Devine Scripture

Romans 15:12

What does Romans 15:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 15:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 15:12 means

Isaiah speaks of the root of Jesse—the promised Davidic figure—who rises to rule the Gentiles, and in Him the Gentiles will hope. Paul applies this to Christ. Jesus is the promised ruler whose kingdom embraces the nations. The Gentiles do not merely receive blessings from afar; they trust in the Messiah Himself. Hope is personal—fixed on Christ. This unites Jew and Gentile under one Lord. The church’s unity is therefore messianic at its core: one King, one hope, one people gathered under His gracious reign.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And again Isaiah says, There will be the root of Jesse, and he who comes to be the ruler over the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles put their hope.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and again, Isaiah saith, `There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who is rising to rule nations--upon him shall nations hope;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And again, Esaias says, There shall be the root of Jesse, and one that arises, to rule over [the] nations: in him shall [the] nations hope.

Context

After building a scriptural foundation for Gentile praise (vv.9–11), Paul climaxes with Isaiah’s messianic promise (v.12). The nations’ praise is not vague; it is anchored in their hope in the root of Jesse. This completes Paul’s proof that God intends a single, Christ-centered people drawn from Jews and Gentiles. The next verse (v.13) will turn this theological vision into a prayer for joy, peace, and abounding hope through the Holy Spirit.

v.11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And let all the peoples praise him.

v.12This passage

v.13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 2:4

    He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.

  • Isaiah 11:10

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.

  • 1 Peter 1:21

    who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

  • 2 Timothy 1:12

    For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.

  • Ephesians 1:12

    to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:

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