Passage

Romans 9.15-16

Book: Romans · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"13. Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."

"15. For he saith 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 is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy."

"17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth. 18. So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth." (Romans 9:13-18, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"13. Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!"

"15. For he said 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 is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy."

"17. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18. So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires." (Romans 9:13-18, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"13. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."

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

"17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans 9:13-18, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"13. according as it hath been written, 'Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.' 14. What, then, shall we say? unrighteousness [is] with God? let it not be!"

"15. for to Moses He saith, 'I will do kindness to whom I do kindness, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;' 16. so, then, not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness:"

"17. for the Writing saith to Pharaoh, 'For this very thing I did raise thee up, that I might shew in thee My power, and that My name might be declared in all the land;' 18. so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden." (Romans 9:13-18, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Paul the Apostle
Audience: Christian believers in Rome (Jew + Gentile)
Location: composed in Corinth; addressed to Rome
Time period: composed c. AD 57

Theological reading

Key words

G2316 - theos, theos (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: Matthew 1.23, Matthew 3.16, Matthew 5.9.

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.