CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 9:2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/9-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/45_Rom_09_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 9:2 - Paul's Concern for the Jews" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/romans/9-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/romans/9-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/romans/">Romans</a> > <a href="/romans/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/9-1.htm" title="Romans 9:1">◄</a> Romans 9:2 <a href="/romans/9-3.htm" title="Romans 9:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/romans/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/romans/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/romans/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/romans/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/romans/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />that my grief is great, and unceasing sorrow <i>is</i> in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/romans/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/romans/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/romans/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/romans/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/romans/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/romans/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/romans/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/romans/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/romans/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/romans/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/romans/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />my heart is broken and I am in great sorrow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/romans/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/romans/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I have deep sorrow and endless heartache.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/romans/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />when I say how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/romans/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/romans/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/romans/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/romans/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/romans/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />when I declare that I have deep grief and unceasing anguish of heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/romans/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/romans/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />that my grief is great, and unceasing sorrow <i>is</i> in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/romans/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart -- <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/romans/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />That there is great grief to me and continued pain in my heart.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/romans/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />That I have great sadness, and continual sorrow in my heart. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/romans/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />because the sadness within me is great, and there is a continuous sorrow in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/romans/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/romans/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/romans/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />That I am exceedingly sorrowful, and the pain which is in my heart never ceases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/9.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />That I have great unceasing sorrow and affliction from my heart, <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/romans/9.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />That I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/romans/9.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />that there is great sorrow to me and incessant grief to my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/romans/9.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />that great is my sorrow and unceasing the anguish in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/romans/9.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />when I declare that I have deep grief and unceasing anguish of heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/romans/9.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/romans/9.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />that I have great grief and continual sorrow in my heart:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/romans/9-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=2186" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/romans/9.htm">Paul's Concern for the Jews</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: moi (PPro-D1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">I</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">have</a> <a href="/greek/3173.htm" title="3173: megalē (Adj-NFS) -- Large, great, in the widest sense. ">deep</a> <a href="/greek/3077.htm" title="3077: lypē (N-NFS) -- Pain, grief, sorrow, affliction. Apparently a primary word; sadness.">sorrow</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/88.htm" title="88: adialeiptos (Adj-NFS) -- Unceasing, unremitting. Unintermitted, i.e. Permanent.">unceasing</a> <a href="/greek/3601.htm" title="3601: odynē (N-NFS) -- Pain, sorrow, distress, of body or mind. From duno; grief.">anguish</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">in</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: mou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">my</a> <a href="/greek/2588.htm" title="2588: kardia (N-DFS) -- Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.">heart.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">3</span>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,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-1.htm">Romans 10:1</a></span><br />Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-14.htm">Romans 11:14</a></span><br />in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-28.htm">2 Corinthians 11:28-29</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/3-18.htm">Philippians 3:18</a></span><br />For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />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!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-41.htm">Luke 19:41-42</a></span><br />As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/20-31.htm">Acts 20:31</a></span><br />Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/2-19.