Romans 9:8 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

That is, [they that are] the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned as seed.

English EASY 2024

This means that not all of Abraham's children are really God's children. It is only those children who were born as a result of God's promise. They are the people that God calls true descendants.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

This means that not all of Abraham's descendants are God's true children. Abraham's true children are those who become God's children because of the promise he made to Abraham.

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

This means that the children born in the usual way are not the children of God; instead, the children born as a result of God's promise are regarded as the true descendants.

English God's Word - GW 1995

This means that children born by natural descent {from Abraham} are not necessarily God's children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham's descendants.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but the children of the promise are considered seed.

English KJV 1611

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

English LSB

That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as seed.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

So those who are the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

In other words, God's children are not just Abraham's natural children. Instead, they are the children God promised to him. They are the ones considered to be Abraham's children.

English NIV

In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.

English NKJ 1982

That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

English NLT

This means that Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. It is the children of the promise who are considered to be Abraham's children.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

This confirms that it is not merely the natural offspring of Abraham who are considered the children of God; rather, the children born because of God’s promise are counted as descendants.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendants.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

This means that not all of Abraham's children are children of God, but only those who believe the promise of salvation which he made to Abraham.

English Tyndale 1537

that is to say; They which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God. But the children of promise are counted the seed.