Romans 9:18

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore {G686}{G3767} hath he mercy {G1653} on whom {G3739} he will {G2309} have mercy, and {G1161} whom {G3739} he will {G2309} he hardeneth {G4645}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So then, he has mercy on whom he wants, and he hardens whom he wants.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 9:18 stands as a profound theological declaration within Paul's discourse on God's sovereign election, asserting that divine mercy and hardening are not contingent upon human will or effort but are expressions of God's unchallengeable purpose. This verse serves as a climactic summary, concluding Paul's use of Old Testament examples to illustrate God's absolute freedom in dispensing grace and permitting resistance, thereby defending His righteousness in the face of Israel's unbelief.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 9:18 is strategically placed at the culmination of Paul's intricate argument concerning God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, despite the majority of Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Chapters 9-11 of Romans form a distinct unit addressing the "problem of Israel." Specifically, [Romans 9:6-13](/romans/9-6-13 "Romans 9:6-13 - God's Word Has Not Failed") establishes that God's promises are not to all physical descendants of Abraham, but to the children of promise, exemplified by God's choice of Jacob over Esau even before their birth, as highlighted in [Romans 9:11-13](/romans/9-11-13 "Romans 9:11-13 - God's Sovereign Choice of Jacob"). Paul then anticipates the objection of injustice, leading to his potent use of the Pharaoh narrative. [Romans 9:15-16](/romans/9-15-16 "Romans 9:15-16 - God's Sovereign Mercy Declared") quotes [Exodus 33:19](/exodus/33-19 "Exodus 33:19 - God's Declaration of Mercy") ("I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion"), emphasizing that God's mercy is not based on human will or exertion. This is immediately followed by the example of Pharaoh in [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "Romans 9:17 - God Raises Up Pharaoh for His Purpose"), where God states He raised Pharaoh up to display His power. Verse 18 then synthesizes these examples, drawing the decisive conclusion about God's dual actions of mercy and hardening.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul is writing to a diverse church in Rome, comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers. A significant theological tension existed regarding the status of Israel, God's chosen people, who largely did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, while Gentiles were being brought into the covenant. This raised questions about God's faithfulness and justice. Paul's argument in Romans 9 addresses these concerns by appealing to Old Testament precedents and a robust understanding of God's sovereignty, which would have resonated with both Jewish listeners (familiar with narratives like Jacob and Esau, and Pharaoh) and Gentile listeners (who might have struggled to reconcile God's promises to Israel with their current exclusion). The concept of a sovereign deity was not foreign to the Greco-Roman world, but Paul's articulation of God's specific, purposeful hardening for redemptive ends would have been uniquely biblical and challenging.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme underscored by [Romans 9](/romans/9 "Romans 9 - God's Sovereign Choice") as a whole, and particularly by verse 18, is **God's Absolute Sovereignty**. This doctrine asserts God's supreme authority and freedom to act according to His own perfect will, independent of human merit or preference. Closely related is the theme of **Divine Mercy**, presented as an unmerited gift, freely bestowed upon those God chooses, demonstrating His compassion and grace. Conversely, the challenging theme of **Divine Hardening** is introduced, which is often understood as God's judicial act of confirming or intensifying an existing resistance in those who have already hardened their own hearts against Him, as seen in the case of Pharaoh in [Exodus](/exodus/ "The Book of Exodus"). This hardening is not arbitrary but serves God's ultimate purposes, often to display His power and glory, as stated in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "Exodus 9:16 - God's Purpose in Raising Pharaoh"). Finally, the verse implicitly raises the tension between **Divine Justice and Human Responsibility**, a tension Paul addresses directly in [Romans 9:19-21](/romans/9-19-21 "Romans 9:19-21 - The Potter and the Clay Analogy") with the analogy of the potter and the clay, asserting God's unquestionable right to fashion humanity for His own purposes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **mercy (Greek, _eleéō'_):** From ἔλεος (eleos), meaning to compassionate, by word or deed, especially by divine grace. In this context, it signifies God's sovereign act of extending unmerited favor and compassion. It is not earned or deserved but is freely given according to God's will.
* **will (Greek, _thélō'_):** Apparently strengthened from the alternate form of αἱρέομαι (haireomai), meaning to determine as an active option from subjective impulse; to choose or prefer; to wish or be inclined to. This word emphasizes God's active, deliberate, and free choice, stemming from His own divine purpose and disposition, rather than being compelled by external factors or human actions.
* **hardeneth (Greek, _sklērýnō'_):** From σκληρός (sklēros), meaning to indurate, stiffen, or render stubborn. In this verse, it refers to God's action of making a heart resistant or inflexible. This is often understood not as God forcing an innocent person into evil, but rather as God withdrawing His restraining grace or confirming a person's pre-existing stubbornness, using that very resistance to accomplish His divine purposes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore hath he mercy":** This opening phrase, introduced by "Therefore" (G686 _ára_ and G3767 _oûn_), signals a logical conclusion drawn from the preceding arguments and examples (Jacob, Esau, Pharaoh). It asserts that God's act of showing mercy is a direct consequence of His sovereign nature and choice, not a response to human merit or desire.
* **"on whom he will [have mercy]":** This clause clarifies the object of God's mercy. The phrase "he will" (G2309 _thélō_) underscores the divine prerogative; God's decision to show mercy is entirely dependent on His own sovereign will and purpose, not on the will or efforts of the recipient. The bracketed "[have mercy]" is supplied in the KJV for clarity, completing the thought of God's volitional act of extending compassion.
* **"and whom he will":** The conjunction "and" (G1161 _dé_) introduces the second, contrasting aspect of God's sovereign action. Again, "he will" (G2309 _thélō_) emphasizes God's deliberate, unconstrained choice, applying the same principle of divine volition to the act of hardening as to the act of showing mercy.
* **"he hardeneth":** This final clause states the second outcome of God's sovereign will: the hardening of certain individuals. This is not presented as a forced act against an unwilling subject, but as a judicial or permissive act where God allows or confirms a person's existing resistance to His will, often for the display of His power and the furtherance of His redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 9:18 employs several significant literary devices that amplify its theological impact. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically an **Antithetical Parallelism**, where two contrasting ideas—mercy and hardening—are presented in a balanced, corresponding structure ("on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth"). This highlights the dual nature of God's sovereign action, demonstrating His complete control over both the bestowal of grace and the permission of resistance. The verse also functions as a **Sovereign Declaration**, a definitive statement of divine prerogative, drawing a forceful conclusion from the preceding Old Testament examples. The concise and direct phrasing contributes to its authoritative tone, leaving little room for human argumentation against God's ultimate will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 9:18 is a cornerstone text for understanding the depth of God's sovereignty in salvation and judgment. It challenges human assumptions about fairness and merit, asserting that God's actions are rooted in His own perfect character and purposes, not in human performance or worthiness. This verse, following the examples of Jacob and Pharaoh, underscores that God's choices are not arbitrary but are part of a grand, unfolding redemptive plan that ultimately brings Him glory. While deeply profound, it simultaneously calls for humility and trust in the God who is both merciful and just, even when His ways are beyond full human comprehension.
* [Exodus 33:19](/exodus/33-19 "Exodus 33:19 - God's Declaration of Mercy and Compassion")
* [Proverbs 16:4](/proverbs/16-4 "Proverbs 16:4 - God Made All Things for His Purpose")
* [John 12:40](/john/12-40 "John 12:40 - Blindness and Hardening in Prophecy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 9:18, while challenging, invites profound reflection on the nature of God and our place before Him. For the believer, this verse should cultivate deep humility and boundless gratitude, recognizing that salvation is entirely a gift of God's sovereign mercy, unearned and undeserved. It reminds us that our standing with God is not based on our striving or merit, but solely on His gracious choice. This truth should lead to a greater trust in God's ultimate goodness, justice, and wisdom, even when His ways seem inscrutable or difficult to reconcile with human logic. It calls us to rest in His perfect plan, knowing that He works all things according to the counsel of His will. For those who have received His mercy, it is a call to live lives that reflect this profound grace, extending compassion to others and humbly acknowledging God's supreme authority in all matters.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's absolute sovereignty in Romans 9:18 deepen your gratitude for His mercy in your life?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge your preconceived notions about fairness or human control over spiritual outcomes?**
* **How can you cultivate greater trust in God's wisdom and justice, even when His ways are beyond your full comprehension?**

