Romans
King James Version (KJV)
Romans 9:13
“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
King James Version (KJV)
Romans 9:13 Context
10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
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Other Translations for Romans 9:13
As it is written, Iacob haue I loued, but Esau haue I hated.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
- American Standard Version (1901)
Even as it is said, I had love for Jacob, but for Esau I had hate.
- Basic English Bible
according as it is written, I have loved Jacob, and I have hated Esau.
- Darby Bible
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
- Webster's Bible
This agrees with the other Scripture which says, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."
- Weymouth Bible
Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
- World English Bible
that the more schulde serue the lesse, as it is writun, Y louede Jacob, but Y hatide Esau.
- Wycliffe Bible
according as it hath been written, `Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.'
- Youngs Literal Bible
Bible Commentary for Romans 9:13
Wesley's Notes for Romans 9:13
9:13 As it is written - With which word in Genesis, spoken so long before, that of Malachi agrees. I have loved Jacob - With a peculiar love; that is, the Israelites, the posterity of Jacob. And I have, comparatively, hated Esau - That is, the Edomites, the posterity of Esau. But observe, This does not relate to the person of Jacob or Esau Nor does it relate to the eternal state either of them or their posterity. Thus far the apostle has been proving his proposition, namely, that the exclusion of a great part of the seed of Abraham, yea, and of Isaac, from the special promises of God, was so far from being impossible, that, according to the scriptures themselves, it had actually happened. He now introduces and refutes an objection. #Mal 1:2|,3.
People's Bible Notes for Romans 9:13
Ro 9:13 As it is written. In Mal 1:2,3. The language of Malachi, in its connection, shows that this is spoken of the two races: "I hated Esau and laid waste his mountains and his heritage". This was not true of Esau as a person, but was true of his descendants. One race was loved and the other race hated. God has then asserted his right to freely choose or to reject races. There is not the slightest hint of electing some persons to eternal salvation and others to damnation.
Nevertheless, I love you and pray that the Lord will bless you.
Keep in mind that GOD is not restricted by time as we are. GOD knows and sees our beginning from our end. Remember that he told Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew thee". GOD said "I knew thee"..He knew the type of character ESAU would be throughout and at the end of his life.
We have free will. GOD knows how we're going to use it.
I don't think Romans 9:13 has anything to do with predestination or salvation. God doesn't determine ahead of time who will or will not be saved. He knows who will receive Him and who will reject Him. Predestination is never associated with salvation in the bible. You will always see the word associated with those who are already saved. It's what has been predestined or chosen for us as part of our inheritance. Predestination in the bible never has anything to do with predestinating people for Heaven or Hell. It's never used that way.
Every time the word predestinated is used in the scriptures; it always makes reference to part of our inheritance in Christ. If He did not choose me and predestine me to be holy and without blame before Him in His love, I'd never be able to stand before Him. But I've received Christ as part of my inheritance.
Christ died for everybody. He knows ahead of time who will receive Him. He never forces anybody to receive Him or reject Him. Because I am in Christ, I have been predestined by God to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren, that is, the head of the body of Christ, as He is.
As far as free will goes, you're going to upset a lot of "free-willies" here if you are telling them that they don't have a free will. Everyone has free will, and as long as they live in a body of flesh, they will always have that free will. But what is free will attached to, your flesh or your spirit?
It is the flesh that has free will. But God could care less about our flesh. He didn't save our flesh. He saved our spirit, our soul. Our flesh will NEVER submit to the things of the Lord because it will always be in opposition to Him. But our spirit, our soul, as Paul says, we are slaves to Jesus Christ. No free will when it comes to our soul. Our soul is saved forever if Christ is in us. He does not give us eternal life. He gives us Himself, and He is eternal life. That's why we have eternal life!
[3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.]
We must be careful in taking a single verse out of Scripture out of context, and yes, God IS infinite, and all knowing, this Scripture isn't talking about His supremacy, nor even predestination, but the grace and mercy of God.
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