Romans 9:8 Meaning and Explanation
“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul explains his point: it is not physical birth but God's promise that makes someone His true child.
What Does Romans 9:8 Mean?
Paul interprets the example he just gave. The children of the flesh, those who can claim only natural descent, are not for that reason the children of God. Rather, the children of the promise are counted as the true seed. The decisive thing is not how one is born but the promise of God that claims and reckons a person as His own.
This is the gospel's quiet revolution. We do not enter God's family by lineage, achievement, or inheritance, but by being included in His promise and receiving it. To be counted for the seed is to be regarded as belonging, named among God's children by His own reckoning. The same grace that singled out Isaac reaches anyone who trusts the promise, making strangers into sons and daughters by the word of God.
Romans 9:8 in the Original Language
epaggelia (ἐπαγγελία), 'promise' -- a freely given pledge, the ground on which God's children are reckoned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 9:8
What does Romans 9:8 mean?
Paul explains his point: it is not physical birth but God's promise that makes someone His true child.