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◄ Romans 9:3►

New International Version
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,

New Living Translation
for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

English Standard Version
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Berean Standard Bible
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

Berean Literal Bible
For I could wish myself to be a curse, separated from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according tothe flesh,

King James Bible
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

New King James Version
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

New American Standard Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed,separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

NASB 1995
For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

NASB 1977
For I could wish that I myself were accursed,separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Legacy Standard Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed,separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Amplified Bible
For [if it were possible] I would wish that I myself were accursed, [separated, banished] from Christ for the sake [of the salvation] of my brothers, my natural kinsmen,

Christian Standard Bible
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood.

American Standard Version
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Contemporary English Version
I would gladly be placed under God's curse and be separated from Christ for the good of my own people.

English Revised Version
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I wish I could be condemned and cut off from Christ for the sake of others who, like me, are Jewish by birth.

Good News Translation
for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ.

International Standard Version
for I could wish that I myself were condemned and cut off from the Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my own people,

NET Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed--cut off from Christ--for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,

New Heart English Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my physical relatives according to the flesh,

Webster's Bible Translation
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Weymouth New Testament
For I could pray to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my human kinsfolk--for such the Israelites are.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

World English Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for I was wishing, I myself, to be accursed from the Christ—for my brothers, my relatives, according to the flesh,

Berean Literal Bible
For I could wish myself to be a curse, separated from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according tothe flesh,

Young's Literal Translation
for I was wishing, I myself, to be anathema from the Christ -- for my brethren, my kindred, according to the flesh,

Smith's Literal Translation
For I myself was praying to be anathema from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ, for my brethren, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I was desiring that I myself might be anathemized from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh.

New American Bible
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh.

New Revised Standard Version
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For I have prayed that I myself might be accursed because of Christ for the sake of my brethren and my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For I have been praying that I myself might be destroyed from The Messiah, for the sake of my brethren and my kinsman, who are in the flesh,

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
for I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh;

Godbey New Testament
For I would pray, that I myself might be an offering from Christ; in behalf of my brethren, my kindred according to the flesh:

Haweis New Testament
For could I myself wish that an anathema should be from Christ upon my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh?

Mace New Testament
for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,

Weymouth New Testament
For I could pray to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my human kinsfolk--for such the Israelites are.

Worrell New Testament
(for I was wishing myselfto be a curse from Christ) for my brethren, my kinsmen according to flesh;

Worsley New Testament
for I could wish that I myself were made a curse after the manner of Christ, for my brethren, my kindred according to the flesh;

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul's Concern for the Jews
…2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,my own flesh and blood,4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Exodus 32:32
Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

2 Corinthians 11:28-29
Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. / Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?

Acts 26:29
“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

1 John 3:16
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1 Timothy 2:7
For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

2 Timothy 2:10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Treasury of Scripture

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

I could.

Exodus 32:32
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

were.

Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hangedis accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth theefor an inheritance.

Joshua 6:17,18
And the city shall be accursed,even it, and all thatare therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all thatare with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent…

1 Samuel 14:24,44
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursedbe the man that eatethany food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tastedany food…

accursed.

Romans 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham,of the tribe of Benjamin.

Genesis 29:14
And Laban said to him, Surely thouart my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Esther 8:6
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

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Romans 9

1.Paul is sorry for the Jews.
7.All of Abraham not of the promise.
18.God's sovereignty.
25.The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.
32.The cause of their stumbling.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ
This phrase reflects the deep anguish and selflessness of the speaker, who is willing to endure separation from Christ for the sake of others. This echoes Moses' intercession for Israel inExodus 32:32, where he offers to be blotted out of God's book for the people's sake. Theologically, it highlights the sacrificial love that mirrors Christ's own sacrifice. The concept of being "cursed" and "cut off" is significant in Jewish thought, often associated with being outside the covenant community, as seen inDeuteronomy 21:23, where a hanged man is considered cursed by God.

for the sake of my brothers,
The term "brothers" here refers to the speaker's fellow Israelites, emphasizing a familial bond. This reflects the strong sense of community and identity within the Jewish people, who are bound by shared ancestry and covenant with God. The speaker's willingness to sacrifice for his "brothers" underscores the importance of kinship and loyalty, which are central themes in the Hebrew Scriptures, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis.

my own flesh and blood,
This phrase emphasizes the physical and ethnic connection to the people being referred to. It highlights the speaker's deep personal connection and responsibility towards his fellow Jews. The use of "flesh and blood" underscores the humanity and shared heritage, reminiscent of the covenantal promises made to Abraham and his descendants inGenesis 17. This connection is also seen in the New Testament, where Jesus' genealogy is traced to emphasize His fulfillment of the promises to Israel.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Romans, expressing his deep sorrow and willingness to sacrifice for the salvation of his fellow Israelites.

2.Israelites
The "brothers" Paul refers to, his own people according to the flesh, who have a rich spiritual heritage but many of whom have not accepted Christ.

3.Christ
The Messiah, from whom Paul expresses a willingness to be separated if it could lead to the salvation of his people.

4.Rome
The city to which the letter is addressed, a center of early Christianity and a diverse congregation of Jewish and Gentile believers.

5.Covenant
The historical and spiritual agreements between God and the Israelites, which Paul is deeply concerned about in relation to their acceptance of Christ.

Teaching Points

Sacrificial Love
Paul’s willingness to be "cursed and cut off from Christ" for the sake of his people exemplifies the depth of sacrificial love that believers are called to have for others.

Burden for the Lost
Paul's deep sorrow for his fellow Israelites challenges us to examine our own hearts and burdens for those who do not know Christ.

Intercessory Prayer
Just as Paul expresses a deep desire for the salvation of his people, we are encouraged to engage in fervent prayer for the salvation of others.

Understanding Identity
Paul’s reference to "my own flesh and blood" reminds us of the importance of understanding our identity in Christ and our connection to our spiritual and physical heritage.

Evangelistic Zeal
The passage encourages believers to have a passionate zeal for sharing the gospel, even at great personal cost.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Romans 9:3?

2.How does Romans 9:3 demonstrate Paul's deep love for his fellow Israelites?

3.What sacrifices are we willing to make for others' salvation, as Paul suggests?

4.How does Romans 9:3 connect with Jesus' sacrificial love in John 15:13?

5.In what ways can we emulate Paul's selflessness in our daily lives?

6.How can Paul's attitude in Romans 9:3 inspire our prayers for the unsaved?

7.Why would Paul wish to be cursed for the sake of others in Romans 9:3?

8.How does Romans 9:3 reflect Paul's love for his fellow Israelites?

9.What does Romans 9:3 reveal about the nature of self-sacrifice in Christianity?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 9?

11.If God wants to protect His people, why does He allow the righteous to suffer at the hands of the wicked?

12.What does the Bible say about self-forgiveness?

13.What does "anathema" mean in the Bible?

14.Was Jesus historically considered a Palestinian?

What Does Romans 9:3 Mean

For I could wish

Paul opens with a startling admission of personal desire—“For I could wish.”

• He is not stating a doctrinal possibility but revealing the depth of his heart.

• Cross reference: InRomans 10:1 he says, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation,” showing consistency in yearning for his people.

• This echoes Moses’ plea, “Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of the book You have written” (Exodus 32:32), underscoring a long-standing biblical pattern: God’s servants often express willingness to suffer for others.

that I myself

Paul emphasizes personal involvement—“that I myself.”

• The repetition underscores sincerity; it is not a theoretical statement about “someone else.”

• 2 Corinthians 12:15: “So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.” Paul’s ministry is consistently self-sacrificial.

• His use of “myself” signals ownership of the burden, not delegation.

were cursed and cut off from Christ

Here Paul ventures into the unimaginable: being “cursed and cut off from Christ.”

• Galatians 3:13 states, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.” Paul is willing, hypothetically, to undergo what Christ has already borne.

• This mirrorsJohn 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

• Important clarity: Paul knows such self-substitution is impossible—only Christ can bear the curse—but the statement reveals the extreme measure of love in his heart.

for the sake of my brothers

His motive is explicit: “for the sake of my brothers.”

• Romans 10:2 notes their zeal without knowledge; Paul longs to bridge that gap.

• Acts 22:1–5 demonstrates his kinship and shared history with them, enhancing the authenticity of his concern.

• The phrase reveals missionary passion: personal loss counted acceptable if it meant corporate gain.

my own flesh and blood

Paul identifies these brothers as literal Israelites—“my own flesh and blood.”

• He stresses lineage, not merely spiritual kinship (cf.Romans 11:1, “I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham”).

• Philippians 3:4–5 lists his credentials, showing his deep ties to Israel.

• YetRomans 9:6 will clarify that true Israel also involves those of faith, blending physical and spiritual realities.

summary

Romans 9:3 exposes Paul’s profound, Christ-like love: he is willing, in theory, to accept personal damnation if it would rescue his fellow Israelites. While such a trade is impossible—salvation rests solely on Christ’s finished work—the verse highlights the apostle’s sacrificial heart, echoing Moses’ intercession and Christ’s own substitutionary love. It challenges believers to cultivate a compassion so intense that personal comfort becomes secondary to the eternal well-being of others.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3)I could wish. . .--Rather,I could have wished. The wish, of course, related to what was really impossible. Still it is a nobly generous impulse, at which some weak minds have been shocked, and out of which others have made sentimental capital. Let us leave it as it is.

Accursed from Christ.--Separated from Christ, and devoted to destruction. Does not the intensity of this expression help us to realise one aspect of the Atonement--"being made a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13)? (The Greek word for "curse" is different, but comes to be nearly equivalent.)

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

For
γὰρ(gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

I
ἐγὼ(egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

could wish that
ηὐχόμην(ēuchomēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2172:To pray, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication, to pray to God.

I myself
αὐτὸς(autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

were
εἶναι(einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

cursed
ἀνάθεμα(anathema)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 331:A votive offering, a thing devoted to God; a curse, the thing cursed. From anatithemai; a ban or excommunicated.

[and] cut off from
ἀπὸ(apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

Christ
Χριστοῦ(Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

for the sake of
ὑπὲρ(hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228:Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

my
μου(mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

brothers,
ἀδελφῶν(adelphōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 80:A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

my
μου(mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

own flesh and blood,
συγγενῶν(syngenōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4773:Akin to, related; subst: fellow countryman, kinsman. From sun and genos; a relative; by extension, a fellow countryman.

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NT Letters: Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself (Rom. Ro)