Discovery BoxRomans 9:10-13 
Context9:10 Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, 1 our ancestor Isaac – 9:11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election 2 would stand, not by works but by 3 his calling) 4 – 9:12 5 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” 6 9:13 just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 7
1 tn Or possibly “by one act of sexual intercourse.” See D. Moo, Romans (NICNT), 579.
2 tn Grk “God’s purpose according to election.”
3 tn Or “not based on works but based on…”
4 tn Grk “by the one who calls.”
sn The entire clause is something of a parenthetical remark.
5 sn Many translations place this verse division before the phrase “not by works but by his calling” (NA27/UBS4, NIV, NRSV, NLT, NAB). Other translations place this verse division in the same place that the translation above does (NASB, KJV, NKJV, ASV, RSV). The translation has followed the latter to avoid breaking the parenthetical statement.
