Romans 9:10-12
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What's easy to miss here is that Paul is escalating his argument, moving from Abraham's children to Isaac's. While Ishmael and Isaac had different mothers, Jacob and Esau shared the same mother and father, making the divine distinction between them even more striking and undeniable. This highlights that God's choices aren't based on outward circumstances but on His sovereign will.
And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building his case that God's promises aren't automatically passed down through natural lineage, even within Abraham's family. After discussing Ishmael and Isaac, he moves to a clearer example: the twins Jacob and Esau, both conceived by the same father, Isaac, and mother, Rebekah. This instance will demonstrate that God's choice operates independently of human works or natural advantage.
Paul is building a powerful case for God's sovereign choice. He’s already used Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac, but he’s anticipating objections. What’s the next, even stronger example he brings up?
Paul moves from Ishmael and Isaac to Rebekah's twins, Jacob and Esau. This is crucial because, unlike Ishmael (born of a servant) and Isaac (born of a wife), Jacob and Esau were both children of Isaac and his wife, Rebekah. They were twins, conceived at the same time, by the same father. Any perceived 'natural' advantage or lineage would seem to apply equally to both. Yet, God still made a distinction between them before they were even born.
Why does Paul go to such lengths to detail the conception of Jacob and Esau? It's all about demonstrating a profound truth about God’s purposes.
The key insight here is that God’s selection of Jacob over Esau wasn't based on anything they did, either before or after their birth. They were in the same womb, conceived by the same father, and born to the same mother. This eliminates any argument that God chose Jacob because of some foreseen merit or action on Jacob's part, or because of Esau’s demerits. The choice was made before they had done 'good or evil.' This points to God’s sovereign election, chosen according to His own good pleasure, not based on human works or lineage.
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Ribqah · Hebrew Noun
The wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. Her role highlights the sovereign choice of God within the history of the patriarchs.
eklogē · Greek Noun
The divine decree by which God, before the foundation of the world, sovereignly chose certain individuals for salvation and adoption, based solely on His grace and not on foreseen merits or works.
ergon · Greek Noun
Actions or deeds performed by humans, which in a biblical context are often contrasted with faith or grace as a means of justification before God.
kaleō · Greek Verb
The divine act of summoning or inviting individuals to participate in the kingdom of God, often synonymous with the effective call of God that brings about salvation.
The story of Jacob and Esau, conceived by the same parents at the same time, powerfully illustrates that God's selection isn't based on human merit or circumstance, but on His sovereign will, even within the lineage of promise.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham's Covenant Confirmed
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising countless descendants and a special lineage through Isaac.
c. 1790 BC
Birth of Ishmael and Isaac
Ishmael is born to Hagar, a servant, while Isaac, the son of promise, is born to Sarah, Abraham's wife.
c. 1750 BC
Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah
Isaac, the chosen heir of Abraham's covenant, marries Rebekah, a relative from Abraham's homeland.
c. 1740 BC— this verse
Conception of Jacob and Esau
Rebekah conceives twins, Jacob and Esau, through Isaac. God reveals to her that the elder will serve the younger.
c. 1739 BC
Birth of Jacob and Esau
Esau is born first, followed closely by his twin brother Jacob. Their destinies diverge according to God's sovereign choice.
This verse directly quotes God telling Rebekah, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body; the one shall be stronger than the other, the younger shall be greater than the elder.' This passage sets the stage for the theological discussion in Romans 9 about God's sovereign choice even before birth.
Genesis 21:12This verse highlights God's instruction to Abraham to listen to Sarah regarding Ishmael and Isaac, stating, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring shall be named.' This points to an early distinction within Abraham's lineage, which Paul uses as a precursor to the more striking example of Jacob and Esau.
Malachi 1:2-3The prophet Malachi recounts God's declaration, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' This Old Testament passage is directly quoted by Paul in Romans 9:13 to affirm the divine selection and rejection of the twins, underscoring that this distinction was not based on human merit.
Romans 9:11This verse immediately follows the passage about Rebekah and directly explains the timing of God's selection: 'for when they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—it was said to her, 'The older will serve the younger.'' This clarifies the crucial point that the choice was not based on any action by the individuals.
gillRomans 9:10: "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;"
And not only this,.... This instance of Ishmael and Isaac, is not the only one, proving that Abraham's natural seed, the children of the flesh, are not all children, the children of God: but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, "it was said unto her", Romans 9:12, being in a parenthesis, "the elder shall serve the younger". The apostle was aware, that the Jews wou…
pulpitRomans 9:10: "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;"
Verse 10. - But not only this; but Rebecca also, when she had conceived by one, even by Isaac our father. The sentence thus begun is not formally completed, being taken up - after the parenthetical ver. 11 - by "It was said unto her" in ver. 12.
What's easy to miss here is that Paul is escalating his argument, moving from Abraham's children to Isaac's. While Ishmael and Isaac had different mothers, Jacob and Esau shared the same mother and father, making the divine distinction between them even more striking and undeniable. This highlights that God's choices aren't based on outward circumstances but on His sovereign will.
Paul is building his case that God's promises aren't automatically passed down through natural lineage, even within Abraham's family. After discussing Ishmael and Isaac, he moves to a clearer example: the twins Jacob and Esau, both conceived by the same father, Isaac, and mother, Rebekah. This instance will demonstrate that God's choice operates independently of human works or natural advantage.
Paul is building his case that God's promises aren't automatically passed down through natural lineage, even within Abraham's family. After discussing Ishmael and Isaac, he moves to a clearer example: the twins Jacob and Esau, both conceived by the same father, Isaac, and mother, Rebekah. This instance will demonstrate that God's choice operates independently of human works or natural advantage.
"And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of wo…" — What's easy to miss here is that Paul is escalating his argument, moving from Abraham's children to Isaac's. While Ishmael and Isaac had different mothers, Jacob and Esau shared the same mother and…
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Last reviewed October 2026
