Romans 9:17

17 For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, "I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world." ¹

Romans 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 9:17

For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh
(arq rma) , "The Scripture saith", is a Talmudic ^F12 way of speaking, used when any point is proved from Scripture; and is of the same signification with (anmxr rma) , "the merciful God says"; and so the sense of it here is, God said to Pharaoh; the testimony here cited, stands in ( Exodus 9:16 ) ; where it is read thus, "for this cause have I raised thee up", (Kytdmeh) , or "made thee stand", "for to show in thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth"; and is produced by the apostle in proof of the other branch of predestination, called reprobation, and to vindicate it from the charge of unrighteousness: in which may be observed, that the act of raising up of Pharaoh is God's act,

even for this same purpose have I raised thee up;
which may be understood in every sense that is put upon that phrase, unless that which some Jewish ^F13 writers have annexed to it, namely, that God raised Pharaoh from the dead; otherwise, I say, all the rest may well enough be thought to be comprised in it; as that God ordained and appointed him from eternity, by certain means to this end; that he made him to exist in time, or brought him into being; that he raised him to the throne, promoted him to that high honour and dignity; that he preserved him, and did not cut him off as yet; that he strengthened and hardened his heart, irritated, provoked, and stirred him up against his people Israel; and suffered him to go all the lengths he did, in his obstinacy and rebellion: all which was done,

that I might shew my power in thee;
his superior power to him, his almighty power in destroying him and his host in the Red sea, when the Israelites were saved: and the ultimate end which God had in view in this was,

that my name might be declared throughout all the earth;
that he himself might be glorified, and that the glory of his perfections, particularly of his wisdom, power, and justice, might be celebrated throughout the world. The sum of it is, that this man was raised up by God in every sense, for God to show his power in his destruction, that he might be glorified; from whence the apostle deduces the following conclusion.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 82. 2. & 84. 1. Bava Metzia, fol. 47. 1. Zebachim, fol. 4. 1, 2. & passim.
F13 Pirke Eliezer, c. 42.

Romans 9:17 In-Context

15 For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish."

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

17 For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, "I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world."

18 So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

19 But one of you will say to me, "If this is so, how can God find fault with anyone? Who can resist God's will?"

Cross References

• 1. 9.17Exodus 9.16 (LXX).