Romans 9:18
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.”
Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
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
- Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
- KJV
- Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
- WEB
- So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
- ASV
- So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.
- DARBY
- So then, to whom he will he shews mercy, and whom he will he hardens.
- BLB
- So then, He has mercy on whom He wants, and He hardens whom He wants.
- ÅB
- Han forbarmer seg altså over hvem han vil, og forherder hvem han vil.
- OTB
- Derfor har Han miskunn med hvem Han vil ha miskunn, og Han forherder hvem Han vil forherde.
- B1930
- Altså: hvem han vil, den miskunner han sig over; og hvem han vil, den forherder han.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Joshua 11:20
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Read in contextExodus 4:21
The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
Read in contextRomans 9:15–16
For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Read in contextRomans 11:7–8
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
Read in context2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.
Read in contextRomans 5:20–21
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Read in contextExodus 7:13
Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
Read in context