Published answer

Call My G does not reduce the passage to God predicting two personalities that did not yet exist. Their flesh lives had not begun and neither had acted in this age, but God knew how they had stood in the former age. Their assigned circumstances and roles reflect that prior history without making ordinary human choices meaningless. Where Scripture supports it: Romans 9 says the children had done no good or evil in this age when God’s election purpose was announced. Malachi supplies the later covenant and national context behind ‘Jacob loved, Esau hated.’ Why it matters: The question tests whether divine choice is arbitrary, merely predictive, or grounded in a history of the souls that precedes birth.

Scripture trail

KJV passages and notes

ROMANS 9:11–13 — KJV 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil…) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. NOTE: Paul’s election argument and the before-birth timing are explicit. Prior-age conduct is Call My G’s explanation.

Conclusions and suppositions

EXPLICITLY WRITTEN God announced roles before fleshly works, and Paul uses the account to explain election according to God’s calling. CALL MY G CONCLUSION Call My G understands God’s different response as grounded in how Jacob and Esau stood in the former age. SUPPOSITION / OPEN EXPLORATION Traditional readings appeal to foreknowledge, covenant roles, or nations; the text does not directly narrate either soul’s first-age conduct.

Consistency test

Does the answer engage Romans 9 and Malachi fully, preserve God’s justice, and avoid turning assigned role into guaranteed salvation?

G’s commentary