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

  • Hebrews 6:17-18

    Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  • Matthew 24:35

    Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  • Isaiah 55:11

    So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

  • John 10:35

    If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

  • 2 Timothy 2:13

    If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as though.
3:3; 11:1,2; Nu 23:19; Isa 55:11; Mt 24:35; Joh 10:35; 2Ti 2:13
Heb 6:17,18
they are not.
2:28,29; 4:12-16; Joh 1:47; Ga 6:16

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

Context

  • Romans 9:5

    Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

  • Romans 9:6

    Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

  • Romans 9:7

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

Read all of Romans 9

Romans 9:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No empero que la palabra de Dios haya faltado: porque no todos los que son de Israel son Israelitas;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– Ce n’est pas cependant comme si la parole de Dieu avait été sans effet, car tous ceux qui sont issus d’Israël ne sont pas Israël;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nicht aber als ob das Wort Gottes hinfällig geworden wäre; denn nicht alle, die aus Israel sind, diese sind Israel,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non autem quod exciderit verbum Dei. Non enim omnes qui ex Israël sunt, ii sunt Israëlitæ: