Romans 9:16
New International Version
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

New Living Translation
So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

English Standard Version
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Berean Standard Bible
So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Berean Literal Bible
So then, it is not of the willing, nor of the running, but of God showing mercy.

King James Bible
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

New King James Version
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

New American Standard Bible
So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.

NASB 1995
So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

NASB 1977
So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Legacy Standard Bible
So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Amplified Bible
So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift].

Christian Standard Bible
So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.

American Standard Version
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore it is not by means of him who wills, neither by means of him who runs, but in the hand of God, the merciful.

Contemporary English Version
Everything then depends on God's mercy and not on what people want or do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

English Revised Version
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

Good News Translation
So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God's mercy.

International Standard Version
Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy.

Literal Standard Version
so then—not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness;

Majority Standard Bible
So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

New American Bible
So it depends not upon a person’s will or exertion, but upon God, who shows mercy.

NET Bible
So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

New Revised Standard Version
So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

New Heart English Bible
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.

Webster's Bible Translation
So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

Weymouth New Testament
And from this we learn that everything is dependent not on man's will or endeavour, but upon God who has mercy. For the Scripture said to Pharaoh,

World English Bible
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.

Young's Literal Translation
so, then -- not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Sovereign Choice
15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the 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.”…

Cross References
Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

Matthew 11:27
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,


Treasury of Scripture

So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.

Romans 9:11
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Genesis 27:1-4,9-14
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I…

Psalm 110:3
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

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Attempt Depend Dependent Depends Desire Effort Endeavour God's Kindness Learn Mercy Pharaoh Runneth Running Runs Scripture Sheweth Shews Showeth Willeth Willing Wills
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Attempt Depend Dependent Depends Desire Effort Endeavour God's Kindness Learn Mercy Pharaoh Runneth Running Runs Scripture Sheweth Shews Showeth Willeth Willing Wills
Romans 9
1. Paul is sorry for the Jews.
7. All of Abraham not of the promise.
18. God's sovereignty.
25. The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.
32. The cause of their stumbling.














(16) Of him that runneth.--A metaphor taken from the foot-races as St. Paul may very possibly have seen them practised at Corinth. (Comp. Romans 9:16; Galatians 2:2; Galatians 5:7; Philippians 2:16.) The meaning is that the prize does not depend on human will or human effort, but on the grace of God.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
Ἄρα (Ara)
Conjunction
Strong's 686: Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive.

then,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

[it does] not [depend]
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

on man’s
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

desire
θέλοντος (thelontos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

[or]
οὐδὲ (oude)
Conjunction
Strong's 3761: Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.

effort,
τρέχοντος (trechontos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5143: Apparently a primary verb; which uses dremo drem'-o as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

on
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

mercy.
ἐλεῶντος (eleōntos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1653: To pity, have mercy on. From eleos; to compassionate.


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NT Letters: Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him (Rom. Ro)
Romans 9:15
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