Romans 9:12

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An Exegetical Study of Romans 9:12 in Light of Genesis 25:23 (LXX)

This exegetical study of “Gen 25.23 and the LXX, in Rom 9.12″ is based on a b-greek discussion from September 15, 2010. The initial inquiry concerns the Apostle Paul’s choice of the Greek word ἐλάσσων in Romans 9:12, which is commonly translated as “younger.” The question posits that this lexical selection is atypical for “younger” in the New Testament (NT), where forms of νέος are more commonly employed for age. This apparent deviation leads to an investigation into whether Paul’s usage constitutes deliberate reliance on the Septuagint (LXX) rendering of Genesis 25:23, or if alternative explanations for his word choice exist, especially considering the parallel reading in the Masoretic Text (MT).

The main exegetical issue explored herein is the precise semantic range of the comparative adjectives μείζων (greater) and ἐλάσσων (lesser) in Romans 9:12 and their antecedent in Genesis 25:23. The debate centers on whether these terms should be rendered literally as “greater” and “lesser” (referring to status or importance) or interpreted contextually as “older” and “younger” (referring to age). This distinction has significant implications for understanding Paul’s hermeneutic, his engagement with the Greek Old Testament, and the theological thrust of his argument concerning divine election and the precedence of God’s sovereign choice over human birth order or conventional societal norms.

Greek Text (Nestle 1904):

Rom 9:12: ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ· Ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι.

Gen 25:23 (LXX): καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ θεός· Δύο ἔθνη ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ σου εἰσίν, καὶ δύο λαοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας σου ἀνατελοῦσιν, καὶ ὑπερέξει λαὸς λαοῦ, καὶ ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι.

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• For Romans 9:12, the Nestle 1904 text and SBLGNT (2010) are identical: ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ· Ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι.

Textual Criticism (NA28) and Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG):

Textually, Romans 9:12 presents no significant variants in the critical apparatus of NA28 (Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th ed.), confirming the stability of the reading: Ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι (“The greater will serve the lesser”). This textual stability directs exegetical focus primarily to the semantic and contextual interpretation of the terms rather than on manuscript variations.

Lexically, the core of the discussion lies in the comparative adjectives μείζων (from μέγας, “great/large”) and ἐλάσσων (from μικρός, “small/little”). BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature) is particularly insightful. Under its entry for μέγας (1.d), it explicitly notes its application to age, citing examples such as Josephus’s *Antiquities* 12, 207 (μικρὸς ἢ μέγας translated as ‘young or old’). Crucially, BDAG explicitly lists ὁ μείζων as meaning “the older” in Romans 9:12 (and Hebrews 13:2), directly referencing Genesis 25:23. This supports the interpretation that, while inherently comparative of size or quantity (“greater” vs. “lesser”), these terms can semantically encompass age distinctions in specific contexts, drawing parallels with Latin `maior` and `minor` which similarly denote age. The use of ἐλάσσων for “younger” is indeed less common in the NT compared to forms of νέος, yet the parallel usage of μείζων for “older” provides a lexical pair that can competently convey age. The broader semantic range of μέγας and μικρός, encompassing social status or importance, further allows for a multifaceted understanding, where age can be a proxy for status (e.g., the elder typically holding greater societal standing).

While KITTEL (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) does not directly address Romans 9:12 with the same specific focus on age comparison as BDAG for μέγας, it illuminates the broader semantic fields. For μέγας, KITTEL explores its extensive use for size, rank, power, and intensity, including honor and dignity. The comparative μείζων thus naturally extends to “more important” or “of higher rank.” Similarly, for μικρός and its comparative ἐλάσσων, KITTEL discusses concepts of smallness, insignificance, and lower status. This broader semantic context suggests that even if “older/younger” were the primary denotation of the referents (Jacob and Esau), the choice of “greater/lesser” terms in the LXX and by Paul would intrinsically carry a nuanced meaning related to their divine election and future status, thereby supporting a “greater/lesser” interpretation alongside the age aspect, highlighting an inversion of conventional hierarchy.

