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Romans 9:16-18
King James Version
Romans 9:16-18
King James Version
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
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.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
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Romans 9:16-18
New King James Version
Romans 9:16-18
New King James Version
16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For (A)the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, (B)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He (C)hardens.
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Romans 9:16-18
English Standard Version
Romans 9:16-18
English Standard Version
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[a] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, (A)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
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- Romans 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs
Romans 9:16-18
New International Version
Romans 9:16-18
New International Version
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(A) 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[a](B) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(C)
Footnotes
- Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
Romans 9:16-18
New English Translation
Romans 9:16-18
New English Translation
16 So then,[a] it does not depend on human desire or exertion,[b] but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh:[c] “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”[d] 18 So then,[e] God[f] has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.[g]
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- Romans 9:16 sn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what he has been arguing.
- Romans 9:16 tn Grk “So then, [it does] not [depend] on the one who desires nor on the one who runs.”
- Romans 9:17 sn Paul uses a typical rabbinic formula here in which the OT scriptures are figuratively portrayed as speaking to Pharaoh. What he means is that the scripture he cites refers (or can be applied) to Pharaoh.
- Romans 9:17 sn A quotation from Exod 9:16.
- Romans 9:18 sn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what he has been arguing.
- Romans 9:18 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Romans 9:18 tn Grk “So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.”
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New English Translation (NET)
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