The Meaning of Romans 9:27 Explained

Romans 9:27

KJV: Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

YLT: And Isaiah doth cry concerning Israel, 'If the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved;

Darby: But Esaias cries concerning Israel, Should the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved:

ASV: And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Esaias  also  crieth  concerning  Israel,  Though  the number  of the children  of Israel  be  as  the sand  of the sea,  a remnant  shall be saved: 

What does Romans 9:27 Mean?

Study Notes

saved
.
salvation
The Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία , safety, preservation, healing, and soundness). Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin Luke 7:50 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ; 2 Corinthians 2:15 ; Ephesians 2:5 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; 2 Timothy 1:9 and is safe.
(2) the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin Romans 6:14 ; Philippians 1:19 ; Philippians 2:12 ; Philippians 2:13 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ; Romans 8:2 ; Galatians 2:19 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18 .
(3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. Romans 13:11 ; Hebrews 10:36 ; 1 Peter 1:5 ; 1 John 3:2 . Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works; Romans 3:27 ; Romans 3:28 ; Romans 4:1-8 ; Romans 6:23 ; Ephesians 2:8 . The divine order is: first salvation, then works; Ephesians 2:9 ; Ephesians 2:10 ; Titus 3:5-8 .

Context Summary

Romans 9:25-33 - Stumbling Over The Cornerstone
There has been a notable transference of privilege from the Jew to the Gentile believer. This is not due to fickleness on God's part, but to a fatal defect in the Hebrew people. The vessel that was marred in the potter's hand suffered not from the clumsiness of the potter, but from some inherent flaw in the clay. The Chosen People stumbled over the law of faith and rejected their Messiah. The Gentiles, on the other hand, have exercised faith in Him, and have thereby attained a justifying righteousness. There is no caprice with God, "neither shadow that is cast by turning," James 1:17. Any apparent change in His dealings is determined by our attitude toward Him.
Jesus is a stone of stumbling to the blind, but all who confide in Him and rest on Him shall not be put to shame. God has laid the foundation of our salvation deep in the waters of death and judgment. In the death of Christ He condemned sin in the flesh, and now we who are built into Him, as a stone is clamped to the foundation, shall rest secure when the last great storms sweep over land and sea. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 9

1  Paul is sorry for the Jews
7  All of Abraham not of the promise
18  God's sovereignty
25  The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold
32  The cause of their stumbling

Greek Commentary for Romans 9:27

Isaiah [Εσαιας]
Shortened quotation from Isa 10:22 (lxx). [source]
It is the remnant that shall be saved [το υπολειμμα σωτησεται]
First future passive of σωζω — sōzō Literally, “the remnant will be saved.” Late word from υπολειπω — hupoleipō to leave behind (Romans 11:3), here only in N.T. Textus Receptus has καταλειμμα — kataleimma but Aleph A B have υπολειμμα — hupoleimma Isaiah cries in anguish over the outlook for Israel, but sees hope for the remnant. [source]
Crieth [κράζει]
An impassioned utterance. See on Luke 18:39; compare John 7:28, John 7:37; Acts 19:28; Acts 23:6. Mostly of an inarticulate cry. “The prophet in awful earnestness, and as with a scream of anguish, cries over Israel” (Morison). [source]
Concerning [ὑπέρ]
Lit., over, as proclaiming a judgment which hangs over Israel. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 9:27

Romans 9:29 Had left [εγκατελιπεν]
Second aorist active indicative of old verb εγκαταλειπω — egkataleipō to leave behind. Condition of second class, determined as unfulfilled, with αν εγενητημεν — an egenēthēmen and αν ωμοιωτημεν — an hōmoiōthēmen as the conclusions (both first aorist passives of γινομαι — ginomai and ομοιοω — homoioō common verbs). A seed (σπερμα — sperma). The remnant of Romans 9:27. [source]
Romans 9:29 A seed [σπερμα]
The remnant of Romans 9:27. [source]
Romans 9:29 Seed []
Following the Septuagint, which thus renders the Hebrew remnant. See Romans 9:27. Like the remnant of corn which the farmer leaves for seed. [source]
Galatians 4:6 Crying [κρᾶζον]
A strong word, expressing deep emotion. The verb originally represents the sound of a croak or harsh scream; thence, generally, an inarticulate cry; an exclamation of fear or pain. The cry of an animal. So Aristoph. Knights, 1017, of the barking of a dog: 285,287, of two men in a quarrel, trying to bawl each other down: Frogs, 258, of the croaking of frogs. This original sense appears in N.T. usage, as Matthew 14:26; Matthew 15:23; Matthew 27:50; Mark 5:5, etc., and is recognized even where the word is used in connection with articulate speech, by adding to it the participles λέγων, λέγοντες sayingor διδάσκων teachingSee Matthew 8:29; Matthew 15:22; Mark 3:11; John 7:28, etc. In Mark 10:47the inarticulate cry and the articulate utterance are distinguished. At the same time, the word is often used of articulate speech without such additions, as Mark 10:48; Mark 11:9; Mark 15:13, Mark 15:14; Luke 18:39; Acts 7:60; Acts 19:34; Romans 8:15. It falls into more dignified association in lxx, where it is often used of prayer or appeal to God, as 4:3; 6:7; Psalm 21:2,5; 27:1,54:16; and in N.T., where it is applied to solemn, prophetic utterance, as Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+9:27&sr=1">Romans 9:27; John 1:15, and is used of Jesus himself, as John 7:28, John 7:37; John 12:44, and of the Holy Spirit, as here. The Spirit gives the inspiration of which the believer is the organ. In Romans 8:15the statement is inverted. The believer cries under the power of the Spirit. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:1 By the coming [ὑπὲρ]
More correctly touching. Comp. Romans 9:27; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Ὑπὲρ never in N.T. in a formula of swearing. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 9:27 mean?

Isaiah also cries out concerning - Israel Though shall be the number of the sons of Israel as the sand of the sea [only] the remnant will be saved
Ἠσαΐας δὲ κράζει ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ Ἐὰν ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ὡς ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης τὸ ὑπόλειμμα σωθήσεται

Ἠσαΐας  Isaiah 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἠσαί̈ας  
Sense: a famous Hebrew prophet who prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
δὲ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
κράζει  cries  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κράζω  
Sense: to croak.
ὑπὲρ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπέρ 
Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰσραήλ  Israel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσραήλ  
Sense: the name given to the patriarch Jacob (and borne by him in addition to his former name).
Ἐὰν  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἐάν 
Sense: if, in case.
  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἀριθμὸς  number 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀριθμός  
Sense: a fixed and definite number.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
υἱῶν  sons 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
Ἰσραὴλ  of  Israel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσραήλ  
Sense: the name given to the patriarch Jacob (and borne by him in addition to his former name).
ἄμμος  sand 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἄμμος  
Sense: sand, sandy ground.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θαλάσσης  sea 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: θάλασσα  
Sense: the sea.
τὸ  [only]  the 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπόλειμμα  remnant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ὑπολείπω  
Sense: to leave behind.
σωθήσεται  will  be  saved 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκσῴζω 
Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.