Romans 15:9-12
and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Old Testament text here is not just about God's mercy to the Gentiles, but about the Gentiles actively glorifying God because of His mercy. It highlights that worship isn't confined to a specific group, but is a universal response to God's gracious actions.
Paul is building his case for unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, showing how God’s plan, from the Old Testament onward, always included the nations. He’s just argued that Christ ministered to Jews to fulfill God's promises, and now he's proving that Christ also came so that Gentiles could receive God’s mercy and praise Him. This verse, quoting Psalm 18, is the first piece of evidence that the Gentiles' praise was always part of God’s intention, not an afterthought.
Why would the Gentiles praise God specifically for 'mercy'? What made their inclusion different from Israel's?
The verse highlights a key distinction in how God's people relate to Him.
Israel's Covenant Path
Israel's relationship with God was rooted in a covenant, a set of promises God made to Abraham and his descendants. They experienced God's faithfulness as the fulfillment of these long-standing commitments. When God acted on their behalf, it was often seen as God being true to His word.
Gentile Grace
For the Gentiles, who weren't part of this specific covenant, their inclusion in God's people was a pure act of God's grace and mercy. They had no prior claim or promise in the same way. Their salvation was a demonstration of God's abundant, unmerited favor, a concept they could only respond to with profound gratitude and praise.
This verse emphasizes that God's plan wasn't just about fulfilling promises to one group, but about extending His loving-kindness to all, demonstrating His 'mercy' on a global scale.
Paul quotes from the Old Testament to prove a point about Gentiles. How does a song of praise from King David point to God's global plan?
Paul skillfully uses Old Testament Scripture to show that God's plan always included the Gentiles. He quotes Psalm 18:49, where David, a king of Israel, declares: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
David as a Type of Christ
Commentators understand David here as a 'type' of Christ. When David sang of praising God among the Gentiles, Paul applies this ultimately to Jesus. Christ, as the true King and descendant of David, is the one who brings salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.
Unified Worship
Paul is showing that the inclusion of Gentiles wasn't an afterthought; it was prophesied! David’s words, fulfilled in Christ, mean that Gentile believers have a God-given right to join in praising God. Their praise is not separate from Jewish praise, but part of the unified song that Christ leads among all nations.
Understand the original words
ethnos · Greek Noun
Refers to all nations and peoples other than the Jewish people; in the New Testament, it signifies those who were formerly outside the covenant of Israel but have been brought into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
eleos · Greek Noun
The compassion, kindness, or goodwill shown by God to those who are in misery or in need of salvation, despite their lack of merit. It is a central attribute of God that moves Him to act for the deliverance of His people.
aineete · Greek Verb
To express admiration, honor, or glory to God; a response to God’s nature and works. In Scripture, it is a primary duty of believers and all creation.
ethne · Greek Noun
Paul's argument hinges on the Old Testament's prophetic vision of Gentiles glorifying God. The Gentiles' inclusion in God's mercy, a theme amplified by the exile and the Septuagint translation, becomes a central pillar for the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ.
c. 1000 BC
David's Song of Thanksgiving
King David, having been delivered from numerous enemies, composes a song of praise recorded in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18, where he declares his intention to praise God among the nations.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, its Temple destroyed, and a significant portion of its population exiled. This event marks a turning point in the perception of God's relationship with Israel and the nations.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This begins the process of Jewish restoration.
c. 400 BC
Malachi's Prophecy
The prophet Malachi addresses the post-exilic community, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises with Israel, while also foretelling a future time when God's name will be great among the nations.
This passage directly calls for all nations to praise God, echoing the sentiment in Romans 15:9 that Gentiles should glorify God, highlighting the universal scope of God's praise.
Isaiah 11:10This prophecy speaks of a shoot from Jesse arising to reign over the Gentiles, in whom they would hope, reinforcing the idea that the Gentiles' glorification of God stems from the Messiah's work.
Deuteronomy 32:43The command for Gentiles to 'rejoice with his people' shows an ancient foreshadowing of their inclusion in God's praise and participation in His blessings, aligning with Paul's argument.
Psalm 18:49This is the direct Old Testament quotation Paul uses, illustrating David's (and by extension, Christ's) future praise of God among the Gentiles, making it a foundational text for this Gentile inclusion.
ellicottRomans 15:9: "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
(9) For his mercy. —On account of His mercy. The Jews had their covenant to appeal to, and the attributes of God most clearly brought home to them in Christianity was His veracity in fulfilling the promises contained in this covenant. The Gentiles had no such covenant, and their admission to the blessings of Christianity was an…
jfbRomans 15:9: "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
- that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy—A number of quotations from the Old Testament here follow, to show that God's plan of mercy embraced, from the first, the Gentiles along with the Jews.as it is written—(Ps 18:49).I will confess to—that is, glorifythee among the Gentiles.
The Old Testament text here is not just about God's mercy to the Gentiles, but about the Gentiles actively glorifying God because of His mercy. It highlights that worship isn't confined to a specific group, but is a universal response to God's gracious actions.
Paul is building his case for unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, showing how God’s plan, from the Old Testament onward, always included the nations. He’s just argued that Christ ministered to Jews to fulfill God's promises, and now he's proving that Christ also came so that Gentiles could receive God’s mercy and praise Him. This verse, quoting Psalm 18, is the first piece of evidence that the Gentiles' praise was always part of God’s intention, not an afterthought.
Paul is building his case for unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, showing how God’s plan, from the Old Testament onward, always included the nations. He’s just argued that Christ ministered to Jews to fulfill God's promises, and now he's proving that Christ also came so that Gentiles could receive God’s mercy and praise Him. This verse, quoting Psalm 18, is the first piece of evidence that the Gentiles' praise was always part of God’s intention, not an afterthought.
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Nations or peoples other than the Jewish people; the non-Jewish world. In the New Testament, it signifies the inclusion of all nations in the salvation plan of God.
rhiza Iessai · Hebrew/Greek Noun phrase
A metaphorical title referring to the Messiah (Jesus Christ), highlighting His descent from the lineage of Jesse, the father of King David, thereby fulfilling messianic prophecy.
elpizō · Greek Verb
A confident expectation or trust in God’s future promises. It is not mere wishful thinking but a firm reliance on God’s faithfulness.
c. 140 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are translated into Greek (the Septuagint or LXX). This makes the Scriptures accessible to Greek-speaking Jews and Gentiles, facilitating their understanding of God's plan.
c. 30 AD
Ministry of Jesus
Jesus Christ begins His public ministry, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and demonstrating God's salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.
c. 47-49 AD— this verse
Paul's First Missionary Journey
The Apostle Paul, commissioned by the Holy Spirit, begins his extensive missionary journeys, preaching the gospel to Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire and establishing churches.
"and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.” And again it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And aga…" — The Old Testament text here is not just about God's mercy *to* the Gentiles, but about the Gentiles actively *glorifying* God *because* of His mercy. It highlights that worship isn't confined to a sp…