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Romans 9:5

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Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Whose {G3739} are the fathers {G3962}, and {G2532} of {G1537} whom {G3739} as concerning {G2596} the flesh {G4561} Christ {G5547} came, who {G5607} is over {G1909} all {G3956}, God {G2316} blessed {G2128} for {G1519} ever {G165}. Amen {G281}.

the Patriarchs are theirs; and from them, as far as his physical descent is concerned, came the Messiah, who is over all. Praised be Adonai for ever! Amen.

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Commentary

Romans 9:5 is a powerful verse within a passage where the Apostle Paul is lamenting the rejection of Jesus by his fellow Israelites, while simultaneously affirming God's sovereign plan. This verse concludes a list of privileges granted to Israel, culminating in the most significant one: being the lineage from which the Messiah came.

Context

This verse follows a list in Romans 9:4 detailing the unique blessings and heritage of the Israelites: the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises. Paul is expressing deep sorrow over their unbelief despite these immense advantages. Verse 5 adds the ultimate privilege – that the Messiah, Christ, came from their race according to human descent.

Key Themes

  • Israel's Privileges: The verse highlights the esteemed position of Israel, chosen by God and entrusted with His promises, including the lineage of the Messiah.
  • The Incarnation of Christ: It affirms that Christ was genuinely human, descending from the Israelite fathers "as concerning the flesh." This points to the reality of the incarnation.
  • The Deity of Christ: The verse contains a profound declaration about Jesus' divine nature, stating He "is over all, God blessed for ever." This is a direct affirmation of Christ's sovereignty and deity within the scriptural narrative.

Linguistic Insights

The latter part of the verse, "who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.," is a crucial statement regarding Christ's identity. While there have been various interpretations throughout history, the most natural reading of the Greek grammatical structure strongly supports the identification of Christ as "God blessed for ever." The phrase "who is over all" (ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων) emphasizes His supreme authority, followed by a direct attribution of deity. This structure is a powerful testament to the biblical affirmation of Jesus Christ's divine nature.

Reflection and Significance

Romans 9:5 serves as a cornerstone verse affirming both the genuine humanity and the absolute deity of Jesus Christ. It reminds believers of the incredible privilege Israel had in being the nation through whom God brought His Son into the world (see John 1:14). More significantly, it declares that this same Jesus, born of human lineage, is also the supreme God, worthy of eternal blessing. This theological truth is foundational to Christian faith, highlighting Christ's unique position as both fully man and fully God, the sovereign ruler (see Colossians 2:9). It calls for our worship and submission to Him who is "over all, God blessed for ever."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Colossians 1:16 (10 votes)

    For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

  • Colossians 1:19 (10 votes)

    For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell;

  • Romans 1:25 (9 votes)

    Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

  • John 10:30 (8 votes)

    I and [my] Father are one.

  • 1 John 5:20 (8 votes)

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • John 1:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

  • John 1:3 (8 votes)

    All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.