Romans 9:24 Meaning: Not Jews Only, But Gentiles Also
us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
not only out of Jews, but also out of nations,
us, whom he has also called, not only from amongst [the] Jews, but also from amongst [the] nations?
Meaning in one sentence
Paul declares God calls believers from both Jews and Gentiles, showing salvation is for all nations through grace, not ethnicity.
Context
Paul is in the middle of one of the most intense passages in Romans. Chapter 9 wrestles with a painful question: if God made promises to Israel, how can so many of them be missing when the Messiah has come? Paul answers by reaching back to the potter and the clay. God has the right to shape vessels however He chooses, and He has chosen to make vessels of mercy, not just from Jewish families, but from every nation. This verse pulls back the curtain on what He has been doing all along. The calling of the Gentiles is not an afterthought. It is part of the plan that was always there, hidden in the prophets and now made plain.
Key Words
Two words carry the weight of this verse. The verb called (from the Greek kaleō) is more than a polite invitation. In Paul’s letters, it describes God’s powerful summons that actually brings people into His family. When God calls, He creates the response. The same word is used for naming someone, giving them a new identity. A second word is the preposition from (Greek ek), which means “out from among.” It pictures people being drawn out of their original groups, Jewish communities and Gentile nations, and gathered into a single people. Paul is saying that God does not call people despite their background; He calls them out from it. The “not only … but also” structure is not just a point about inclusion. It is the hinge of the whole argument: God’s mercy has always been wider than one nation.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed readers, following Calvin and Gill, see this verse as proof that God calls individuals according to His sovereign choice, not based on ethnic identity. The “calling” is effectual and flows from His eternal purpose. Wesleyan interpreters, like Adam Clarke, emphasize that the call is extended to all who respond to the gospel, Jews and Gentiles alike, through faith. Catholic tradition has read this as a foundation for the Church as the new people of God, gathering believers from every nation. Eastern Orthodox writers highlight the mystery of God’s plan, where what seemed to be a Jewish promise now opens into a universal family. All traditions agree that this verse announces a stunning expansion of grace, though they differ on how the call relates to human freedom and divine election.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Paul is saying that God has replaced Israel with the Gentile church. In fact, Paul’s point is the opposite: God calls people from both groups. He is not discarding one to pick the other. The whole chapter insists that a faithful remnant of Israel is included, and that Gentile believers are grafted in alongside them. The “not only … but also” is a both-and, not an either-or.
Living This Out
Who do you assume is outside God’s reach? A neighbor from a different background. A coworker with a very different life. Someone whose politics or culture make you wince. This verse asks you to look again. God’s call is not limited to people who already look like your church. He is drawing people out of every corner. This week, pay attention to who you naturally exclude from your prayers, your welcome, your trust. Then let the word “also” broaden your heart. The same God who called you is calling them.
Main takeaway: God calls His people from every nation, not because of ethnicity, but because of His own merciful choice.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God calls people from all over the world to be His family. Not just one group of people, but everyone who loves Jesus. That means your friends from other countries can be in God’s family too.
For ages 9, 12
Paul is explaining something amazing. The Jews were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, but now God is calling people from every nation, Gentiles included. That means the promise God made to Abraham, that all nations would be blessed, is coming true through Jesus. God’s family is bigger than anyone expected. You are part of that promise.
Questions People Ask
What does “called” mean in Romans 9:24?
The Greek word is kaleō, which means to call, invite, or name. In Paul’s letters, it often describes God’s powerful summons that actually brings people into salvation. It is not a weak invitation but a call that creates faith and new identity.
Does Romans 9:24 teach that God saves everyone?
No. Paul is not saying every single person will be saved. He is saying that God calls people from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds, not that He calls every individual. The context of chapter 9 shows that God chooses some as vessels of mercy, which implies not all are chosen in that way.
Why does Paul mention “Jews only” and “Gentiles also”?
Paul is addressing a Jewish audience who assumed God’s blessings were only for them. By saying “not only Jews but also Gentiles,” he is showing that God’s plan has always included the nations, fulfilling promises to Abraham that all peoples would be blessed through his offspring.
Are Jews still God’s chosen people after this verse?
Yes. Paul later says in Romans 11 that God has not rejected His people. He sees the inclusion of Gentiles as an expansion, not a replacement. A remnant of Israel is saved by grace, and Gentiles are grafted into the same olive tree of God’s people.
What are the “vessels of mercy” mentioned before this verse?
In Romans 9:22-23, Paul contrasts vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy. The vessels of mercy are those whom God has prepared for glory, believers. Verse 24 identifies them as those called from both Jews and Gentiles. They are not deserving, but objects of God’s compassion.
For pastors & researchers
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