Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Parallel translations
- WEB Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.”
- BSB Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- NKJV nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
- NASB nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants shall be named.”
- NLT Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Being Abraham's physical offspring does not automatically make one his true child, for God specified that the line of promise runs through Isaac. Descent alone does not secure the promise.
Overview
Paul illustrates the principle of v. 6 from Abraham's own family. Though Abraham had other offspring (such as Ishmael), God declared that the covenant line would be reckoned through Isaac (Genesis 21:12). Thus God himself, by sovereign choice, distinguished the children of promise from mere physical descendants, establishing that election, not biology, defines the people of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 21:12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
- Heb 11:18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
- John 8:37–39I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
- Gal 4:23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
- Luke 3:8Bring 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.
- Phil 3:3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
- Luke 16:24–25And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
- Luke 16:30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
- John 8:33They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 9:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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