Devine Scripture

Romans 9:29

What does Romans 9:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:29 means

Paul quotes Isaiah to say that if the Lord of Sabaoth had not left a seed, Israel would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah—utterly ruined. The “seed” is a surviving remnant preserved by divine mercy. Israel’s continued existence as a people and the presence of believers among them are due to God’s gracious intervention, not their own faithfulness. This underscores that judgment could have been total, but mercy restrained it. The title “Lord of Sabaoth” (Lord of Hosts) stresses His sovereign power over all forces; He alone sustains a people for Himself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And, as Isaiah had said before, If the Lord of armies had not given us a seed, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and according as Isaiah saith before, `Except the Lord of Sabaoth did leave to us a seed, as Sodom we had become, and as Gomorrah we had been made like.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Isaias foretold: Unless the Lord of Sabbath had left us a seed, we had been made as Sodom and we had been like unto Gomorrha.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And according as Esaias said before, Unless [the] Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and made like even as Gomorrha.

Context

Verse 29 completes the Isaiah citations, reinforcing that Israel’s survival rests on God’s mercy, not on national virtue. With this, Paul has shown both Gentile inclusion (vv. 25–26) and a preserved remnant in Israel (vv. 27–29). The chapter now moves to a summary and contrast in verses 30–33: Gentiles obtained righteousness by faith, while Israel, seeking righteousness through the law, stumbled over the Messiah, the stone laid in Zion.

v.28for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.

v.29This passage

v.30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 13:19

    And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

  • Isaiah 1:9

    Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

  • Zephaniah 2:6

    And the sea-coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.

  • Deuteronomy 29:23

    and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

  • Lamentations 4:6

    For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

  • Isaiah 6:13

    And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy seed is the stock thereof.

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