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 shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15For to Moses He says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who strives, but on God who shows mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up—to demonstrate My power in you, so My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills.

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 9:11Yet before the sons were even born and had not done anything good or bad—so that God’s purpose and choice might stand not because of works but because of Him who calls—
• Genesis 27:1Now it was when Isaac grew old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he said to him.
• Psalms 110:3Your people will be a freewill offering in a day of your power. In holy splendors, from dawn’s womb, yours is the dew of your youth.
• Isaiah 65:1“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me, I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Hineni, hineni!’ to a nation not called by My Name.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Yeshua said in response, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and discerning and revealed them to infants.
• Luke 10:21In that very hour, He was overjoyed in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and said, “I praise You, Father, Master of the universe, that You have hidden these things from the wise and discerning and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was pleasing to You.
• John 1:12But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God.
• John 3:8The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26For you see your calling, brothers and sisters, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well.
• Ephesians 2:4But God was rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.
• Philippians 2:13For the One working in you is God—both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits for salvation through sanctification by the Ruach and belief in the truth.
• James 1:18By His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
• 1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One 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