Romans 9:2 Meaning and Explanation
“That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul confesses a deep and unbroken grief carried in his heart.
What Does Romans 9:2 Mean?
This is the burden the oath of verse 1 was guarding. Paul does not yet say its cause, but he measures its weight: not a passing sadness but great heaviness, not occasional but continual. The man who just declared that nothing can separate us from the love of God carries, at the same time, an ache that will not lift.
Joy in Christ does not cancel sorrow over those who do not yet know Him. The apostle shows that a heart fully assured of God's love can still grieve for others, and that such grief is not faithlessness but love. To carry continual sorrow for the lost is to share, in small measure, the heart of the Savior who wept over a city that would not come to Him.
Romans 9:2 in the Original Language
odyne (ὀδύνη), 'sorrow' -- a piercing, gnawing pain, here pictured as ceaseless.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 9:2
What does Romans 9:2 mean?
Paul confesses a deep and unbroken grief carried in his heart.