Romans 9:15

13 So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!

For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
KJV
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
WEB
For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
ASV
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
DARBY
For he says to Moses, I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy, and I will feel compassion for whom I will feel compassion.
BLB
For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I may have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I may have compassion.”
ÅB
For han sier til Moses: «Jeg vil forbarme meg over den jeg forbarmer meg over, og være barmhjertig mot den jeg er barmhjertig mot».
OTB
For Han sa til Moses,
«Jeg vil vise miskunn mot den jeg velger å vise miskunn,
og jeg vil vise medfølelse mot den jeg velger å vise medfølelse.»
B1930
for til Moses sier han: Jeg vil miskunne mig over den som jeg miskunner mig over, og ynkes over den som Jeg ynkes over.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 33:19

    “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:16

    So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

    Read in context
  • Micah 7:18

    Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:18–19

    Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 34:6–7

    Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 27:11

    When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

    Read in context