Devine Scripture

Romans 9:2

What does Romans 9:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:2 means

Paul confesses a great, ongoing pain in his heart. This is not a passing sadness but a steady, unrelenting burden. The grief arises from the gap between Israel’s God-given privileges and their present estrangement from Christ. Such sorrow shows both love for his kinsmen and zeal for God’s honor. It also reveals that theological conviction and pastoral compassion are not at odds. Paul does not speak of Israel with cold detachment; he hurts for them. His lament prepares readers to face hard truths about God’s sovereign choice without imagining Paul is indifferent to human loss.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That I am full of sorrow and pain without end.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That I have great sadness and continual sorrow in my heart.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

that I have great grief and uninterrupted pain in my heart,

Context

Having sworn to his sincerity (v. 1), Paul now states the content of his grief (v. 2), which he will intensify in verse 3 by expressing a costly, hypothetical wish. These opening laments set the emotional backdrop for the doctrinal discussion to come. The sorrow is sharpened by Israel’s unique privileges listed in verses 4–5. This contrast—deep pain amid great privilege—raises the central issue addressed in verses 6–13: if Israel has such advantages, why has the nation not, in large part, embraced the Messiah?

v.1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,

v.2This passage

v.3For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Cross references

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

  • Ezekiel 9:4

    And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.

  • Luke 19:41

    And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,

  • Isaiah 66:10

    Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her;

  • 1 Samuel 15:35

    And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

  • Jeremiah 9:1

    Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • Revelation 11:3

    And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

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