Romans 9:16
Viewing the King James Version. Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Romans 9:16.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
- King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition
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Other Translations of Romans 9:16
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
So then it {does} not {depend} on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
- American Standard Version (1901)
So then, it is not by the desire or by the attempt of man, but by the mercy of God.
- Basic English Bible
So then [it is] not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shews mercy.
- Darby Bible
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
- Douay Rheims Bible
So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
- Webster's Bible
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,
- Weymouth Bible
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
- World English Bible
Therfor it is not nether of man willynge, nethir rennynge, but of God hauynge mercy.
- Wycliffe Bible
so, then -- not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness:
- Youngs Literal Bible
View Wesley's Notes for Romans 9:16
9:16 It - The blessing. Therefore is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth - It is not the effect either of the will or the works of man, but of the grace and power of God. The will of man is here opposed to the grace of God, and man's running, to the divine operation. And this general declaration respects not only Isaac and Jacob, and the Israelites in the time of Moses, but likewise all the spiritual children of Abraham, even to the end of the world.
View People's Bible Notes for Romans 9:16
Ro 9:16 But of God that sheweth mercy. When God is gracious, it is not because a human will ("him that willeth"), or a human work ("him that runneth") lays him under obligation, and forces him to give, but the gift is of him, due to his mercy, which he has the right to bestow where he will. Isaac "willed" to bestow the blessing on Esau (Ge 27:1-4), and the latter "run" to obtain the venison (Ge 27:5), but Jacob had been chosen to become the founder of the chosen people (Ge 25:23 26:24 Ps 135:4), and received the blessing, which promised that he should be the father of a great nation (Ge 27:28,29).
CLIFFORD's comment on 2013-03-06 07:02:50:
From my own interpretation of what apostle Paul was saying here; success or whatever height one attains in life is not by the effort one makes, but by God’s mercy. It goes to prove that though everyone is created by God, but not everyone is on his mercy list. It also contrasts Solomon’s personal view; in his conclusion in the book of Ecclesiastes 9:11 (talking about time and chance). This implies that man’s willingness or effort without God is baseless.
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