9:8a

So: The Greek is literally “that is.” It introduces an explanation of “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

That is to say, (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Here is the meaning of that,

9:8b

it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children: The phrase children of the flesh here refers to people related to Abraham through physical descent. The phrase God’s children refers to the people chosen by God to be his people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is not by being children through physical descent that people become children of God (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
it is not the children of Abraham by natural descent who are children of God (Revised English Bible)

God’s children: This refers to those whom God has chosen. In some languages the implied word “chosen” must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

the ⌊chosen⌋ children of God
-or-
the children whom God ⌊chose⌋

9:8c

it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ regards the children of the promise as offspring

the children of the promise: This phrase refers to children born in Isaac’s line of descent, because Isaac was born according to God’s promise. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the children of ⌊God’s⌋ promise
-or-
those who are children because of ⌊God’s⌋ promise

regarded: The Greek word here can also be translated as “consider” (8:18, 36).

offspring: Here this word refers only to those descendants of Abraham whom God chose to begin the people group called Israel. He first chose Isaac and then his son Jacob. These are the descendants of Abraham as God intended. For example:

Abraham’s descendants (Revised English Bible)

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