Romans 9 18

Romans 9:18 kjv

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

Romans 9:18 nkjv

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

Romans 9:18 niv

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

Romans 9:18 esv

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

Romans 9:18 nlt

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

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 18 Meaning

Romans 9:18 declares God's absolute sovereignty over both His merciful actions and His allowing of hearts to be hardened. It states that God dispenses mercy to whomever He chooses and likewise allows hardening for whomever He chooses, indicating that these divine operations are rooted entirely in His will and not conditioned upon human merit or effort. The verse presents a profound statement about divine prerogative in salvation and judgment, following the example of Pharaoh's hardened heart as an illustration.

Romans 9 18 Context

Romans chapter 9 is a pivotal text in Paul's theological argument concerning God's faithfulness to Israel despite their widespread rejection of Christ. Following his exposition of God's universal plan of salvation in earlier chapters, Paul addresses the question of Israel's present unbelief. He clarifies that God's promises were never based on ethnic descent alone but always on divine election. He uses illustrations such as Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau (Rom 9:6-13) to demonstrate God's sovereign choice before birth, not based on deeds. The chapter then moves to the example of Pharaoh (Rom 9:14-17), highlighting that God chose to raise Pharaoh up for the very purpose of demonstrating His power through hardening his heart. Verse 18 is the concluding summary statement drawn from these examples, solidifying the point that God acts according to His sovereign will in both bestowing mercy and allowing hardening. This sets the stage for Paul to address anticipated objections regarding God's justice (Rom 9:19-24) using the analogy of the potter and the clay. Historically, this discussion arises in the context of early Christian communities wrestling with the place of Israel in God's plan and the Gentile inclusion.

Romans 9 18 Word analysis

• So then (Ἄρα οὖν - Ara oun): This conjunctive particle serves as a conclusion or summation, signaling that what follows is a logical consequence of the preceding argument, specifically the examples of Jacob/Esau and Pharaoh. It reinforces the idea of an inescapable truth derived from divine revelation.
• he (αὐτὸς - autos): Referring explicitly to God, underscoring that the action originates directly from the divine agent. The emphatic "he" contrasts with human will or effort, highlighting God's exclusive initiative.
• has mercy (ἐλεεῖ - eleei): Present tense, active voice, signifying an ongoing divine attribute and action. The Greek verb speaks of showing compassion, pity, or extending grace. In a biblical context, it often denotes unmerited favor or compassion for those in distress. Its roots connect to Old Testament concepts of hesed (steadfast love, covenant faithfulness) and racham (tender, womb-like compassion).
• on whom he desires (ὃν θέλει - hon thelei): Literally, "whom he wills." The Greek verb thelei expresses volition, purpose, or a strong intention. This phrase is crucial as it asserts that God's choice is based solely on His own counsel and not influenced by any external factor, merit, or perceived worthiness in the object of mercy. It emphasizes God's self-determination.
• and he hardens (καὶ σκληρύνει - kai sklērynei): Present tense, active voice. The Greek verb sklērynei means "to make hard, unyielding, obstinate." This implies rendering someone insensitive to divine influence or truth, becoming unresponsive to God's calling or signs. This can involve both an active divine causation (as with Pharaoh in Exodus, where God causes the heart to be hard) and a passive allowance or judicial handover where God permits a heart that is already resistant to become further entrenched in its opposition. In Romans 9, Paul emphasizes the active divine causation from the Pharaoh account.
• whom he desires (ὃν θέλει - hon thelei): This is a direct repetition from the "has mercy" clause, purposefully linking hardening to the exact same divine volition. This parallelism emphatically concludes that both mercy and hardening proceed from God's unchallengeable will.

Words-group analysis

• So then he has mercy... and he hardens...: This pairing creates a symmetrical and stark theological statement. The use of "So then" connects to the preceding arguments, emphasizing that the conclusion drawn from God's dealings with Israel's patriarchs and Pharaoh is directly applicable to God's present operations of mercy and hardening.
• on whom he desires / whom he desires: The repetition of this phrase for both mercy and hardening is critical. It signifies that the basis for both divine actions is identical: God's sovereign, free, and unconditioned will. It is not an arbitrary impulse, but a purposeful will that determines outcomes in accordance with His righteous character and ultimate plan. It powerfully establishes God as the sole initiator and arbiter of these ultimate spiritual conditions.

Romans 9 18 Bonus section

• The terms "mercy" and "hardens" highlight two distinct divine operations that, while appearing antithetical from a human perspective, flow from the same sovereign will of God. This challenges anthropocentric views of salvation and judgment.
• This verse and the broader context of Romans 9 often prompt intense theological debate concerning divine sovereignty, human responsibility, predestination, and free will. It is crucial to read this verse in its immediate context (Rom 9:14-23) where Paul preempts and directly answers the objection of injustice. Paul asserts God's right as the potter over the clay (Rom 9:20-21), shifting the focus from human accusation to divine prerogative and the ultimate purpose of revealing His glory.
• "Hardening" does not imply that God directly forces someone to sin against their will. Instead, it is understood in a judicial sense where God might confirm an existing sinful inclination or withdraw His grace, allowing individuals to fully follow the bent of their unregenerate hearts (e.g., Rom 1). With Pharaoh, it serves a clear redemptive historical purpose, showcasing God's power and bringing about Israel's deliverance.
• The verse reminds believers of the immense, unmerited grace of God in choosing to show mercy. For those not shown mercy, it points to a justice that allows for persistent unbelief to have its consequences, ultimately demonstrating God's complete control and ultimate glory.

Romans 9 18 Commentary

Romans 9:18 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse encapsulating a major theme of Pauline theology: God's absolute sovereignty in the execution of His divine purposes. Following the historical examples of Jacob, Esau, and Pharaoh, Paul synthesizes that both God's granting of mercy and His allowing or causing of hardening flow from His unconstrained will. This means neither salvation (implied by mercy) nor spiritual resistance/judgment (implied by hardening) is contingent upon human decision, performance, or inherent merit, but entirely upon God's initiative.

The verse is not meant to depict God as capricious or unjust, an objection Paul immediately addresses (Rom 9:19-20). Rather, it highlights God's utter freedom as the Creator to do as He wills with His creation, particularly concerning humanity's spiritual state. "Hardening" in this context is often understood as God giving over or reinforcing an existing bent towards rebellion or unbelief (Rom 1:24, 28), rather than coercing an unwilling heart into sin. However, with Pharaoh, there is a clear depiction of God's active involvement in hardening a heart already resistant, to achieve a greater purpose—displaying His power and justice. Thus, the hardening can be a divine act, or a divine allowance of persistent rebellion to ripen into judgment. In both mercy and hardening, God's will is the decisive factor, asserting His divine prerogative to determine who will be shown saving mercy and who will persist in a state of resistance that culminates in His just judgment.