Romans 9:13

Romans 9:13

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

1. “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

a. As [Strong: 2531 kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]

b. it is written [Strong: 1125 grapho graf'-o a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).]

c. Jacob [Strong: 2384 Iakob ee-ak-obe' of Hebrew origin (3290); Jacob (i.e. Ja`akob), the progenitor of the Israelites:--also an Israelite:--Jacob.]

d. [have I] loved [Strong: 25 agapao ag-ap-ah'-o perhaps from agan (much) (or compare 5689); to love (in a social or moral sense):--(be-)love(-ed).]

e. but [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

     

f. Esau [Strong: 2269 Esau ay-sow' of Hebrew origin (6215); Esau, an Edomite:--Esau.]

g. [have I] hated [Strong: 3404 miseo mis-eh'-o from a primary misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:--hate(-ful).]

1). This quote from Malachi was written between the events of 2 Kings 16:6 and Josephus. Ant. xiii. 9. 1, in Meyer’s NT. Commentary.

a). Malachi 1:1-4 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

1:2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

1:4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.

b). Meyer’s NT Commentary: “…The greater and the smaller [elder and younger], refer to the two nations represented by the elder and younger twin sons, of which they were to be ancestors; and this prediction was fulfilled first under David, who conquered the Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14); then, after they had freed themselves in the time of Joram (2 Kings 8:21), under Amaziah (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:11) and Uzziah (2 Kings 14:22; 2 Chronicles 26:2), who again reduced them to slavery; and lastly, after they had once more broken loose in the time of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:17; according to 2 Kings 16:6, they had merely wrested the port of Elath from the Jews), under Johannes Hyrcanus, who completely vanquished them, forced them to be circumcised, and incorporated them in the Jewish state (Josephus. Ant. xiii. 9. 1).