Romans 9:6
New International Version
It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

New Living Translation
Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people!

English Standard Version
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

Berean Standard Bible
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

Berean Literal Bible
And it is not as that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel, are these Israel.

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

New King James Version
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

New American Standard Bible
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

NASB 1995
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

NASB 1977
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

Legacy Standard Bible
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

Amplified Bible
However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing]. For not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel;

Christian Standard Bible
Now it is not as though the word of God has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

American Standard Version
But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:

Contemporary English Version
It cannot be said that God broke his promise. After all, not all of the people of Israel are the true people of God.

English Revised Version
But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now it is not as though God's word has failed. Clearly, not everyone descended from Israel is part of Israel

Good News Translation
I am not saying that the promise of God has failed; for not all the people of Israel are the people of God.

International Standard Version
Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel,

Majority Standard Bible
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

NET Bible
It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,

New Heart English Bible
But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
Not as though the word of God hath taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, who are descendants from Israel?

Weymouth New Testament
Not however that God's word has failed; for all who have sprung from Israel do not count as Israel,

World English Bible
But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it is not possible that the word of God has failed; for not all who [are] of Israel are these of Israel;

Berean Literal Bible
And it is not as that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel, are these Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;

Smith's Literal Translation
And not as that the word of God has fallen through. For not they all of Israel, they which of Israel:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Not as though the word of God hath miscarried. For all are not Israelites that are of Israel:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But it is not that the Word of God has perished. For not all those who are Israelites are of Israel.

New American Bible
But it is not that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel are Israel,

New Revised Standard Version
It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is not as though the word of God had actually failed. For all those who belong to Israel are not Israelites:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But it was not that the word of God had failed, for they were not all of Israel, who are Israel;
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
It is not possible that the word of God has failed; for they are not all Israel who are of Israel.

Godbey New Testament
But not as that the word of God has been a failure. For these are not all Israel who are of Israel;

Haweis New Testament
Now it is not supposable that the word of God hath failed. For these are not all Israel, who are of Israel:

Mace New Testament
However, the divine promise cannot but have its effect, for they are not the whole of Israel, who are descended from Israel:

Weymouth New Testament
Not however that God's word has failed; for all who have sprung from Israel do not count as Israel,

Worrell New Testament
But it is not as though the word of God has failed: for they are not all Israel, who are of Israel;

Worsley New Testament
Not that the word of God hath failed. For they are not all Israel, who are descended from Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Sovereign Choice
5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. 6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”…

Cross References
Galatians 6:16
Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

Galatians 4:28-31
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. / At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. / But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” ...

John 8:39
“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.

John 1:11-13
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. / But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Galatians 3:7
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Matthew 3:9
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

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—

John 10:26-28
But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. / My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. / I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

Genesis 17:19-21
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. / As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. / But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

Genesis 25:23
and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Isaiah 10:22
Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overflowing with righteousness.

Isaiah 46:3
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.


Treasury of Scripture

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

as though.

Romans 3:3
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

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…

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?

they are not.

Romans 2:28,29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: …

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…

John 1:47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

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Romans 9
1. Paul is sorry for the Jews.
7. All of Abraham not of the promise.
18. God's sovereignty.
25. The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.
32. The cause of their stumbling.














It is not as though
This phrase introduces a clarification or correction of a potential misunderstanding. In the Greek, "οὐχ οἷον" (ouch hoion) suggests a negation of an assumed premise. Paul is addressing a concern that God's promises to Israel might have failed. This opening sets the stage for a deeper theological explanation, emphasizing that appearances or human assumptions do not dictate divine truth.

God’s word
The term "word" here is "λόγος" (logos) in Greek, which can mean a spoken word, a message, or a divine utterance. In the context of Romans, it refers to the promises and covenants God made with Israel. Historically, God's word is seen as infallible and eternal, as reflected in Isaiah 55:11, where it is said that God's word will not return void. This underscores the reliability and sovereignty of God's declarations.

has failed
The Greek word "ἐκπέπτωκεν" (ekpeptōken) means to fall out or to fail. Paul is addressing a theological concern that God's promises to Israel might not have come to fruition. This word choice emphasizes the perceived gravity of the situation among early Christians and Jews, who were grappling with the implications of the Gospel and the role of Israel in God's plan.

For not all
This phrase introduces a critical distinction. The Greek "οὐ γὰρ πάντες" (ou gar pantes) indicates a contrast or exception. Paul is about to explain that there is a deeper, spiritual understanding of who constitutes the true Israel. This sets the stage for a discussion on the nature of God's covenant people, which is not merely based on physical descent.

who are descended from Israel
The Greek "οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ" (hoi ex Israēl) refers to those who are physically descended from Jacob, who was renamed Israel. This phrase acknowledges the historical and genealogical lineage of the Jewish people. However, Paul is about to make a distinction between physical descent and spiritual identity, which is a recurring theme in his letters.

are Israel
The repetition of "Israel" in Greek "Ἰσραήλ" (Israēl) is significant. Paul is making a theological point that true membership in Israel is not based solely on ethnic or genealogical terms. This echoes the Old Testament concept of a remnant, a faithful group within the larger nation who truly follow God. It also aligns with the New Testament teaching that faith, rather than ethnicity, is the basis for being part of God's people.

(6-13) Now follows a vindication of the dealings of God in rejecting Israel. And this is divided into three parts. Part 1 extends to the end of Romans 9:13, and the object of it is to clear the way by defining the true limits of the promise. It was not really to all Israel that the promise was given, but only to a particular section of Israel.

(6) Not as though.--The scholar will observe that there appears to be here a mixture of two constructions, "the case is not such that," and "I do not mean to say that," "I do not intend to say that the case is such as that."

Taken none effect.--"Fallen through," or "failed of its accomplishment."

Of Israel--i.e., descended from Jacob. (Comp. Genesis 32:28.) The promise of God was indeed given to Israel, but that did not mean roundly all who could claim descent from Jacob without further limitation.

Verses 6-13. - (2) (a) After this avowal of his deep sorrow, and his reasons for feeling it, the apostle now proceeds to deal with the subject. First (as has been said above) he shows (vers. 6-13) that the present exclusion of the great majority of the Jews from Christian privileges does not imply any unfaithfulness on God's part to his ancient promises; and thus it follows that the fact of their exclusion is no proof of the gospel not being the true fulfilment of those promises. Verses 6, 7. - But it is not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect (or, hath come to naught, ἐκπεπτωκεν). For they are not all Israel who are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. The promises to the patriarchs never, from the first, implied the inheritance of them by all the physical descendants of those patriarchs; even in Israel there is a recognized distinction between being of the race of Israel and being the true Israel of God; in the original promise to Abraham the descendants of Ishmael (though equally with those of Isaac, his physical seed) were excluded. And so even the race of Israel is but a part of the whole seed of Abraham, to whom the promise was made. Hence it follows that the present exclusion of the majority of even the race of Israel from the inheritance of the promises is not inconsistent with the original purport of those promises. The quotation from Genesis 21:12, "In Isaac," etc., is properly (as in the original Hebrew) "In Isaac shall a seed be named to thee;" i.e. "In Isaac it shall come to pass that posterity of thine shall have the name and position of the seed of Abraham, and be recognized as the inheritors of the promise" (Meyer).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[It is] not
Οὐχ (Ouch)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

as though
οἷον (hoion)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3634: Probably akin to ho, hos, and hosos; such or what sort of; especially the neuter with negative, not so.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

word
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

has failed.
ἐκπέπτωκεν (ekpeptōken)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1601: From ek and pipto; to drop away; specially, be driven out of one's course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient.

For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

who [are]
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

descended from
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

Israel
Ἰσραήλ (Israēl)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2474: Of Hebrew origin; Israel, the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants.

[are]
οὗτοι (houtoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

Israel.
Ἰσραήλ (Israēl)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2474: Of Hebrew origin; Israel, the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants.


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