Romans 9:18 nasb — So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

NASB

"So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires."

— Romans 9:18, NASB

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Romans 9:18 in Other Translations

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Romans 9 — Context

15

For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."

16

So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

17

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."

18

So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

19

You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"

20

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?

21

Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

Romans 9:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Romans 9:18 say?
Romans 9:18 in the NASB reads: “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”
Where is Romans 9:18 in the Bible?
Romans 9:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Romans, chapter 9, verse 18.
Who wrote Romans?
Romans is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 56–57.
What is the book of Romans about?
Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — the universal need for salvation, justification by faith in Christ, the new life of the Spirit, the place of Israel in God's plan, and the practical shape of a transformed community. The most influential letter in church history.
What are the major themes of Romans?
Romans explores themes including Righteousness by Faith, Sin, Grace, Spirit-Filled Life, Israel, Christian Living. These themes shape the meaning and context of Romans 9:18.
What translation should I read Romans 9:18 in?
Romans 9:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Romans 9:18?
Romans 9:18 reads (NASB): “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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