The quotation in this verse comes from Hosea 1.10; again it is applied by Paul to the Gentile situation. In the original context Hosea was contrasting the idols of other peoples with the Lord, who was the living God. The expression living God indicates that the Lord is the source of life, the one who gives life.

It may be necessary in verse 26 to make explicit who is speaking—for example, “and in the very place where God said, You are not my people, there the living God will call them his sons.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .