“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a radical reversal of identity: those once rejected as "not my people" will be declared "sons of the living God." This isn't just a change of status; it's a transformation from outsider to beloved family, emphasizing God's power to redefine belonging in unexpected places and for unexpected people.
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul continues to show that God's plan isn't limited to ethnic Israel by quoting Hosea, illustrating how those once rejected ("not my people") will be embraced as God's children. This speaks to a future restoration where Gentiles, previously considered outsiders, will be incorporated into God's family, highlighting the inclusiveness of God's sovereign mercy beyond traditional boundaries.
Imagine hearing those devastating words: 'You are not my people.' For ancient Israel, this was a real consequence of their sin. But God's message in Hosea, echoed by Paul, promises an astonishing reversal.
This verse speaks of a profound identity shift. In the very place where God's people were cast off and declared 'not my people' due to their disobedience, they would eventually be called 'sons of the living God.' This isn't just a change in name, but a restoration and elevation of status. It highlights God's incredible grace, reaching out even to those who seemed irredeemably lost and alienated, to bring them into His family.
The prophet Hosea and the apostle Paul both contrast God with the idols of the nations. What does it mean that God is 'living,' and why is that distinction so crucial?
The phrase 'living God' is a powerful counterpoint to the lifeless idols that surrounded the nations, and even tempted Israel. These idols were mere statues, incapable of seeing, hearing, speaking, or acting. They could offer no true relationship, no lasting salvation, and no genuine life. In contrast, the 'living God' is the source of all life, power, and truth. He is active, dynamic, and eternal. Calling His people 'sons of the living God' means they are brought into relationship with the one true, vibrant source of existence, receiving life and identity from Him.
Understand the original words
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am · Hebrew Noun
A term describing the covenantal relationship between God and His people, signifying belonging, protection, and identity. In a New Testament context, it is expanded to include those brought into the covenant through faith in Christ.
huioi theou zōntos · Greek Noun phrase
A designation denoting a unique relational status with God, signifying adoption, spiritual life, and intimacy. In the New Testament, it refers to those who have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Paul draws from the prophet Hosea's message, originally spoken to a fractured Israel, to show that God's plan always included calling Gentiles into His family, demonstrating His sovereign mercy beyond ethnic lines.
c. 753 BC
Founding of Rome
The traditional date for the founding of Rome, marking the beginning of a vast empire that would eventually encompass the Mediterranean world, including Judea.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the deportation of many Israelites. This event scattered the 'ten lost tribes' and created a context where 'not being a people' became a lived reality for many descendants.
c. 715 BC
Prophet Hosea's Ministry
Hosea prophesies during a time of political instability and moral decay in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, delivering messages of judgment and eventual restoration, including the core prophecies Paul quotes.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is conquered by the Babylonians, its temple destroyed, and a significant portion of its population exiled. This further fractured the Jewish people and deepened the sense of being 'not a people'.
c. 500 BC - 150 BC
Persian and Hellenistic Rule
Judea comes under the rule of successive empires, influencing its political and social landscape and setting the stage for Roman dominance.
63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome conquers Judea, integrating it into its growing empire and establishing a period of Roman administration that profoundly impacted Jewish life.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
The central event of Christianity, leading to the formation of the early church and the subsequent mission to both Jews and Gentiles.
This is the direct prophetic source quoted by Paul in Romans 9:26, showing the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament era.
1 Peter 2:10Peter echoes the sentiment of Romans 9:26, applying the same Old Testament promises to believers who were once not a people but have now received mercy.
Ephesians 2:19-22This passage describes the inclusion of Gentiles into God's household, becoming fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's family, directly illustrating the concept of being called 'sons of the living God' in the New Covenant.
John 1:12This verse highlights the privilege granted through faith in Jesus Christ – the right to become children of God, which directly relates to the transformation described in Romans 9:26.
cambridgeRomans 9:26: "And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."
26 . And it shall come to pass , &c.] A new quotation, linked in one line with the last. Nearly verbatim with LXX. of Hosea 1:10 ( Romans 2:1 in the Heb.). For a first and second reference see last note but one.—“ In the place where: ”—this, in the first reference, may mean the Sanctuary from which the restored Israelite should…
gillRomans 9:26: "And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."
And it shall come to pass that in the place,.... This is another citation out of Hosea, and is to be seen in Hosea 1:10 , and the meaning is, that in those countries, as here in Great Britain, in the very selfsame place, or spot of ground, where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; where were nothing but idolatry and id…
The verse highlights a radical reversal of identity: those once rejected as "not my people" will be declared "sons of the living God." This isn't just a change of status; it's a transformation from outsider to beloved family, emphasizing God's power to redefine belonging in unexpected places and for unexpected people.
Paul continues to show that God's plan isn't limited to ethnic Israel by quoting Hosea, illustrating how those once rejected ("not my people") will be embraced as God's children. This speaks to a future restoration where Gentiles, previously considered outsiders, will be incorporated into God's family, highlighting the inclusiveness of God's sovereign mercy beyond traditional boundaries.
Paul continues to show that God's plan isn't limited to ethnic Israel by quoting Hosea, illustrating how those once rejected ("not my people") will be embraced as God's children. This speaks to a future restoration where Gentiles, previously considered outsiders, will be incorporated into God's family, highlighting the inclusiveness of God's sovereign mercy beyond traditional boundaries.
"“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”" — The verse highlights a radical reversal of identity: those once rejected as "not my people" will be declared "sons of the living God." This isn't just a change of status; it's a transformation from o…
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Last reviewed October 2026