### FAQ
**Does Romans 9:18 imply that God is unfair or arbitrary in His choices?**

Answer: Paul anticipates this very objection in [Romans 9:19](/romans/9-19 "Romans 9:19 - The Objection of Unfairness"), asking, "Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?" His answer, using the analogy of the potter and the clay in [Romans 9:20-21](/romans/9-20-21 "Romans 9:20-21 - God's Right as Potter"), asserts God's unquestionable right as Creator to fashion humanity for His own purposes, whether for mercy or for judgment. The Bible consistently portrays God as just and righteous in all His ways ([Psalm 145:17](/psalm/145-17 "Psalm 145:17 - The Lord Is Righteous in All His Ways")). His choices are not arbitrary but are rooted in His perfect wisdom and character, always serving His ultimate glory and redemptive plan. The "hardening" is often understood as a judicial act that confirms or intensifies a pre-existing resistance in those who have already hardened their own hearts against Him, as seen in the case of Pharaoh in [Exodus 8:15](/exodus/8-15 "Exodus 8:15 - Pharaoh Hardens His Own Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 9:18, while focusing on God's sovereign acts of mercy and hardening, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent object of God's mercy, the one through whom all divine compassion flows to humanity. The cross of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's sovereign mercy, where He, in His infinite love, chose to provide salvation for a world lost in sin ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). At the same time, Christ also represents the point of divine hardening for those who reject Him. As [1 Peter 2:7-8](/1_peter/2-7-8 "1 Peter 2:7-8 - Christ as a Stumbling Stone") states, He is "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense" to those who disobey, fulfilling the prophetic hardening of hearts that leads to judgment. The very act of some rejecting Christ, which led to His crucifixion, was paradoxically part of God's sovereign plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles and ultimately to a remnant of Israel ([Romans 11:11-12](/romans/11-11-12 "Romans 11:11-12 - Israel's Stumbling and Gentile Salvation")). Thus, in Christ, we see the perfect convergence of God's sovereign mercy for those who believe and His righteous hardening for those who persistently refuse His grace, all working together for the display of His glory and the accomplishment of His redemptive purposes.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Romans 9:15

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.

Romans 9:16

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

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 11:7

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Romans 11:8

(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

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.