Romans 9:8 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

⁸ This means that it is not the physical descendants [of Abraham] who are God’s children, but it is the children [born] according to [God’s] promise who are [Abraham’s true] descendants.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁸ That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁸ That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants.

American Standard Version (1901)

⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.

Common English Bible

⁸ That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁸ In other words, those who are the sons of God are not those who are sons of the flesh, but those who are sons of the Promise; these are considered to be the offspring.

Romans 9:8 Cross References

Matthew 3:9

and quit thinking to yourselves, we claim Abraham as our forefather, because I tell you, God is able to make Abraham’s children out of these stones.

John 1:13

[Such people] were born of God, not of blood ties [i.e., from physical descendants], nor of the will of the flesh [i.e., merely from a sexual desire], nor of the will of man [i.e., from a husband’s desire for offspring].

Romans 8:14

For all of those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 8:16

The Holy Spirit Himself bears testimony [along] with our [human] spirit that we are the children of God.

Romans 8:19

For [all] creation [Note: “Creation” here refers to the material heavens and earth, and is personified through verse 23] is eagerly waiting for the children of God to be revealed [i.e., in their glorious state].

Hebrews 11:11

By [having] faith, Sarah herself received the ability to have children, even though she was [sterile, being] past the age of child-bearing, since she considered God faithful to His promise. [Note: Some translations consider “Abraham” to be the subject of this controversial verse. See Lightfoot, pp. 222-225].