Romans 9:18

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

So then, He has mercy on whom He wants, and He hardens whom He wants.

Latin

Ergo cujus vult miseretur, et quem vult indurat.

Original

Greek

English

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

Notes

Romans 9:18

He hardens whom He wants to harden: Pharaoh refused to let Israel leave because his heart became hard. A hard heart describes stubborn resistance to God. It means refusing to listen or change, even after seeing clear signs of God’s power.

The book of Exodus says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12). It also says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15). Together, these statements show that Pharaoh was responsible for his actions, even as God carried out his purposes through Pharaoh’s refusal.

Romans 9:1–11:36

n this section, Paul addresses a serious question. Many Jews did not believe in Jesus. If God had promised salvation to Israel, how could Jesus truly fulfill God’s plan when so few Jews believed (9:1–5)? In response, Paul uses the Old Testament to show that God always planned to save only a remnant, that is, a smaller group within Israel (9:6–29). Paul also explains that many Jews did not accept Christ because they refused to trust in him (9:30–10:21).

Paul then makes clear that God has not rejected Israel. Some Jews have already believed in Christ (11:1–10). Many more will trust in Christ in the future (11:12–26).

Theme notes and profiles

Esau Paul (Saul) Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility Ethnic Hatred God’s Covenant Love God’s Unified Plan of Salvation The Sovereignty of God

Related verses

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.
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.
Romans 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.”
Romans 11:7–8
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
2 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.
Deuteronomy 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.
Romans 5:20–21
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Isaiah 63:17
Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
Romans 1:24–28
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
Acts 28:26–28
‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Exodus 7:13
Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
Matthew 13:14–15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

Romans 9:18

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics