Romans 9:13
Romans 9:13 in Multiple Translations
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
Even as it is said, I had love for Jacob, but for Esau I had hate.
As Scripture says, “I chose Jacob, but rejected Esau.”
As it is written, I haue loued Iacob, and haue hated Esau.
according as it hath been written, 'Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.'
Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.
And this teaching is ◄supported/shown to be true► by what is written in the Scriptures {what a prophet recorded} that God said: “I favored Jacob, the younger son. I did not favor [HYP] Esau, the older son.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Romans 9:13
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Romans 9:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Romans 9:13
Study Notes — Romans 9:13
- Context
- Cross References
- Romans 9:13 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Romans 9:13
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:13
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Romans 9:13
- Trapp's Commentary on Romans 9:13
- Ellicott's Commentary on Romans 9:13
- Cambridge Bible on Romans 9:13
- Barnes' Notes on Romans 9:13
- Whedon's Commentary on Romans 9:13
- Sermons on Romans 9:13
Context — God’s Sovereign Choice
13So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! 15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malachi 1:2–3 | “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals. ” |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 21:15 | If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, |
| 3 | Genesis 29:33 | Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. |
| 4 | Genesis 29:31 | When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. |
| 5 | Proverbs 13:24 | He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. |
| 6 | Luke 14:26 | “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. |
| 7 | Matthew 10:37 | Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; |
| 8 | John 12:25 | Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. |
Romans 9:13 Summary
This verse can be difficult to understand, but it's essentially saying that God chose Jacob for a special role and purpose, while Esau was not given the same blessings and responsibilities (as seen in Genesis 25:23 and Malachi 1:2-3). This doesn't mean that God delights in harming Esau, but rather that He has the right to choose and sovereignly plan as He sees fit (Romans 9:14-15). We can trust in God's goodness and love for us, even when we don't understand His ways, and we can align our hearts and wills with His plan by seeking to obey and follow Him (John 14:15 and Proverbs 3:5-6).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God hated Esau?
This verse does not imply that God delights in harming or punishing Esau, but rather that He did not choose him for the same role and blessings as Jacob, as seen in Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:11-12.
Is it fair for God to love Jacob and hate Esau before they were born?
God's sovereignty and election are mysteries that surpass human understanding, but as Romans 9:14-15 and Romans 11:33-36 remind us, God's ways are not our ways, and His judgments are unsearchable.
How can we understand the concept of God's hate in this verse?
The Bible often uses the word 'hate' to mean 'to love less' or 'to set aside', as seen in Luke 14:26, where Jesus says we must hate our families in comparison to our love for Him; in this context, God's 'hate' for Esau means He chose not to bestow the same blessings and covenant promises on him as He did on Jacob, as stated in Genesis 25:23 and Romans 9:10-13.
Does this verse imply that God is unjust or biased?
No, as Romans 9:14 and Romans 3:5-6 assure us, God is always just and fair in His dealings; His choices and sovereign decrees are not based on human merit or works, but on His own wisdom and plan, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5 and 2 Timothy 1:9.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's sovereignty and His right to choose and elect individuals for specific purposes?
- How can I trust in God's goodness and love for me, even when I don't understand His ways or choices?
- In what ways can I align my heart and will with God's sovereign plan, even when it's difficult or unclear?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of humility and recognizing my place in God's grand plan?
- How can I balance the truth of God's sovereignty with the reality of human responsibility and the call to repentance and faith?
Gill's Exposition on Romans 9:13
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:13
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Romans 9:13
Trapp's Commentary on Romans 9:13
Ellicott's Commentary on Romans 9:13
Cambridge Bible on Romans 9:13
Barnes' Notes on Romans 9:13
Whedon's Commentary on Romans 9:13
Sermons on Romans 9:13
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
What Love Is This? - Part 8 by Dave Hunt | This sermon discusses the concept of God's love and salvation without distinction but not without exception, using the analogy of a store offering discounts on merchandise. It delv |
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Take Heed How You Hear by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the purpose of the Southworld conference is not just for games and enjoyment, but primarily to hear and receive the word of God. The spe |
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His Sovereign Love by Anne Dutton | Anne Dutton preaches about God's everlasting love, emphasizing that His love is free, sovereign, distinguishing, great, and unchangeable. She highlights that God's love is insepara |
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The Sin That Makes God Cry by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses how the people of God had become weary and bored with their worship and service. They doubted God's love for them and questioned where the ev |
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Abraham, My Friend: 02 in the Beginning god... by Ron Bailey | This sermon is the second installment in a series on the life of Abraham, focusing on the theme of beginnings. The speaker emphasizes that every Christian biography should begin wi |
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God's Calls by Robert Constable | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the danger of turning away from the call of God. He shares a story about a father who had done everything for his son, but the son wasted hi |
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Malachi #2: I Have Loved You by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the book of Malachi and how God addresses the problems of his people. The speaker explains that God goes beyond dealing with the symptoms and |






