Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
Who are Israelites - Descended from Israel, or Jacob; honored by having such an ancestor, and by bearing a name so distinguished as that of his descendants. It was formerly the honorable appellation of the people of God.
To whom pertaineth - To whom it belongs. It was their elevated external privilege.
The adoption - Of the nation into the family of God, or to be regarded as His special people; Deuteronomy 7:6.
And the glory - The symbol of the divine presence that attended them from Egypt, and that finally rested over the ark in the first temple - "the Shechinah;" Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 25:22.
And the covenants - The various compacts or promises which had been made from time to time with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with the nation; the pledges of the divine protection.
The giving of the law - On Mount Sinai; Exodus 20; compare Psalms 147:19.
And the service of God - The temple service; regarded by them as the pride and ornament of their nation.
And the promises - Of the Messiah; and of the spread of the true religion from them as a nation.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Romans 9:4:
Psalms 119:53
Joel 3:1
Jonah 4:3
Micah 2:4
Malachi 1:2
Ephesians 2:12
Hebrews 9:16
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