Romans 9:29 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Isaiah said that only because the Lord left a seed did Israel escape the total ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah.
What Does Romans 9:29 Mean?
Paul cites Isaiah once more. Had not the Lord of Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, left a seed, Israel would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities wholly destroyed. The survival of any faithful remnant is owed entirely to God's mercy. Left to themselves, the people would have faced complete ruin; that a seed remains is grace, not merit.
The verse strips away every ground for boasting and leaves only gratitude. We are not preserved because we are better than those who fell, but because God in mercy kept a seed alive. This is the honest posture of all who are saved: not the proud thought that we deserved to be spared, but the humble wonder that, but for the Lord of hosts, we too would have been lost. Survival itself is a gift.
Romans 9:29 in the Original Language
Sabaoth (Σαβαώθ), 'hosts' -- a Hebrew word for armies, naming God as Lord over all the hosts of heaven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 9:29
What does Romans 9:29 mean?
Isaiah said that only because the Lord left a seed did Israel escape the total ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah.