independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
Paul's anguish — the oath over Israel 9:1–5
vv. 1–3 — the oath of sorrow and the impossible wish
1
Ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ,independent — the oath — truth spoken in Christ
οὐ ψεύδομαι,independent — the negative counterpart — the oath doubled
συμμαρτυρούσης μοι τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ,participial — genitive absolute — a third witness: conscience, in the Spirit
2
ὅτι λύπη μοί ἐστιν μεγάλη καὶ ἀδιάλειπτος ὀδύνη τῇ καρδίᾳ μου.content — the content sworn to — great sorrow, unceasing anguish
3
ηὐχόμην γὰρ ἀνάθεμα εἶναι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦindependent — desiderative imperfect — a wish reaching for the unwishable
ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν συγγενῶν μου κατὰ σάρκα,phrase modifier — for whom he would be cursed — kin κατὰ σάρκα
vv. 4–5 — who they are: the privileges, the fathers, the Christ
4
οἵτινές εἰσιν Ἰσραηλῖται,relative — qualitative ὅστις — the name that carries the promises
ὧν ἡ υἱοθεσία καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ αἱ διαθῆκαι καὶ ἡ νομοθεσία καὶ ἡ λατρεία καὶ αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι,relative — verbless — the six privileges, theirs
5
ὧν οἱ πατέρες,relative — the relative chain continues — the fathers
καὶ ἐξ ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα·relative — the chain's summit — ἐξ ὧν: the Messiah, but τὸ κατὰ σάρκα only
ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας·participial — ὁ ὤν read of ὁ Χριστός — Christ 'God over all, blessed forever'; the punctuation is disputed (a full stop before it would make a separate doxology to the Father), but τὸ κατὰ σάρκα invites this antithesis
ἀμήν.phrase modifier — the seal on the blessing
The word has not failed — Isaac, then Jacob 9:6–13
vv. 6–9 — not all Israel is Israel: the children of promise
6
Οὐχ οἷον δὲindependent — the elliptical idiom — οὐχ οἷον: 'it is by no means the case'
ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ.content — what is denied — the word fallen from its course
οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραήλ, οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ·cause — the ground — Israel within Israel; verbless, with resumptive οὗτοι
7
οὐδ' ὅτι εἰσὶν σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ, πάντες τέκνα,cause — the second denial — seed does not equal children
ἀλλ'· Ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα.content — Gen 21:12 — the counter-word, its verb of saying elided
8
τοῦτ' ἔστιν, οὐ τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκὸς ταῦτα τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — the exegesis — τοῦτ' ἔστιν unpacks the citation
ἀλλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας λογίζεται εἰς σπέρμα·independent — the positive — promise-children reckoned as seed
9
ἐπαγγελίας γὰρ ὁ λόγος οὗτος·cause — why 'promise' — the word to Sarah was itself promise; ἐπαγγελίας fronted
Κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐλεύσομαιcontent — Gen 18:10, 14 — the appointed season
καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός.content — Gen 18:10 — a son, by promise alone
vv. 10–13 — Rebekah's twins: election before birth
10
οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ Ῥεβέκκα ἐξ ἑνὸς κοίτην ἔχουσα, Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν·independent — nominative pendens — Ῥεβέκκα suspended, resumed only by αὐτῇ in v. 12
11
μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον,participial — genitive absolute — the twins before birth, before works
ἵνα ἡ κατ' ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ μένῃ,purpose — proleptic — the design of the ἐρρέθη still to come: election's purpose standing
12
οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἀλλ' ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος,phrase modifier — the purpose defined — the Caller, not deeds
ἐρρέθη αὐτῇindependent — the suspended Ῥεβέκκα resumed — αὐτῇ picks her up
ὅτι Ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι·content — Gen 25:23 — the oracle before birth
13
καθὼς γέγραπται·comparative — the oracle sealed by the prophet
Τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα,content — Mal 1:2 — the love that chose
τὸν δὲ Ἠσαῦ ἐμίσησα.content — Mal 1:3 — the comparative rejection
God's freedom — mercy and hardening 9:14–18
14
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν;independent — the diatribe formula
μὴ ἀδικία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ;independent — verbless — μή expects 'no'
μὴ γένοιτο·independent — the recoil
15
τῷ Μωϋσεῖ γὰρ λέγει·cause — the first warrant — God's own word to Moses
Ἐλεήσω ὃν ἂν ἐλεῶ,content — Exod 33:19 — mercy grounded only in mercy
καὶ οἰκτιρήσω ὃν ἂν οἰκτίρω.content — Exod 33:19 — the idem-per-idem formula
16
ἄρα οὖν οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἐλεῶντος θεοῦ.independent — first ἄρα οὖν inference — verbless genitives of source
17
λέγει γὰρ ἡ γραφὴ τῷ Φαραὼcause — the second warrant — the negative case, ἡ γραφή speaking
ὅτι Εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρά σεcontent — Exod 9:16 — Pharaoh raised up for this
ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν δύναμίν μου,purpose — the first ὅπως — power displayed
καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ.purpose — the second ὅπως — the name proclaimed
18
ἄρα οὖν ὃν θέλει ἐλεεῖ, ὃν δὲ θέλει σκληρύνει.independent — second ἄρα οὖν inference — the two-edged conclusion, θέλει repeated
The potter and the vessels — called from Jews and Gentiles 9:19–29
vv. 19–21 — the objector answered: the potter's right
19
Ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν·independent — the objector given the floor
Τί ἔτι μέμφεται;content — the objection — blame without freedom?
τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν;cause — the objector's ground — the βούλημα irresistible
20
ὦ ἄνθρωπε, μενοῦνγε σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενος τῷ θεῷ;independent — the rebuke — μενοῦνγε turns the question on the questioner
μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι·independent — μή expects 'no' — the πλάσμα before its πλάσας
Τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως;content — the clay's forbidden question — Isa 29:16 (cf. 45:9) coloring
21
ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦindependent — the counter-question — ἐξουσία over the clay
ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν σκεῦος ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν;content — epexegetic infinitive — one lump, two destinies
vv. 22–24 — the long conditional: the apodosis withheld
22
εἰ δὲ θέλων ὁ θεὸς ἐνδείξασθαι τὴν ὀργὴν καὶ γνωρίσαι τὸ δυνατὸν αὐτοῦconditional — the protasis opens — θέλων read concessively, 'although willing' (a causal 'because willing' is also defended)
ἤνεγκεν ἐν πολλῇ μακροθυμίᾳ σκεύη ὀργῆς κατηρτισμένα εἰς ἀπώλειαν,conditional — the protasis' finite verb — κατηρτισμένα passive, the fitter unnamed
23
καὶ ἵνα γνωρίσῃ τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σκεύη ἐλέους,purpose — the ἵνα — the σκεύη ἐλέους antithesis: glory's riches, mercy's vessels
ἃ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν,relative — God the named subject — προητοίμασεν, unlike the passive κατηρτισμένα
24
οὓς καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς οὐ μόνον ἐξ Ἰουδαίων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξ ἐθνῶν;relative — οὕς masculine by sense, drawn toward ἡμᾶς; the question mark closes a sentence whose apodosis never came (aposiopesis)
vv. 25–29 — the prophetic warrant: Hosea for the call, Isaiah for the remnant
25
ὡς καὶ ἐν τῷ Ὡσηὲ λέγει·comparative — the calling as foretold — ὡς on ἐκάλεσεν
Καλέσω τὸν οὐ λαόν μου λαόν μουcontent — Hos 2:23 — the un-people called
καὶ τὴν οὐκ ἠγαπημένην ἠγαπημένην·content — Hos 2:23 — the unloved, loved
