Romans 9:13
As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Romans 9:13
As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text highlights that God’s love for Jacob and “hatred” for Esau wasn't about their personal actions, but about God’s sovereign choice and preference. This distinction is crucial: "hated" here doesn't necessarily mean active malice, but rather a decided lack of favor or a lesser degree of love compared to Jacob, affecting their external circumstances and national destinies.
Paul uses the example of Jacob and Esau, twin brothers who were favored differently by God even before their birth, to illustrate that God's sovereign choice isn't based on human merit or works. This quote directly follows the explanation of God's pre-birth selection of Jacob over Esau and serves as a foundational proof text for the argument that God's election is a matter of His own purpose and calling, not human action.
When God says 'loved' and 'hated,' what does that really mean? It's not quite the same as human emotions.
Paul quotes Malachi here, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." It’s crucial to understand that in this context, God's "love" and "hate" aren't about fluctuating emotions or personal like/dislike.
Divine Preference, Not Personal Feeling
Think of it like choosing one child for a special responsibility over another. It doesn't mean you dislike the other child; it's about a specific assignment based on a decision.
This distinction is vital: God’s choices are based on His own good pleasure and purposes, not on any merit or demerit in the individuals themselves, as we'll see.
What if God's decision was made before anyone even took their first breath?
Paul points to the story of Jacob and Esau before they were even born. Their selection wasn't based on anything they had done, good or bad.
The Foundation of Election
The verse draws on a declaration made by the prophet Malachi centuries earlier, serving as ancient evidence for the principle of God's sovereign choice that Paul is explaining to the Romans. This historical distance highlights that God's purpose, revealed through such pronouncements, transcends immediate human circumstances.
~1000 BC
Malachi Prophesies
The prophet Malachi delivers a message from God to the post-exilic Jewish community, referencing God's preferential love for Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom) as a foundational example of God's sovereign choice.
~1000 BC— this verse
Malachi 1:2-3 Quoted
Malachi records God's declaration, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' This passage is later quoted by Paul in Romans 9 to illustrate God's sovereign election.
c. AD 50-65
Paul Writes Romans
Paul writes his letter to the Roman church, addressing complex theological issues concerning God's sovereignty, Israel's rejection, and the inclusion of Gentiles.
This is the direct source of the quotation Paul uses, highlighting God's unwavering choice of Jacob and His rejection of Esau, setting the stage for the discussion on election.
Genesis 25:23This passage records the prophecy concerning Jacob and Esau before their birth, stating that 'two nations are in your womb' and 'the older shall serve the younger,' foreshadowing God's sovereign choice independent of their actions.
Matthew 10:37Jesus uses similar strong language, stating that 'whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,' showing how 'love' and 'hate' can express strong preference or a lesser degree of affection in biblical usage.
Luke 14:26This verse also employs comparative 'love' and 'hate,' illustrating that to be Jesus' disciple, one must 'hate' father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even one's own life, meaning to love them comparatively less than Christ.
cambridgeRomans 9:13: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
13 . As it is written ] In Malachi 1:2-3 . Nearly verbatim from LXX.—The prophet is there appealing, in God’s name, to the people to remember His distinguishing and unmerited choice of Jacob over Esau to inherit the land. Not the quotation merely, but the context, is to the purpose here. have I loved ] Lit., and better, did I love ; when I gave him the preference. So below, did I hate . hated ] Cp. Genesis 29:33 ; Genes…
bengelRomans 9:13: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
Romans 9:13 . Καθὼς , as ) The word spoken by Malachi, at a period so long subsequent, agrees with that spoken in Genesis.— τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα κ . τ . λ .) Malachi 1:2 , LXX., ἠγάπησα τὸν Ἰακὼβ κ . τ . λ .— ἠγάπησα — ἐμίσησα , I have loved—I have hated ) The reference is not to the spiritual state of each of the two brothers: but the external condition of Jacob and Esau, in like manner as the corporeal birth of Isaac is…
The text highlights that God’s love for Jacob and “hatred” for Esau wasn't about their personal actions, but about God’s sovereign choice and preference. This distinction is crucial: "hated" here doesn't necessarily mean active malice, but rather a decided lack of favor or a lesser degree of love compared to Jacob, affecting their external circumstances and national destinies.
Paul uses the example of Jacob and Esau, twin brothers who were favored differently by God even before their birth, to illustrate that God's sovereign choice isn't based on human merit or works. This quote directly follows the explanation of God's pre-birth selection of Jacob over Esau and serves as a foundational proof text for the argument that God's election is a matter of His own purpose and calling, not human action.
Paul uses the example of Jacob and Esau, twin brothers who were favored differently by God even before their birth, to illustrate that God's sovereign choice isn't based on human merit or works. This quote directly follows the explanation of God's pre-birth selection of Jacob over Esau and serves as a foundational proof text for the argument that God's election is a matter of His own purpose and calling, not human action.
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This highlights a core truth: God’s redemptive plan is initiated and sustained by His own will, not by human achievement.
"As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”" — The text highlights that God’s love for Jacob and “hatred” for Esau wasn't about their personal actions, but about God’s sovereign choice and preference. This distinction is crucial: "hated" here doe…