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Romans 9 Bible study: Great sorrow

Romans 9 opens with sorrow: Paul could wish himself "accursed from Christ" for his brothers' sake (9:3). And to the question it puts in a hearer's mouth, "Why does he still find fault?" (9:19), everything the letter says next, from 9:20 to the end of 9:24, is a question.

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“even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.””
Romans 9:33 · World English Bible

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“In Romans 9:3, Paul calls his brothers his relatives "according to the flesh".”

Is that in Romans 9, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

Great sorrow

In the text

The chapter opens with Paul's sorrow: "I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart." (9:1-2) (tap sorrow). Then: "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh" (9:3) (tap accursed). Here is what almost everyone misses: in that sentence for my brothers’ sake goes with accursed. It is for them that he could wish to be accursed. Then he says who they are: "who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen." (9:4-5) (tap adoption, service and promises).

Where the Old Testament leads here

A word of promise

In the text

Genesis 18:14leads toRomans 9:8-9

"At the set time I will return to you… and Sarah will have a son." Isaac is born "at the set time" (21:2), and Paul quotes the LORD's words as "a word of promise": "At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son." He says "the children of the promise are counted as heirs".

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Romans 9

That was a taste

The rest of Romans 9 is waiting in Favor

  • Not as though the word of God has come to nothing
  • Is there unrighteousness with God?
  • Following after
  • As he says also in Hosea
  • Lines that land here
  • Set beside this chapter elsewhere in Favor
  • 12 questions as you read
  • 9 more Greek words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Greek word behind it

ἀνάθεμαanathemasay an-ATH-em-ah

Strong's: "a (religious) ban". Thayer lists 9:3 where he gives "a man accursed, devoted to the direst woes". "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh" (9:3). The New Testament has the noun six times (counted in RP2018), and Romans only here. 1 Corinthians has it in "If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed." (1 Corinthians 16:22). Favor's Acts 23 studies the verb Strong's derives from it, anathematizo (G332), and Favor's Luke 21 studies a different noun, anathema (G334), the WEB's gifts there.

For your group

Romans 9 Bible study questions

  1. 1"I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart" (9:2). What helps you be honest with God, and with others, about sorrow you carry?
  2. 2"the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness" (9:30). What do you find yourself following after most these days?
  3. 3"no one who believes in him will be disappointed" (9:33). Where do you most need to hear that this week?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Romans 9 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.

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The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.

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No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home