Rom 9:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | 9:4 Up to this point in Romans, Paul has called the Jewish people Jews. His shift to people of Israel , here and throughout most of chs 9–11 , is significant. Jew connotes national identity, but Israel emphasizes the covenant relationship of the people with God. • chosen to be God’s adopted children: The Old Testament called Israel God’s son or child to emphasize that God had selected Israel to be his own people (e.g., Exod 4:22 ; Jer 3:19 ; 31:9 ; Hos 11:1 ). Israel’s adopted status meant that they received God’s blessing and promises, not that they were necessarily saved. • covenants: The Old Testament includes several covenants between God and the people of Israel: one with Abraham (Gen 17 ), one with the nation through Moses at Mount Sinai (Exod 19–24 ), and one with David (2 Sam 7:8-16 ; 23:5 ).

a9:4►

b9–11►

cExod 4:22►

dJer 3:19►

e31:9►

fHos 11:1►

gGen 17►

hExod 19–24►

i2 Sam 7:8-16►

j23:5►

k9:5►

‏ Romans 9:4-5

9:4 ^a Up to this point in Romans, Paul has called the Jewish people Jews. His shift to people of Israel, here and throughout most of chs 9–11 ^b, is significant. Jew connotes national identity, but Israel emphasizes the covenant relationship of the people with God.

• chosen to be God’s adopted children: The Old Testament called Israel God’s son or child to emphasize that God had selected Israel to be his own people (e.g., Exod 4:22 ^c; Jer 3:19 ^d; 31:9 ^e; Hos 11:1 ^f). Israel’s adopted status meant that they received God’s blessing and promises, not that they were necessarily saved.

• covenants: The Old Testament includes several covenants between God and the people of Israel: one with Abraham (Gen 17 ^g), one with the nation through Moses at Mount Sinai (Exod 19–24 ^h), and one with David (2 Sam 7:8-16 ⁱ; 23:5 ^j).
9:5 ^k Christ came from the people of Israel, and God first made his promises of salvation to them.