Romans 9:4

Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

Who {G3748} are {G1526} Israelites {G2475}; to whom {G3739} pertaineth the adoption {G5206}, and {G2532} the glory {G1391}, and {G2532} the covenants {G1242}, and {G2532} the giving of the law {G3548}, and {G2532} the service {G2999} of God, and {G2532} the promises {G1860};

the people of Isra’el! They were made God’s children, the Sh’khinah has been with them, the covenants are theirs, likewise the giving of the Torah, the Temple service and the promises;

the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Commentary

Romans 9:4 is part of a deeply emotional section where the Apostle Paul expresses profound sorrow for his kinsmen, the Israelites, despite their rejection of Jesus Christ. This verse begins a powerful enumeration of the immense privileges and blessings God bestowed upon the Jewish nation, highlighting their unique position in God's redemptive plan.

Context

In Romans chapters 9-11, Paul grapples with the apparent paradox of Israel's widespread unbelief in the Messiah, Jesus, even though they were God's chosen people. Before delving into the theological reasons for this, Paul first affirms his deep love and anguish for his people (Romans 9:1-3). Romans 9:4-5 then meticulously lists the extraordinary spiritual advantages and heritage that belonged exclusively to Israel, setting the stage for Paul's subsequent argument about God's faithfulness and sovereign election.

Key Themes

  • Divine Election and Privilege: This verse underscores the unique and unparalleled relationship God had with the nation of Israel. They were chosen by God for a special purpose, entrusted with divine revelation and a central role in salvation history.
  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: The list of privileges serves as a testament to God's covenantal faithfulness to Israel. Despite their historical disobedience and present unbelief, God had poured out incredible blessings upon them.
  • Foundation for the Messiah: These privileges—the covenants, the law, the promises—all pointed towards and prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who himself came according to the flesh from this very lineage (Romans 9:5).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "to whom pertaineth" simply means "to whom belongs" or "who possess." The significance lies not in a single word, but in the cumulative weight of the seven distinct privileges listed:

  • The Adoption: This refers to Israel's national adoption as God's "firstborn" nation, a special relationship distinct from individual spiritual adoption into God's family through Christ (Exodus 4:22).
  • The Glory: This points to the visible manifestation of God's presence, such as the Shekinah glory that filled the Tabernacle and Temple.
  • The Covenants: This encompasses the foundational agreements God made with Israel, including the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5-6), and the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), all of which foreshadowed the new covenant in Christ.
  • The Giving of the Law: The divine revelation of God's moral and ceremonial laws given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17), which provided a standard for righteousness and pointed to the need for a savior.
  • The Service [of God]: This refers to the elaborate system of worship, sacrifices, and rituals established in the Tabernacle and Temple, designed to facilitate communion with God and atone for sin.
  • The Promises: These are the numerous prophecies and assurances of God's blessing, land, seed, and ultimately, the Messiah, given to the patriarchs and prophets (Genesis 12:7; Isaiah 9:6-7).

Practical Application

Understanding these privileges helps us appreciate the depth of God's faithfulness to Israel and His sovereign plan for salvation. It reminds us that spiritual blessings often come with great responsibility. For believers today, these historical foundations provide a rich backdrop for understanding the New Testament. The privileges given to Israel ultimately paved the way for the gospel to be extended to all nations, demonstrating that God's plan is vast and inclusive, moving from a specific chosen people to a global church through Christ.

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 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

  • Ephesians 2:12

    That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

  • Psalms 147:19

    He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

  • Romans 9:6

    ¶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:

  • Genesis 17:2

    And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

  • Acts 2:39

    For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.

  • Deuteronomy 7:6

    For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

  • Exodus 4:22

    And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn:
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