Devine Scripture

Romans 9:15

What does Romans 9:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:15 means

Quoting God’s words to Moses, Paul anchors his argument in divine self-revelation: God freely shows mercy and compassion to whom He wills. Mercy, by definition, is not owed; it is a sovereign gift. God’s character includes absolute freedom in dispensing saving kindness. This does not make Him arbitrary; it reveals that salvation rests on His grace, not human claim. By directing us to Moses, Paul shows that this principle is embedded in Israel’s own story. The foundation for any person’s salvation is God’s merciful will, not human deserving or demand.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and pity on whom I will have pity.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for to Moses He saith, `I will do kindness to whom I do kindness, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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.

Context

Verse 15 supplies scriptural authority against the charge of injustice (v. 14). The citation from God’s words to Moses demonstrates that divine freedom in showing mercy is an Old Testament truth. Verse 16 will draw the inference: it is not of human willing or running, but of God who shows mercy. The argument then balances mercy with God’s dealings with Pharaoh in verse 17, culminating in the assertion of verse 18 that God both has mercy and hardens according to His will.

v.14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

v.15This passage

v.16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Micah 7:18

    Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in lovingkindness.

  • Romans 9:18

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

  • Romans 9:16

    So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

  • Isaiah 27:11

    When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off; the women shall come, and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have compassion upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.

  • Exodus 33:19

    And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

  • Exodus 34:6

    And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;

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