Romans 9:18
New International Version
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

New Living Translation
So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

English Standard Version
So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

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

Berean Literal Bible
So then, He shows mercy to whom He wants, and He hardens whom He wants.

King James Bible
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

New King James Version
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

New American Standard Bible
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

NASB 1995
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

NASB 1977
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

Legacy Standard Bible
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

Amplified Bible
So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills.

Christian Standard Bible
So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So then, He shows mercy to those He wants to, and He hardens those He wants to harden.

American Standard Version
So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.

Contemporary English Version
Everything depends on what God decides to do, and he can either have pity on people or make them stubborn.

English Revised Version
So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will.

Good News Translation
So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

International Standard Version
Therefore, God has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

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

NET Bible
So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

New Heart English Bible
So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Weymouth New Testament
This is a proof that wherever He chooses He shows mercy, and wherever he chooses He hardens the heart.

World English Bible
So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
so then, to whom He wills, He does kindness, and to whom He wills, He hardens.

Berean Literal Bible
So then, He shows mercy to whom He wants, and He hardens whom He wants.

Young's Literal Translation
so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden.

Smith's Literal Translation
Surely then, whom he will he commiserates, and whom he will he hardens.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will; and whom he will, he hardeneth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, he takes pity on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

New American Bible
Consequently, he has mercy upon whom he wills, and he hardens whom he wills.

New Revised Standard Version
So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus he has mercy on whom he pleases, and he hardens whom he pleases.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
So then, he shows compassion on whomever he will, and whomever he will, he hardens.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, he has mercy on whom he wills to have mercy: and whom he wills to harden, he hardens.

Godbey New Testament
Then therefore he has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.

Haweis New Testament
Well then, he hath mercy on whom he will, but whom he will he hardeneth.

Mace New Testament
thus some he pursues with his favours, and abandons others to their obduracy, according as he thinks fit.

Weymouth New Testament
This is a proof that wherever He chooses He shows mercy, and wherever he chooses He hardens the heart.

Worrell New Testament
So, then, He hath mercy on whom He willeth, and whom He willeth He hardeneth.

Worsley New Testament
So then He hath mercy on whom He pleaseth, and whom He will, He hardeneth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Sovereign Choice
17For 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.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. 19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”…

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.”

Exodus 9:16
But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 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.

Exodus 10:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them,

Exodus 14:4
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.

Exodus 14:17
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

Isaiah 45:9
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

Jeremiah 18:6
“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Matthew 11:25-26
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. / Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Matthew 20:15
Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

John 12:39-40
For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: / “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”

John 6:44
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65
Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

hath.

Romans 9:15,16
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…

Romans 5:20,21
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: …

Ephesians 1:6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

will he.

Romans 1:24-28
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: …

Romans 11:7,8
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded …

See on

Exodus 4:21
And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 7:13
And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

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Chooses Desires Hard Harden Hardeneth Hardens Heart Kindness Makes Mercy Pleasure Proof Shews Shows Wants Wherever Whomever Willeth Wills
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Romans 9
1. Paul is sorry for the Jews.
7. All of Abraham not of the promise.
18. God's sovereignty.
25. The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.
32. The cause of their stumbling.














Therefore
This word connects the current verse to the preceding argument. In Romans 9, Paul is discussing God's sovereignty and justice. The use of "therefore" indicates a conclusion drawn from the previous verses, where Paul illustrates God's sovereign choice through examples like Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau. It emphasizes the logical flow of Paul's argument about divine sovereignty.

God
The central figure in this verse, God is portrayed as the ultimate authority. In the Greek, "Theos" is used, which is a term that denotes the supreme deity. This highlights the omnipotence and omniscience of God, who operates beyond human understanding and limitations. The verse underscores the belief in a personal God who is actively involved in the affairs of humanity.

has mercy
The Greek word used here is "eleeo," which means to show compassion or pity. Mercy is a fundamental attribute of God, reflecting His loving and gracious nature. In the biblical context, mercy is not just a feeling but an action, demonstrating God's willingness to forgive and restore. This phrase reassures believers of God's compassionate character and His readiness to extend grace.

on whom He wants to have mercy
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign will. The repetition of "mercy" underscores its importance in God's dealings with humanity. The phrase suggests that God's mercy is not arbitrary but is part of His divine plan and purpose. It challenges believers to trust in God's wisdom and goodness, even when His choices are beyond human comprehension.

and He hardens
The Greek word "skleruno" is used here, meaning to make hard or obstinate. This concept is illustrated in the account of Pharaoh in Exodus, where God hardens Pharaoh's heart to fulfill His purposes. It reflects the idea that God can use even the resistance of individuals to accomplish His divine will. This phrase serves as a reminder of God's ultimate control over human history.

whom He wants to harden
This phrase further emphasizes God's sovereignty. It suggests that God's decisions are based on His perfect knowledge and justice. While this may be difficult to understand, it calls believers to trust in God's righteous character. The phrase challenges readers to reflect on the mystery of God's will and the assurance that His plans are ultimately for good.

(18) Summary conclusion from the above.

He hardeneth.--The doctrine of the divine sovereignty is here expressed in its most trenchant and logical form. In Exodus 8:32; Exodus 9:34; Exodus 13:15, &c., the hardening of Pharaoh's heart is attributed to his own act. That act may, however, be regarded as a part of the design of Providence. God's decrees include human free-will, without destroying it. But how they do this we cannot say.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore
ἄρα (ara)
Conjunction
Strong's 686: Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive.

[God] has mercy
ἐλεεῖ (eleei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1653: To pity, have mercy on. From eleos; to compassionate.

on whom
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

He wants [to have mercy ],
θέλει (thelei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

He hardens
σκληρύνει (sklērynei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4645: To harden, make hard, make stubborn. From skleros; to indurate, i.e. render stubborn.

whom
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

He wants [ to harden ].
θέλει (thelei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.


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NT Letters: Romans 9:18 So then he has mercy on whom (Rom. Ro)
Romans 9:17
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