Romans 9:27

Esaias also Better, But Esaias. There is a contrast: Hosea speaks of the bringing in of Gentile believers; Isaiah of the rejection of all Jews except Jewish believers.

crieth Perhaps the word refers to the power and intensity of Isaiah's prophetic manner. So Meyer.

concerning The Greek preposition is lit. over; and possiblyit may be rendered so here; as if the Prophet stood lamenting overthe fallen. But this meaning is very rare in N. T., and especially in St Paul.

Though the number, &c. Lit. If, &c. The quotation is from Isaiah 10:22-23. The lit. Heb. is "For though thy people Israel (or, O Israel,) be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall return thereof; the consumption decreed is overflowing in righteousness; for a final work and a decisive work doth the Lord execute in the midst of all the earth (or, land)." The LXX. reads; "Even if the people Israel become as the sand of the sea; their (or, the) remnant shall be saved. (He is) completing and cutting short in righteousness; because a work cut short will the Lord (or, Lord God of Hosts) do in the whole world." St Paul adopts nearly the words of LXX.; again (as in Romans 9:25, and very often,) developing a second and deeper fulfilment where the first fulfilment lay in past events of Israelite history; e.g. here, in the comparatively smallreturns of the exiles, under Zerubbabel and Ezra. The "return," in the Second Fulfilment, is a return to Christ, and thus equivalent to "salvation."

the number of These words are perhaps borrowed and inserted from Hosea 1:10; a verse close to the last quotation. (Meyer.)

a remnant Lit. and better, the remnant.

shall be saved In Heb., "shall return." See last note but two.