26
καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς· Οὐ λαός μου ὑμεῖς, ἐκεῖ κληθήσονται υἱοὶ θεοῦ ζῶντος.content — Hos 1:10 — the reversal on the very spot: ἐκεῖ
27
Ἠσαΐας δὲ κράζει ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ·independent — coordinate witness — κράζει, the prophet's shout
Ἐὰν ᾖ ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης,conditional — protasis — Isa 10:22: the Abrahamic multitude conceded; leans on the apodosis below
τὸ ὑπόλειμμα σωθήσεται·content — apodosis — Isa 10:22: only the ὑπόλειμμα
28
λόγον γὰρ συντελῶν καὶ συντέμνων ποιήσει κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.cause — Isa 10:23 — the sentence finished and shortened
29
καὶ καθὼς προείρηκεν Ἠσαΐας·comparative — the second Isaiah word — προείρηκεν
Εἰ μὴ κύριος Σαβαὼθ ἐγκατέλιπεν ἡμῖν σπέρμα,conditional — protasis — Isa 1:9: the σπέρμα God himself leaves; leans on the apodosis below
ὡς Σόδομα ἂν ἐγενήθημενcontent — apodosis — Isa 1:9: Sodom's fate, contrary to fact
καὶ ὡς Γόμορρα ἂν ὡμοιώθημεν.content — Isa 1:9 — the second ἄν limb
Israel stumbled over the stone 9:30–33
30
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν;independent — the closing diatribe
ὅτι ἔθνη τὰ μὴ διώκοντα δικαιοσύνην κατέλαβεν δικαιοσύνην,content — paradox 1 — the non-pursuers overtook the prize
δικαιοσύνην δὲ τὴν ἐκ πίστεως·phrase modifier — apposition — the attained righteousness defined: ἐκ πίστεως
31
Ἰσραὴλ δὲ διώκων νόμον δικαιοσύνης εἰς νόμον οὐκ ἔφθασεν.content — paradox 2 — ὅτι carried over: the pursuer never arrived
32
διὰ τί;independent — the verbless probe
ὅτι οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως ἀλλ' ὡς ἐξ ἔργων·cause — the verbless answer — ὡς the fatal 'as if'
προσέκοψαν τῷ λίθῳ τοῦ προσκόμματος,independent — the verdict — the λίθος lying in the path
33
καθὼς γέγραπται·comparative — the composite citation announced
Ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον προσκόμματος καὶ πέτραν σκανδάλου,content — Isa 28:16 frame with Isa 8:14 inserted — the stone God himself lays
καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ' αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται.content — Isa 28:16 — ἐπ' αὐτῷ read of the stone as Christ
Analysis. Romans 9 alternates argument and citation, and the shape shows both. The chapter opens with three flush-left oath lines — Ἀλήθειαν λέγω, οὐ ψεύδομαι, with the genitive absolute of the co-witnessing conscience hanging beneath — then descends a relative staircase of Israel's privileges (οἵτινες, ὧν, ὧν, καὶ ἐξ ὧν) that climbs to ὁ Χριστός and, one step deeper, ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεός. From v. 6 the page becomes a fabric of quotation columns: blue content lines hang under the denied οἷον, under ὁ λόγος, under ἐρρέθη and γέγραπται, under λέγει twice (to Moses, to Pharaoh), under λέγει/κράζει/προείρηκεν (Hosea, then Isaiah twice), and finally under γέγραπται again for the composite stone text — Genesis, Malachi, Exodus, Hosea, and Isaiah each a suspended column with its source named in the tag. The diatribe questions (vv. 14, 19–21, 30, 32) sit flush left in purple, and olive protases lean forward on their apodoses inside the Isaiah quotations. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: in v. 5 ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεὸς εὐλογητός hangs under ὁ Χριστός — predicated of Christ, with the decisive punctuation dispute flagged in the tag (a full stop would detach it as a doxology to the Father); Ῥεβέκκα (v. 10) is a nominative pendens resumed only by αὐτῇ in v. 12, with the ἵνα of election proleptic to that ἐρρέθη; in vv. 22–24 the εἰ conditional never receives an apodosis — the two protasis lines lean on nothing and the sentence closes as a question (aposiopesis), with θέλων read concessively ('although willing'); οὕς in v. 24 is masculine by sense, attracted toward ἡμᾶς; and the ὅτι-answer of v. 32 is left verbless — 'because not of faith, but as if of works.'