And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "left us a seed" is a significant detail. It's not just about a remnant surviving, but about a tiny portion being preserved, like seeds kept for future planting, implying God’s intention to cultivate a new harvest of believers. This highlights God's gracious foresight, even when judgment seems imminent.
And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the apparent rejection of Israel as a nation, explaining how God's sovereign choice extends to both Jews and Gentiles for His purposes. He’s already cited Hosea to show God’s calling of non-Jews, and now he quotes Isaiah to illustrate that judgment and preservation have always been intertwined in God's dealings with Israel. This specific Isaiah passage highlights that God's mercy, not their own merit, is the only reason a remnant of Israel was preserved from utter destruction, just like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ever feel like the world is spinning out of control, full of wickedness and rebellion? This verse points to a powerful title for God that speaks to His ultimate authority and purpose, even in the face of utter destruction.
Paul quotes Isaiah, calling God the "Lord of Sabaoth," which translates to "Lord of Hosts." This isn't just a fancy title; it emphasizes God's supreme power over all armies, angelic hosts, and even the stars.
Why "Lord of Hosts" Matters Here:
The idea of a "remnant" can sound bleak – just a few survivors. But what if that small group represents more than just survival? What if it's the promise of a new beginning?
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Isaiah's original prophecy in Isaiah 1:9 speaks of a "remnant" (a small surviving group). However, both the Septuagint (an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) and Paul here use the word "seed."
The Significance of "Seed":
Understand the original words
YHWH Seba'ot · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty, majesty, and absolute power as the commander of the angelic armies and the entire universe.
The Apostle Paul draws on Isaiah's prophecy from the 8th century BC to illustrate God's sovereign right to choose a 'remnant' for salvation, even when the majority of His chosen people reject Him. This prophecy was given during a time of extreme national peril, echoing the future destruction faced by many Jews in Paul's own time.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah delivers his prophecies to Judah and Jerusalem, including warnings of judgment and promises of future restoration. This period is marked by political instability and the threat of Assyrian expansion.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Vision of the Lord of Hosts
Isaiah receives a profound vision of God's holiness and sovereignty as the 'Lord of Hosts,' a title emphasizing His power over all creation and heavenly armies. This vision shapes his prophetic understanding and language.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Prophecy of Israel's Near Destruction
In Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah prophesies that the nation of Judah, due to its widespread sin, would have been destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah if God had not preserved a 'remnant' or 'seed'.
c. 605 BC - 586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
Many Jews are deported to Babylon in successive waves, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This event underscores God's judgment on disobedience and the precariousness of the nation's existence.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
A remnant of the Jewish people is permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, fulfilling prophecies of restoration and demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises, even after judgment.
This is the direct source of the quotation Paul uses, showing the original context of God preserving a remnant from destruction due to the nation's wickedness.
Genesis 19:24-25This passage describes the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God, serving as the ultimate example of judgment that Paul uses for comparison.
Jeremiah 50:40This verse echoes the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, stating that Babylon will be like them, destroyed and uninhabited, highlighting the severity of God's judgment on sinful nations.
Romans 9:27-28These preceding verses lay the groundwork by discussing Isaiah's prophecy of a remnant, directly leading into Paul's point about how few would be saved from Israel's impending judgment.
Matthew 13:31-32Jesus uses the parable of the mustard seed to illustrate how something small can grow into something large, mirroring the concept of God preserving a small 'seed' of people for future growth and purpose.
vincentRomans 9:29: "And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."
Said before (προείρηκεν)Not in a previous passage, but by way of prediction.SeedFollowing the Septuagint, which thus renders the Hebrew remnant. See Romans 9:27. Like the remnant of corn which the farmer leaves for seed.
cambridgeRomans 9:29: "And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."
29 . And ] Q. d., “And again, the small number of Jewish believers fulfils another prediction.” said before ] Lit., and better, hath said before; i.e. “as we have it in his book.”—“ Before ” refers not to the quotation of an earlier chapter , but to the words as a prediction . The quotation is from Isaiah 1:9 , and exactly with LXX., which gives “a se…
The phrase "left us a seed" is a significant detail. It's not just about a remnant surviving, but about a tiny portion being preserved, like seeds kept for future planting, implying God’s intention to cultivate a new harvest of believers. This highlights God's gracious foresight, even when judgment seems imminent.
Paul is addressing the apparent rejection of Israel as a nation, explaining how God's sovereign choice extends to both Jews and Gentiles for His purposes. He’s already cited Hosea to show God’s calling of non-Jews, and now he quotes Isaiah to illustrate that judgment and preservation have always been intertwined in God's dealings with Israel. This specific Isaiah passage highlights that God's mercy, not their own merit, is the only reason a remnant of Israel was preserved from utter destruction, just like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Paul is addressing the apparent rejection of Israel as a nation, explaining how God's sovereign choice extends to both Jews and Gentiles for His purposes. He’s already cited Hosea to show God’s calling of non-Jews, and now he quotes Isaiah to illustrate that judgment and preservation have always been intertwined in God's dealings with Israel. This specific Isaiah passage highlights that God's mercy, not their own merit, is the only reason a remnant of Israel was preserved from utter destruction, just like Sodom and Gomorrah.
"And as Isaiah predicted,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.”" — The phrase "left us a seed" is a significant detail. It's not just about a remnant surviving, but about a tiny portion being preserved, like seeds kept for future planting, implying God’s intention t…
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Last reviewed October 2026