Devine Scripture

Romans 9:18

What does Romans 9:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:18 means

Paul states the conclusion plainly: God has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills. This encapsulates the teaching from Moses and Pharaoh. Hardening here refers to God’s judicial action that confirms people in their chosen resistance so that His purposes are advanced and His justice displayed. Mercy rescues; hardening exposes. Both are God’s prerogatives, and neither violates His righteousness. The verse humbles human pride by placing the decisive causes in God’s hands, while also setting up the tension that Paul will address next concerning human accountability and God’s sovereign will.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So then, at his pleasure he has mercy on a man, and at his pleasure he makes the heart hard.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will. And whom he will, he hardeneth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

So then, to whom he will he shews mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

Context

Following the examples of Moses (mercy) and Pharaoh (power displayed through hardening), verse 18 offers a succinct theological summary. Its bluntness invites the objection in verse 19: if God’s will is decisive, how can He still find fault? Paul will not solve the mystery philosophically; instead, in verses 20–21 he will assert the Creator-creature distinction using the potter-clay analogy, urging humility before God’s sovereign rights.

v.17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.

v.18This passage

v.19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 63:17

    O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Romans 9:15

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

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10

    and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  • Acts 28:26

    saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

  • Exodus 4:21

    And Jehovah said unto Moses, When thou goest back into Egypt, see that thou do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in thy hand: but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.

  • Romans 5:20

    And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

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