^9:10Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man,²² our ancestor Isaac—^9:11even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election²³ would stand, not by works but by²⁴ his calling)²⁵—^9:12²⁶ it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”²⁷^9:13just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”²⁸

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Footnotes

22 Or possibly “by one act of sexual intercourse.” See D. Moo, Romans (), 579.
23 Grk “God’s purpose according to election.”
24 Or “not based on works but based on …”
25 Grk “by the one who calls.” The entire clause is something of a parenthetical remark.
26 Many translations place this verse division before the phrase “not by works but by his calling” (/, , , , ). Other translations place this verse division in the same place that the translation above does (, , , , ). The translation has followed the latter to avoid breaking the parenthetical statement.
27 A quotation from Gen 25:23.
28 A quotation from Mal 1:2–3.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac. For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.

NLTNew Living Translation

This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And not only this, but also when Rebecca conceived children by one man, Isaac our father—for although they had not yet been born, or done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God according to election might remain, not by works but by the one who calls—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

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