Romans 9 · Verse 7

Romans 9:7

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Romans 9:7, King James Version

Romans 9:7 in other translations

BSBNor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
WEBNeither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.”
ASVneither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
YLTnor because they are seed of Abraham are all children, but--‘in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'
DARBYnor because they are seed of Abraham are all children: but, In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee.
BBEAnd they are not all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac will your seed be named.
WebsterNeither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

What does Romans 9:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:7-9
7-9. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children--"Not in the line of mere fleshly descent from Abraham does the election run; else Ishmael, Hagar's child, and even Keturah's children, would be included, which they were not." but--the true election are such of Abraham's seed as God unconditionally chooses, as exemplified in that promise. in Isaac shall thy seed be called--(Ge 21:12).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Are they all children. Adopted into the true family of God. Many of the descendants of Abraham were rejected.

But in Isaac. This was the promise, Gen 21:12.

Shall thy seed, etc. Thy true people. This implied a selection, or choice; and, therefore, the doctrine of election was illustrated in the very commencement of the history of the nation; and as God had then made such a distinction, he might still do it. As he had then rejected a part of the natural descendants of Abraham, so he might, still do it. This is the argument which the apostle is pursuing.

(i) "In Isaac" Isa 55:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, etc. - Nor can they conclude, because they are the natural descendants of Abraham, that therefore they are all of them, without exception, the children in whom the promise is to be fulfilled. But, in Isaac shall thy seed be called - The promise is not confined to immediate natural descent, but may be accomplished in any part of Abraham's posterity. For Abraham had several sons besides Isaac, Gen 25:1, Gen 25:2, particularly Ishmael, who was circumcised before Isaac was born, and in whom Abraham was desirous that the promise should be fulfilled, Gen 17:18, and in him God might have fulfilled the promise, had he so pleased; and yet he said to Abraham, Gen 21:12 : Not in Ishmael, but in Isaac, shall thy seed be called.

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…

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

Romans 9:7 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.

οὐδ᾽oud᾽NorG3761
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
εἰσὶνeisinthey areG1510
σπέρμαspermaseedG4690
ἈβραὰμAbraamof AbrahamG11
πάντεςpantes[are] allG3956
τέκνα,teknachildren,G5043
ἀλλ᾽all᾽ratherG235
ἐνenInG1722
ἸσαὰκIsaakIsaacG2464
κληθήσεταίklēthēsetaiwill be namedG2564
σοιsoito youG4771
σπέρμα.spermaoffspring.G4690

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

Cross references for Romans 9:7

  • Genesis 21:12

    And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

  • Hebrews 11:18

    Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

  • John 8:37-39

    I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

  • Galatians 4:23

    But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

  • Luke 3:8

    Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • Philippians 3:3

    For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

  • John 8:33

    They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

  • Luke 16:30

    And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

  • Luke 16:24-25

    And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
because.
Lu 3:8; 16:24,25,30; Joh 8:37-39; Php 3:3
In Isaac.
Ge 21:12; Heb 11:18

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Romans 9:8

    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.

Read all of Romans 9

Romans 9:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ni por ser simiente de Abraham, son todos hijos; mas: En Isaac te será llamada simiente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		aussi, pour être la semence d’Abraham, ils ne sont pas tous enfants; mais « en Isaac te sera appelée une semence »;
German
Elberfelder 1871		auch nicht, weil sie Abrahams Same sind, sind alle Kinder, sondern "in Isaak wird dir ein Same genannt werden".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		neque qui semen sunt Abrahæ, omnes filii: sed in Isaac vocabitur tibi semen: