Romans 9:7
What does Romans 9:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 9:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 9:7 means
Physical descent from Abraham does not automatically make one a child of the promise. Paul recalls that God’s covenant line was defined through Isaac, not through all of Abraham’s offspring. The citation—“In Isaac shall thy seed be called”—shows that God Himself drew a boundary within Abraham’s family. This example teaches that the promise works through God’s chosen line, not by human effort or mere heredity. It begins to dismantle any presumption that belonging to Abraham’s bloodline guarantees inclusion in the saving purposes of God. The true family of God is identified by promise, not by flesh.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they are not all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac will your seed be named.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862nor because they are seed of Abraham <FI>are<Fi> all children, but--`in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890nor because they are seed of Abraham [are] all children: but, In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee.
Context
Verse 7 supports verse 6’s claim by turning to Abraham’s household. Abraham had more than one son, but God called the covenant seed through Isaac. Verses 8–9 will explicitly interpret this pattern: the children of promise, not the children of the flesh, are counted as offspring. The line of argument is cumulative: first Abraham’s family (vv. 7–9), then Isaac and Rebecca’s twins (vv. 10–13), show that God’s purpose rests on His call, not on physical ancestry or human merit.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
- John 8:33
They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
- John 8:37
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
- Hebrews 11:18
even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
- Galatians 4:23
Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.
- Genesis 21:12
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
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