Romans 9:2-3
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul's "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" weren't just personal sadness; they were a deep, almost physical pain ("anguish" often describes a woman in labor) stemming from the desperate plight of his own people. This intense emotion, he reveals, is not a fleeting feeling but a persistent ache rooted in his very heart, even as he speaks of God's sovereign plan.
Paul begins chapter 9 by affirming the truthfulness of his words, even invoking Christ and the Holy Spirit as witnesses to his deep anguish. This profound sorrow stems from his fellow Jews' rejection of Christ, a situation so painful that he expresses a willingness to be cut off from Christ himself if it would mean their salvation. He then launches into a detailed explanation of the unique spiritual privileges God bestowed upon Israel, emphasizing how their current rejection of God’s plan stands in stark contrast to these blessings.
The Apostle Paul declares a sorrow so profound it seems almost unbearable. What could drive such an intense, continuous anguish in his heart?
Paul uses two powerful words to describe his emotional state: "great heaviness" (Greek: barus) and "unceasing anguish" (Greek: odyne).
This profound sorrow wasn't for personal loss but for the spiritual condition of his own people, the Jews, who were rejecting the Messiah. It reveals a heart broken over sin and its eternal consequences.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Romans 9:2-3 is available in the Sola app.
Paul's sorrow is so immense that he expresses a desire that seems radical, even impossible. What does this reveal about the depth of his love?
In the verses immediately following, Paul declares, "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:3).
This isn't a casual wish; it's a profound expression of love and identification with his people.
Understand the original words
odynē · Greek Noun
A state of deep distress or intense suffering, often used in a spiritual or psychological sense to describe a heavy burden regarding the lost condition of others.
anathema · Greek Adjective
To be set apart for destruction or divine judgment; to be excluded from the blessing and presence of God.
Paul's deep sorrow stems from his awareness of his kinsmen's rejection of Christ and the impending destruction of Jerusalem, a tragedy he grieved even as he understood it within God's sovereign plan for both Jews and Gentiles.
c. 5th-4th century BC
Post-Exilic Jewish Diaspora
Following the Babylonian Exile, many Jews remained scattered throughout the Persian Empire and beyond, forming communities that were both distinct and integrated into gentile societies. This diaspora laid the groundwork for future Gentile inclusion in God's plan.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
Judea was under Roman occupation, leading to political tension, Messianic expectations, and varying degrees of Jewish resistance. This context fueled discussions about national identity and God's promises.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
The pivotal event in Christian history. Jesus's death and resurrection were central to the gospel message, but widely rejected by the Jewish leadership and many of the people.
c. AD 30s-60s— this verse
Early Christian Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul, a former persecutor, became a fervent missionary to the Gentiles. His ministry sparked controversy and debate within both Jewish and Christian communities about the inclusion of non-Jews.
c. AD 64-67
Paul's Imprisonment and Writing of Romans
While imprisoned, likely in Rome, Paul wrote his letter to the Roman church. He addressed complex theological issues, including God's faithfulness to Israel amidst the salvation of Gentiles.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event for the Jewish people that marked a significant turning point in their history and their relationship with God.
This passage shows a prophet wrestling with immense sorrow and complaint over his people's sin, mirroring Paul's deep anguish for his own nation.
Exodus 32:32Similar to Paul's expressed willingness to be cursed for his people, Moses pleads to be blotted out of God's book if it means forgiveness for Israel's sin, highlighting a shared profound burden for the nation's spiritual state.
John 11:35This is the shortest verse in the Bible, and it shows Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. It connects with Paul's deep sorrow, demonstrating that even divine figures can feel profound grief over people's spiritual blindness and impending doom.
Galatians 4:19Paul describes his feelings toward the Galatians with similar maternal imagery of pain and travail, indicating that intense, aching love and sorrow for people's spiritual condition was a recurring theme in his ministry.
Philippians 3:18Paul speaks of 'many, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, are the enemies of the cross of Christ.' This shows his sorrow wasn't limited to Romans 9 but was a deep, weeping concern for those who rejected Christ.
gillRomans 9:2: "That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart."
That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. This is the thing he appeals to Christ for the truth of, and calls in his conscience and the Holy Ghost to bear witness to. These two words, "heaviness" and "sorrow", the one signifies grief, which had brought on heaviness on his spirits; and the other such pain as a woman in travail feels: and the trouble of his mind expressed by both, is described by its qu…
pulpitRomans 9:2: "That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart."
Verses 2, 3. - That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. He does not say what for, leaving it to appear in what follows. The broken sentence is significant of emotion. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. None of the ways that have been suggested for evading the obvious meaning of this assertion are tenable. One such way is to ta…
Paul's "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" weren't just personal sadness; they were a deep, almost physical pain ("anguish" often describes a woman in labor) stemming from the desperate plight of his own people. This intense emotion, he reveals, is not a fleeting feeling but a persistent ache rooted in his very heart, even as he speaks of God's sovereign plan.
Paul begins chapter 9 by affirming the truthfulness of his words, even invoking Christ and the Holy Spirit as witnesses to his deep anguish. This profound sorrow stems from his fellow Jews' rejection of Christ, a situation so painful that he expresses a willingness to be cut off from Christ himself if it would mean their salvation. He then launches into a detailed explanation of the unique spiritual privileges God bestowed upon Israel, emphasizing how their current rejection of God’s plan stands in stark contrast to these blessings.
Paul begins chapter 9 by affirming the truthfulness of his words, even invoking Christ and the Holy Spirit as witnesses to his deep anguish. This profound sorrow stems from his fellow Jews' rejection of Christ, a situation so painful that he expresses a willingness to be cut off from Christ himself if it would mean their salvation. He then launches into a detailed explanation of the unique spiritual privileges God bestowed upon Israel, emphasizing how their current rejection of God’s plan stands in stark contrast to these blessings.
"that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." — Paul's "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" weren't just personal sadness; they were a deep, almost physical pain ("anguish" often describes a woman in labor) stemming from the desperate plight of hi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