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:19-20</a></span><br />After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? / You are indeed our glory and our joy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-19.htm">Galatians 4:19</a></span><br />My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/2-4.htm">2 Corinthians 2:4</a></span><br />For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm">Jeremiah 9:1</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a></span><br />He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-48.htm">Lamentations 3:48-49</a></span><br />Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people. / My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/119-136.htm">Psalm 119:136</a></span><br />My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/9-4.htm">Ezekiel 9:4</a></span><br />“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/10-1.htm">Romans 10:1</a></b></br> Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-35.htm">1 Samuel 15:35</a></b></br> And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-136.htm">Psalm 119:136</a></b></br> Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/8-35.htm">Anguish</a> <a href="/acts/1-14.htm">Continual</a> <a href="/romans/3-30.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/romans/8-26.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">End</a> <a href="/romans/5-5.htm">Full</a> <a href="/romans/5-19.htm">Great</a> <a href="/acts/21-13.htm">Grief</a> <a href="/romans/7-22.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Heaviness</a> <a href="/romans/8-35.htm">Pain</a> <a href="/romans/8-23.htm">Sorrow</a> <a href="/acts/12-5.htm">Unceasing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_corinthians/2-4.htm">Anguish</a> <a href="/romans/15-13.htm">Continual</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/3-13.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/romans/10-7.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/romans/9-28.htm">End</a> <a href="/romans/11-12.htm">Full</a> <a href="/romans/9-22.htm">Great</a> <a href="/romans/12-15.htm">Grief</a> <a href="/romans/9-18.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/2-1.htm">Heaviness</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/12-26.htm">Pain</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/5-2.htm">Sorrow</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-18.htm">Unceasing</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/9-1.htm">Paul is sorry for the Jews.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">All of Abraham not of the promise.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/9-18.htm">God's sovereignty.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/9-25.htm">The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/9-32.htm">The cause of their stumbling.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/romans/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I have deep sorrow</b><br>Paul expresses profound emotional pain, reflecting his intense concern for the spiritual state of his fellow Israelites. This sorrow is rooted in his understanding of their rejection of Christ, which he sees as a tragic loss given their rich spiritual heritage. The depth of his sorrow is reminiscent of the prophets in the Old Testament, such as Jeremiah, who lamented over Israel's unfaithfulness (<a href="/jeremiah/9.htm">Jeremiah 9:1</a>). This phrase highlights the personal and emotional investment Paul has in the salvation of his people, showing his pastoral heart and deep empathy.<p><b>and unceasing anguish</b><br>The term "unceasing" indicates that Paul's distress is constant and persistent. This ongoing anguish underscores the seriousness with which he views the spiritual condition of Israel. It reflects a burden that is not momentary but a continual weight on his heart. This mirrors the heart of God, who desires all to come to repentance (<a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm">2 Peter 3:9</a>). Paul's anguish can also be seen as a type of Christ, who wept over Jerusalem (<a href="/luke/19-41.htm">Luke 19:41</a>), showing a deep love and longing for the people to recognize their Messiah.<p><b>in my heart</b><br>The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of emotions, will, and intellect. Paul's use of "heart" indicates that his sorrow and anguish are not superficial but deeply rooted in his innermost being. This phrase emphasizes the sincerity and authenticity of his feelings. It connects to the broader biblical theme of the heart as the seat of true devotion and concern, as seen in the Shema, where believers are called to love God with all their heart (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a>). Paul's heartfelt sorrow is a model of genuine love and concern for others' spiritual well-being.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is expressing his deep emotional burden for his fellow Israelites who have not accepted Christ.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The ethnic and religious group to whom Paul is referring, highlighting his sorrow over their unbelief and separation from the promises of God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/rome.htm">Rome</a></b><br>The city to which the letter is addressed, where a diverse Christian community, including both Jews and Gentiles, resides.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_heart_of_an_intercessor.htm">The Heart of an Intercessor</a></b><br>Paul’s sorrow reflects the heart of an intercessor who deeply cares for the spiritual well-being of others. As believers, we are called to carry a similar burden for those who do not know Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_spiritual_anguish.htm">The Reality of Spiritual Anguish</a></b><br>The Christian life involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ, which includes experiencing sorrow for the lost. This sorrow should drive us to prayer and action.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_compassion.htm">The Importance of Compassion</a></b><br>Paul’s anguish is rooted in love and compassion. We are encouraged to cultivate a heart that genuinely cares for the salvation of others, moving beyond indifference.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/b/balancing_sorrow_with_hope.htm">Balancing Sorrow with Hope</a></b><br>While Paul experiences deep sorrow, he also holds onto the hope of God’s promises. Christians are called to balance their sorrow for the lost with the hope of redemption through Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_romans_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Romans 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'face_like_flint'_mean.htm">What does the Bible say about seeking forgiveness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_paul's_distress_in_2_cor_2_4_genuine.htm">In 2 Corinthians 2:4, is Paul’s emotional distress genuine or a literary device to manipulate his readers? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_harden_hearts_if_he_saves.htm">If God wants all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), why does He deliberately harden people's hearts (Romans 9:18)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_heartbreak.htm">What does the Bible say about heartbreak?