Translation Variants

The central debate in translating Romans 9:12 (and its source, Genesis 25:23) revolves around the rendering of ὁ μείζων and τῷ ἐλάσσονι. Grammatically, these are straightforward comparative adjectives: “the greater” and “to the lesser.” However, the narrative context concerning Jacob and Esau, born as twins, introduces an ambiguity that has led to significant interpretive divergence among translators and scholars.

Many prominent English Bible translations, including the NIV, REB, KJV, and ESV, traditionally interpret these terms as referring to age, rendering the phrase as “the older shall serve the younger.” This interpretation emphasizes the reversal of birthright and conventional social hierarchy where the younger serving the older would be contrary to custom. From a rhetorical perspective, Paul uses this divine oracle to underscore God’s sovereign and unconditional election, choosing Jacob (the younger) over Esau (the older), thereby challenging human expectations based on primogeniture.

However, an alternative perspective, particularly advocated by scholars like A. Pietersma and reflected in the NETS (A New English Translation of the Septuagint) translation, argues that neither the Hebrew MT nor the Greek LXX of Genesis 25:23 inherently uses terms that primarily denote “older” and “younger” in these specific instances. The Hebrew terms (`rab` and `tzair`) and Greek terms (`μείζων` and `ἐλάσσων`) primarily denote “greater” and “lesser” in terms of status, power, or numerical strength (referring to the nations that would descend from the twins). This argument posits that translating “older/younger” is an *interpretive* choice rather than a direct rendering of the primary semantic range of the Greek words. While the individuals referred to *are* older and younger, the chosen terms emphasize a hierarchical relationship of relative standing rather than mere chronological age. Mark Seifrid, in Beale & Carson’s *Commentary on the NT Use of the OT*, notes that Paul’s quotation, following both LXX and MT, presents a “surprising reversal” where “the greater shall serve the lesser,” indicating a divine choice of the “latter-born.” This grammatical precision suggests that Paul, by adopting the LXX phrase, is highlighting a reversal of *status* or *importance* dictated by God’s election, not simply a reversal of birth order.

Rhetorically, the interpretation of “the greater shall serve the lesser” more powerfully conveys Paul’s theological point in Romans 9. The divine oracle does not merely state a factual observation about their birth order but pronounces a decree regarding their future destinies and the destinies of the nations descending from them. The “greater” and “lesser” thus become metaphors for status and divine favor, where God’s choice confounds human systems of merit or natural advantage. This approach views Paul’s citation as a sophisticated engagement with the LXX, utilizing its nuanced terminology to buttress his argument for God’s sovereign grace and freedom in election, which transcends human categories of age or social standing.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The exegesis of Romans 9:12 reveals a rich interplay between lexical semantics, contextual narrative, and theological intent. While μείζων and ἐλάσσων can, by extension, denote “older” and “younger” in specific contexts (as supported by BDAG), their primary meaning of “greater” and “lesser” in terms of status or importance aligns more precisely with Paul’s overarching argument in Romans 9 regarding divine election. Paul’s clear citation of Genesis 25:23, whether directly from the LXX or a similar Greek tradition, confirms his engagement with the Greek Old Testament. The choice of these comparative adjectives, rather than explicit age-related terms, serves to magnify the radical nature of God’s choice, which overturns conventional human expectations.

Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions are offered, each emphasizing a particular facet of the Greek terms and the exegetical discussion:

1. “It was said to her, ‘The greater will serve the lesser.'”
   This translation prioritizes the most literal and general semantic range of μείζων and ἐλάσσων, emphasizing a reversal of status or importance, which most effectively aligns with Paul’s theological argument about God’s sovereign election and challenging human expectations.
2. “It was said to her, ‘The older will serve the younger.'”
   This rendering incorporates the contextual understanding of age within the Jacob and Esau narrative, reflecting a common and understandable interpretation found in many English translations, directly connecting to their birth order.
3. “It was said to her, ‘The one of higher standing will serve the one of lower standing.'”
   This option seeks to capture both the hierarchical aspect of “greater” and “lesser” while explicitly moving beyond mere age to encompass divine favor, status, or importance, which is central to Paul’s theological discourse on unconditional election.

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