Romans 9:8

Verse

So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

American Standard Version (1901)

That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.

Bible in Basic English

That is, it is not the children of the flesh, but the children of God's undertaking, who are named as the seed.

Douay-Rheims 1899

That is to say, not they that are the children of the flesh, are the children of God; buy they, that are the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed.

Free Bible Version

so it's not Abraham's actual children who are counted as God's children, but only those children of God's promise who are considered his true descendants.

Geneva Bible 1599

That is, they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God: but the children of the promise, are counted for the seede.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

That means that it is not all the natural-born descendants of Abraham whom God considers as his children. Instead, it is those who believed what God promised whom he considers to be his children.

Unlocked Literal Bible

That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

Noah Webster Bible

That is, They who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

World English Bible

That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs.

Young's Literal Translation

that is, the children of the flesh — these [are] not children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for seed;

Context

God’s Sovereign Choice

⁷Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”⁸So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. ⁹For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Sermons

Profiting From the Word 8. the Scriptures and the Promises

A.W. Pink

Summary

In Romans 9:8, Paul explains that it is not merely physical descent that makes a person a child of God, but rather it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. This verse highlights the importance of faith and God's sovereign choice in determining who belongs to His spiritual family. It emphasizes that true lineage in the kingdom of God is based on faith and adherence to the promises of God, rather than on human ancestry or works.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

That is, They which are the children of the flesh - Whence it appears that not the children who descend from Abraham's loins, nor those who were circumcised as he was, nor even those whom he might expect and desire, are therefore the Church and people of God; but those who are made children by the good pleasure and promise of God, as Isaac was, are alone to be accounted for the seed with whom the covenant was established.

John Gill Bible Commentary

For this is the word of promise,.... The following passage is the Scripture, which contains the promise concerning the birth of Isaac; which was the produce, not of nature, but of divine grace and power; and was typical of the regeneration of God's elect, who "as Isaac was, are the children of promise", Gal 4:28, for as Ishmael was a type of them that are born after the flesh, and are carnal men, so Isaac was a type of those, who are born after the Spirit, and are spiritual men: the promise is, at this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son; the passage referred to is in Gen 18:10; which there stands thus, "I will certainly return unto thee, according to the time of life, and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son": some difference there is between the words as cited by the apostle, and as they stand in the original text; the word "lo", is omitted by the apostle, nor was there any necessity to repeat it, since it was used only to excite Abraham's faith, attention, and wonder; also the phrase "thy wife", is neglected, the reason is, because the words in Genesis are an address to Abraham, here the substance of the promise to him is produced; besides it was not only well known in the apostle's time, that Sarah was the wife of Abraham, but that as such she brought forth Isaac, wherefore it was not so very necessary it should be mentioned here; add to this, that it is not repeated in Gen 18:14, which will justify our apostle in the omission of it: but the greater seeming difference is, that what in Genesis is rendered, "according to the time of life", is by the apostle, "at this time": some think, that there may be an emendation of the present original text, and suppose a various reading, and that the apostle, instead of "life", read "this", but there is no occasion for such a supposition, or to make this amendment: for the phrase "the time of life", signifies the present time, the "nunc stans"; so R. Levi ben Gerson (f), understands this phrase, "according to the time of life", , "according to this time which is now standing and abiding" and adds, rightly is this said, because neither time past nor to come are to be found, only the present time, the "nunc stans" and afterwards more than once explains it, of this present time, the next year: and so both R. Solomon Jarchi, and R. Aben Ezra (g), expound it, , "according to this time", the year following; that is, exactly according to this present time next year, or this time twelve month; besides, in Gen 17:21 it is said, "at this set time", and in Gen 18:14, "at the appointed time"; all which support the apostle in his version. (f) Perush in Gen. fol. 26. 4. & 27. 2, 3. Vid. in 2 Reg. iv. 16. (g) In Gen. xviii. 10.