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 2, 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart</span>. He does not say what for, leaving it to appear in what follows. The broken sentence is significant of emotion. <span class="cmt_word">For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh</span>. None of the ways that have been suggested for evading the obvious meaning of this assertion are tenable. One such way is to take the imperfect <span class="greek">ηὐχόμην</span> as expressing what he once wished, viz. before his conversion; so that the meaning would be, "My interest in my own people is such that, in my zeal for them, I once myself desired to be entirely apart from Christ; I myself said, <span class="greek">Ἀνάθεμα</span> (<a href="/1_corinthians/12-3.htm">1 Corinthians 12:3</a>), and persecuted his followers." Neither the natural force of the imperfect here (as to which cf. <a href="/acts/25-22.htm">Acts 25:22</a>; <a href="/galatians/4-20.htm">Galatians 4:20</a>), nor that of <span class="greek">ἀνάθεμα εῖναι</span>, nor the context, allow this subterfuge. Another way is to understand <span class="greek">ἀνάθεμα εῖναι</span> as implying only devotion to temporal destruction, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> to a violent death. In <a href="/leviticus/27.htm">Leviticus 27</a>, every animal devoted to the Lord (in the LXX. <span class="greek">ἀνάθεμα</span>) is surely to be put to death; and this has been conceived as all that is implied here. So Jerome, 'Quaest. 9, ad Algas.,' and Hilary, 'Ad <a href="/psalms/8.htm">Psalm 8</a>.' But how then about <span class="greek">ἀπὸ Ξριστοῦ</span>? The words <span class="greek">ἀνάθεμα</span> and <span class="greek">ἀνάθημα</span>, from <span class="greek">ἀνατίθημι</span>, both denote primarily what is offered or set apart; the latter being applied to things devoted to God's honour and service (cf. <a href="/luke/21-5.htm">Luke 21:5</a>), the latter always in the New Testament used to denote rejection or devotion to evil. It occurs in <a href="/acts/23-14.htm">Acts 23:14</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/12-3.htm">1 Corinthians 12:3</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/16-22.htm">1 Corinthians 16:22</a>; <a href="/galatians/1-8.htm">Galatians 1:8, 9</a>. It certainly means here separation from the communion of Christ, in the same sense as <span class="greek">κατηργήθστε ἀπὸ τοῦ Ξριστοῦ</span> (<a href="/galatians/5-4.htm">Galatians 5:4</a>). Even if the expression <span class="greek">ἀνάθεμα εῖναι</span> be understood as meaning in itself excommunication only (as <span class="greek">ανάθεμα ἐστω</span> in ecclesiastical usage), the addition of <span class="greek">ἀπὸ τοῦ Ξριστοῦ</span> evidently implies more than mere separation from outward Church communion. The apostle can hardly mean otherwise than that he would forfeit his own communion with Christ on behalf of (<span class="greek">ὑπὲρ</span>) his countrymen, if so they as a nation could be brought to accept the gospel. This certainly was a strong thing to say, and it may seem to us to imply an impossibility, if we compare it, for instance, with <a href="/romans/8-38.htm">Romans 8:38</a>, "I am persuaded<span class="accented"></span>," etc. But we need not understand a passing expression of feeling, however real, as a deliberate utterance. The imperfect <span class="greek">ηὐχόμην</span> implies only that the fact had passed through his mind in the intensity of his desire for the salvation of his brethren. It corresponds with the saying of Moses under the like strong emotion, "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written" (<a href="/exodus/32-32.htm">Exodus 32:32</a>). Bengel remarks well," Ex summa fide (cap. 8) nunc summum ostendit amorem, ex amore divine accensum. Res non poterat fieri, quam optarat: sed votum erat pium et solidum, quamlibet cum tacita conditione, <span class="accented">si fieri posset."</span> Also, "De mensura amoris in Mose et Paulo non facile est existimare. Eum enim modulus ratiocinationum nostrarum non capit; sieur heroum bellicorum animos non capit parvulus." St. Paul proceeds, in the spirit of a patriotic Jew, which he ever retained, to enumerate the peculiar privileges of the chosen people, their possession of which rendered their present failure to realize their purpose so peculiarly disappointing and distressing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/romans/9-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="grk">μοί</span> <span class="translit">(moi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστιν</span> <span class="translit">(estin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">deep</span><br /><span class="grk">μεγάλη</span> <span class="translit">(megalē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3173.htm">Strong's 3173: </a> </span><span class="str2">Large, great, in the widest sense. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">sorrow</span><br /><span class="grk">λύπη</span> <span class="translit">(lypē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3077.htm">Strong's 3077: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pain, grief, sorrow, affliction. Apparently a primary word; sadness.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">unceasing</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀδιάλειπτος</span> <span class="translit">(adialeiptos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_88.htm">Strong's 88: </a> </span><span class="str2">Unceasing, unremitting. Unintermitted, i.e. Permanent.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">anguish</span><br /><span class="grk">ὀδύνη</span> <span class="translit">(odynē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3601.htm">Strong's 3601: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pain, sorrow, distress, of body or mind. From duno; grief.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="grk">τῇ</span> <span class="translit">(tē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my</span><br /><span class="grk">μου</span> <span class="translit">(mou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">heart.</span><br /><span class="grk">καρδίᾳ</span> <span class="translit">(kardia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2588.htm">Strong's 2588: </a> </span><span class="str2">Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/romans/9-2.htm">Romans 9:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/romans/9-2.htm">NT Letters: Romans 9:2 That I have great sorrow and unceasing (Rom. Ro) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/romans/9-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Romans 9:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Romans 9:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/romans/9-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Romans 9:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Romans 9:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>