Romans 9 · Verse 18

Romans 9:18

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:18, King James Version

Romans 9:18 in other translations

BSBTherefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
WEBSo then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
ASVSo then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.
YLTso, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden.
DARBYSo then, to whom he will he shews mercy, and whom he will he hardens.
BBESo then, at his pleasure he has mercy on a man, and at his pleasure he makes the heart hard.
WebsterTherefore he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

What does Romans 9:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. Therefore hath he--"So then he hath." The result then is that He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth--by judicially abandoning them to the hardening influence of sin itself (Psa 81:11, 12; Ro 1:24, 26, 28; He 3:8, 13), and of the surrounding incentives to it (Mt 24:12; 1Co 15:38; 2Th 2:17). Second objection to the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty:

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. Therefore hath he mercy, etc. This is a conclusion stated by the apostle as the result of all the argument.

Whom he will he hardeneth. This is not stated in what the Scripture said to Pharaoh, but is a conclusion to which the apostle had arrived, in view of the case of Pharaoh. The word hardeneth means only to harden in the manner specified in the case of Pharaoh. It does not mean to exert a positive influence, but to leave a sinner to his own course, and to place him in circumstances where the character will be more and more developed. Jn 12:40. It implies, however, an act of sovereignty on the part of God in thus leaving him to his chosen Course, and in not putting forth that influence by which he could be saved from death. Why this is, the apostle does not state. We should, however, not dispute a fact everywhere prevalent; and should have sufficient confidence in God to believe that it is in accordance with infinite wisdom and rectitude.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will - This is the apostle's conclusion from the facts already laid down: that God, according to his own will and wisdom, in perfect righteousness, bestows mercy; that is to say, his blessings upon one part of mankind, (the Jews of old, and the Gentiles of the present time), while he suffers another part (the Egyptians of old, and the Jews of the present day) to go on in the abuse of his goodness and forbearance, hardening themselves in sin, till he brings upon them a most just and exemplary punishment, unless this be prevented by their deep repentance and general return to God through Jesus the promised, the real Messiah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 9:14-24

Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hos 13:9. God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind…

Read the full comment on Romans 9:14-24 →

Romans 9:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἄραaraSoG686
οὖνounthenG3767
ὃνhonto whomG3739
θέλειtheleiHe wantsG2309
ἐλεεῖ,eleeiHe shows mercy,G1653
ὃνhonwhomG3739
δὲdenowG1161
θέλειtheleiHe wantsG2309
σκληρύνει.¶sklēruneiHe hardens.G4645

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 9:18

  • Joshua 11:20

    For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

  • 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.

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

  • 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 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

  • 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.

  • Romans 5:20-21

    Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Exodus 7:13

    And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

  • 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: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. …

  • Isaiah 63:17

    O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Acts 28:26-28

    Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

  • Matthew 13:14-15

    And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hath.
15,16; 5:20,21; Eph 1:6
will he.
1:24-28; 11:7,8; Ex 4:21; 7:13; De 2:30; Jos 11:20; Isa 63:17
Mt 13:14,15; Ac 28:26-28; 2Th 2:10-12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 9:17

    For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

  • Romans 9:18

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

  • Romans 9:19

    Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Read all of Romans 9

Romans 9:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		De manera que del que quiere tiene misericordia; y al que quiere, endurece.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi donc il fait miséricorde à qui il veut, et il endurcit qui il veut.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So denn, wen er will, begnadigt er, und wen er will, verhärtet er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ergo cujus vult miseretur, et quem vult indurat.