Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Romans 9:16

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 16 So, then, it depends, not on a person’s desire or on his effort,* but on God, who has mercy.+

Romans 9:16

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 16 ἄρα Really οὖν therefore οὐ not τοῦ of the (one) θέλοντος willing οὐδὲ nor τοῦ of the (one) τρέχοντος, running, ἀλλὰ but τοῦ of the (one) ἐλεῶντος having mercy θεοῦ. of God.

Romans 9:16

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 16 So, then, it depends, not upon the one wishing nor upon the one running, but upon God,+ who has mercy.+

Romans 9:16

The Bible in Living English
- 16 So then it belongs not to the one who has the will nor to the one who does the running, but to God who takes pity.

Romans 9:16

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

Romans 9:16

The Emphasized Bible
- 16 Hence then it is not of him that wisheth nor of him that runneth, But of the mercy-shewing God.

Romans 9:16

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

Romans Study Notes—Chapter 9

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 9:16
  
  not on a person’s desire or on his effort: Lit., “not on the one who desires nor on the one who runs.” The literal expression “the one who runs” is here used figuratively to refer to one who exerts himself in striving toward a goal. In his letters, Paul often used the metaphor of a runner in a race. (1Co 9:24-26; Ga 5:7; Php 2:16) When Paul discussed God’s choosing of spiritual Israel, he explained that those of natural Israel counted on their fleshly relationship with Abraham and their pursuit of “righteousness” through the Law of Moses. They had been running, or “pursuing” the goal of “righteousness,” in the wrong way. (Ro 9:30-32) The members of the true “Israel” were to depend, not on their own efforts or achievements, but on God’s mercy. (Ro 9:6, 7) They would need to exert themselves in service to God, but without God’s mercy their efforts would be in vain.