Romans 9:6
in Romans 9It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:
KJV
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
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This verse in Romans 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSince he had said above that for his brethren, "who are his kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites," he would wish even to become anathema, on the ground that theirs was both the adoption of sons, and the giving of the law, and the promises — concerning these he now says that the word of God has not failed, that is, the promise which was made to them has not come to nothing.
This site's exposition
not all who are descended from Israel are Israel
Israel's unbelief raises one question, whether God's word has failed. Paul answers by narrowing the word Israel, since the Israel the promise names is smaller than the line of physical descent. The chapter then proves that from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Not as though the word of God had taken none effect." To show that he had courage to bear all these things for the word of God, that is, the promise made to Abraham. For as Moses seemed to be pleading for the Jews, yet was doing everything for God's glory (for he says, "Lest they say, Because He was not able to save them, He led them forth to destroy them in the wilderness"; stay Thy wrath), so also does Paul, That they may not say (he means) that the promise of God has fallen to the ground, and He has disappointed us of that. He vouched to us, and this word has not issued in deed, I could wish to be accursed. This then was why he did not speak of the Gentiles (for to them no promises had been made by Him, nor had they worshipped Him, wherefore neither did any blaspheme Him on their account), but it was for the Jews who had both received the promise, and had also been brought into closer connection with Him than others, that he expressed this wish.
A commentator
Diodorus of TarsusPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 390.
proposed
Because the promises which had been given to the Jews had been transferred to the Gentiles, Paul wanted to avoid the charge that God had lied about his promises, and so he shows how God remains faithful. The Scriptures make it clear that it was …
The Medieval Church2 voices
After asserting the greatness of the Jews, the Apostle now shows that it did not refer to those who descended according to the flesh from the ancient patriarchs but to the spiritual progeny chosen by God. First, he shows that this greatness arises from God's …
I, he says, am inflamed by the fact that God is blasphemed, and therefore expressed the desire that all be saved. But if not all are saved, it does not follow from this that God lied in the promises given to the fathers, and that …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The sum is, God accepts all believers, and them only; and this is no way contrary to his word. Nay, he hath declared in his word, both by types and by express testimonies, that believers are accepted as the "children of the promise," while unbelievers are rejected, though they are "children after the flesh." All are not Israel - Not in the favour of God.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The promises and threatenings shall have their accomplishment; and, one way or other, he will magnify the law and make it honourable. This is to be understood especially of the promise of God, which by subsequent providences may be to a wavering faith very doubtful; but it is not, it cannot be, made of no effect; at the end it will speak and not lie.
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 pertaineth 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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
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?
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Not as though ... - 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; see the note at Rom 2:28-29.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οὐχ | ouch | [It is] not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| οἷον | hoion | as | G3634 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐκπέπτωκεν | ekpeptoken | has failed | G1601 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγος | logos | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| οἱ | hoi | who [are] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξ | ex | of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| Ἰσραὴλ | israel | Israel | G2474 → | 68 times |
| οὗτοι | houtoi | [are] these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| Ἰσραήλ· | israel | Israel; | G2474 → | 68 times |
Οὐχ[It is] not
ouchG3756 →1664 times
οἷονas
hoionG3634 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐκπέπτωκενhas failed
ekpeptokenG1601 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
λόγοςword
logosG3056 →329 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.of God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
οἱwho [are]
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἐξof
exG1537 →911 times
ἸσραὴλIsrael
israelG2474 →68 times
οὗτοι[are] these
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
Ἰσραήλ·Israel;
israelG2474 →68 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 3:3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
- Hebrews 4:2
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.
- Titus 1:1–2
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
- 2 Timothy 2:13
Through
Galatians 6:16Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- Romans 9:6–8
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
- Galatians 3:7–9
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
- 1 Peter 2:5–9
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 3:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
On this chapter
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle to the Romans; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Diodorus of Tarsus, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.