Not all Israel is Israel: Isaac, Jacob, and "God’s plan of election" (Romans 9:6–13)
Says "It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (9:6, BSB). ἐκπέπτωκεν (ekpeptōken, "has fallen") is the verb of failing (lex.G1601; note.language.Rom.9.6-Rom.9.13.ekpeptoken-eklogen). Israel names both the people by descent and the people of the promise.
Says Not all Abraham's descendants are his children: "Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned" (9:7, BSB), quoting Gen 21:12. "It is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring" (9:8, BSB). The promise to Sarah (9:9) combines Gen 18:10 and 18:14. The Hebrew and the LXX of these citations, and where Paul follows the LXX, are in note.language.Rom.9.7-Rom.9.12.gen-21-18-25 (xref.Rom.9.7.Gen.21.12.heb; xref.Rom.9.9.Gen.18.10-Gen.18.14.heb). On Abraham's offspring see note.exegetical.Rom.4.13-Rom.4.17.promise-through-faith.
Says Rebecca's twins had one father, and "before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”" (9:11–12, BSB), quoting Gen 25:23 as in the LXX (xref.Rom.9.12.Gen.25.23.heb). ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις (hē katʼ eklogēn prothesis, "the purpose according to election"; lex.G1589) points back to "His purpose" in 8:28 (note.exegetical.Rom.8.28-Rom.8.30.called-according-to-purpose).
Says "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (9:13, BSB) quotes Mal 1:2–3 as in the LXX, with "Jacob" fronted (note.language.Rom.9.13.mal-1-2-3; xref.Rom.9.13.Mal.1.2-Mal.1.3.heb; lex.G3404).
Implies "Loved" and "hated" are a Semitic idiom of choosing and not choosing, as with Leah, loved less than Rachel (Gen 29:30–31), and Malachi speaks of the peoples descended from Jacob and Esau. The stronger reading takes "hated" as active rejection, citing Edom's judgment in Mal 1:3–4 (note.language.Rom.9.13.mal-1-2-3).
Uncertain What Gen 25:23 and Mal 1:2–3 mean for election: whether Paul uses them of individuals and their eternal destiny, or of peoples and their place in God's purpose ("Two nations are in your womb," Gen 25:23, BSB). This belongs to the election question, which has no team lean (note.exegetical.Rom.9.6-Rom.9.24.how-election-works).
Claims
- SaysGod's word has not failed, for not all who are descended from Israel are Israel (9:6).
- SaysNot all Abraham's descendants are his children; the offspring is reckoned through Isaac (Gen 21:12), and the children of the promise are regarded as offspring (9:7–9; Gen 18:10, 14).
- SaysBefore the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to election might stand, not by works but by him who calls, Rebecca was told that the older would serve the younger (9:10–12; Gen 25:23).
- Says'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated' quotes Mal 1:2–3 as in the LXX, with Jacob fronted (9:13).
- Implies'Loved' and 'hated' are a Semitic idiom of choosing and not choosing (Gen 29:30–31), and Malachi speaks of peoples; the stronger reading takes 'hated' as active rejection (Mal 1:3–4).
- UncertainWhether Gen 25:23 and Mal 1:2–3 are used of individuals and eternal destiny or of peoples and their place in God's purpose belongs to the election question, with no team lean.
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 9:6–13; Gen 25:23
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 8:28; 9:6–13
2026-11-04
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