Romans 9:16

Romans 9:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
• New International Version (NIV)It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Context of Romans 9:16

14What can we say—that God is unfair? That’s unthinkable! 15For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.” Therefore, God’s choice does not depend on a person’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For example, Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I put you here for this reason: to demonstrate my power through you and to spread my name throughout the earth.” 18Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will.

Romans 9:16 word by word

ἄρα οὖν οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἐλεῶντος θεοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Soἄραara · thereforeG686
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• notοὐou · noG3756
• of him that willethθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• norοὐδέoude · norG3761
• of him that runnethτρέχωtrechō · to runG5143
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• that sheweth mercyἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653

Cross-references for Romans 9:16

• Romans 9:11Before the children had been born or had done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told that the older child would serve the younger one. This was said to Rebekah so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice,
• Genesis 27:1When Isaac was old and going blind, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!” Esau answered, “Here I am.”
• Psalms 110:3Your people will volunteer when you call up your army. Your young people will come to you in holy splendor like dew in the early morning.
• Isaiah 65:1I was ready to answer those who didn’t ask. I was found by those who weren’t looking for me. I said, “Here I am! Here I am!” to a nation that didn’t worship me.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.
• Luke 10:21In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.
• John 1:12However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him.
• John 3:8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it’s going. That’s the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes.
• Ephesians 2:4But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.
• Philippians 2:13It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. You are loved by the Lord and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through a life of spiritual devotion and faith in the truth.
• James 1:18God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.
• 1 Peter 2:9However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Commentaries on Romans 9:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, etc. - I conclude, therefore, from these several instances, that the making or continuing any body of men the peculiar people of God, is righteously determined; not by the judgment, hopes, or wishes of men, but by the will and wisdom of God alone. For Abraham judged that the blessing ought, and he willed, desired, that it might be given to Ishmael; and Isaac also willed, designed, it for his first-born, Esau: and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-24Verses 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 himself by his own…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-16God’s choice is not unfair because God does not owe anything to sinful human beings (see study note on 4:4–5). Anything God gives is an act of mercy, not a payment that people deserve.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. So then it is not of him that willeth--hath the inward desire nor of him that runneth--maketh active effort (compare 1Co 9:24, 26; Php 2:16; 3:14). Both these are indispensable to salvation, yet salvation is owing to neither, but is purely "of God that showeth mercy." See on Php 2:12, 13, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which, out of His own good pleasure, worketh in you both to will and to do."Read the comment
• Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 1616. It is not then of him who wills, etc. From the testimony adduced he draws this inference, that beyond all controversy our election is not to be ascribed to our diligence, nor to our striving, nor to our efforts, but that it is wholly to be referred to the counsel of God. That none of you may think that they who are elected are elected because they are deserving, or because they had in any way procured for themselves the favor of God, or, in short…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 9:16

• Grace of God
• Predestination
• Works

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Continual
• Election of Grace
• Fault
• Resist
• Sovereignty
• Bible, the
• Election
• Games

Commentaries on Romans 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings