Rom 9:13 | TNotes | STEP | 9:13 “I loved Jacob, but I rejected (literally hated ) Esau”: Paul quotes Mal 1:2-3 , where Jacob , whose other name is Israel (Gen 32:28 ), stands for the nation of Israel, and Esau stands for Edom. Here, Paul is referring to them as individuals. Just as love can sometimes express a choice, so hate can express rejection. The story of Jacob and Esau illustrates how the sovereign God chooses his own people.

bMal 1:2-3►

cGen 32:28►

‏ Romans 9:13

9:13 ^a “I loved Jacob, but I rejected (literally hated) Esau”: Paul quotes Mal 1:2-3 ^b, where Jacob, whose other name is Israel (Gen 32:28 ^c), stands for the nation of Israel, and Esau stands for Edom. Here, Paul is referring to them as individuals. Just as love can sometimes express a choice, so hate can express rejection. The story of Jacob and Esau illustrates how the sovereign God chooses his own people.