For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "I have raised you up" for Pharaoh doesn't just mean God appointed him king, but that God sustained him, preserving him through difficult circumstances. This preservation was specifically so God could demonstrate His power through Pharaoh's resistance and subsequent defeat, ultimately making His name known.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the apparent tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, specifically concerning His choosing of people. He uses the example of Isaac and Ishmael, then Jacob and Esau, to show that God's choice isn't based on works or lineage but on His sovereign will. This leads him to address the objection of unrighteousness, citing God's declaration to Pharaoh in Exodus to demonstrate His right to show mercy or harden hearts for His own purposes.
Ever wondered why God allows certain people, even those who seem wicked, to hold positions of power? Paul points us to a startling example.
Paul uses Pharaoh as a prime illustration of God's sovereign hand in history. The Scripture says, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you..." (Exodus 9:16, quoted in Romans 9:17). This isn't about God creating evil, but about Him ordaining circumstances and individuals to fulfill His ultimate purposes.
Sometimes, the most powerful displays of God's might come not from easy victories, but from overcoming fierce resistance. Pharaoh's story is a prime example.
Paul emphasizes that God's glory is magnified through the contrast between His power and human opposition. The Scripture explicitly states the purpose of raising Pharaoh was "that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
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Understand the original words
graphe · Greek Noun
The authoritative, inspired writings of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it is viewed as the voice of God himself.
egeiro · Greek Verb
In this context, it refers to God's act of bringing someone into a position of prominence or causing them to exist for a specific historical purpose.
dynamis · Greek Noun
The inherent strength, authority, and efficacy of God displayed in His works, particularly in His sovereignty over creation and redemption.
diangello · Greek Verb
To make the name (character, authority, and reputation) of God known or published widely among the nations.
The verse directly quotes God speaking to Pharaoh during the plagues, highlighting a specific moment where God's purpose was to demonstrate His power and make His name known through the deliverance of Israel and the defeat of Pharaoh's resistance.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Leave Egypt
The Exodus event, where God liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt after a series of plagues, culminating in the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
A series of divine judgments unleashed upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to release the Israelites. These plagues demonstrated God's power over Egyptian gods and nature.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Heart Hardened
The Bible records Pharaoh's heart being hardened multiple times, both by himself and by God, preventing him from letting the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
Destruction of Pharaoh's Army
As the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, God caused the waters to return, drowning Pharaoh and his pursuing army, a definitive act of divine power.
This is the direct source passage quoted by Paul, explaining God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh to display His power.
Isaiah 10:5-7This passage speaks of the Assyrian king as an instrument of God's wrath, paralleling Pharaoh's role in demonstrating God's power over human rulers.
Romans 9:18This verse immediately follows and draws the direct conclusion from the Pharaoh example, stating God hardens whom He wills, linking Pharaoh's fate to God's sovereign purposes.
Romans 11:33-36This passage reflects on the unfathomable wisdom and sovereignty of God's judgments and choices, similar to the mystery presented in Pharaoh's case.
Proverbs 16:4This verse states that God made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of calamity, which aligns with the idea of Pharaoh being raised up for a specific divine purpose.
cambridgeRomans 9:17: "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."
17 . For ] See on Romans 9:15 . In this verse St Paul recurs to the question “Is there unrighteousness, &c.?” and replies to it, by citing not now a general Divine utterance (as in Romans 9:15 ) but a special utterance, to an individual. the Scripture saith ] For a similar personification of the in…
bengelRomans 9:17: "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."
Romans 9:17 . Λέγει ) saith, i.e. exhibits God speaking in this manner, comp. ch. Romans 10:20 , saith .— γὰρ , for ) He proves, that it is of Him who shows mercy , even God .— τῷ Φαραὼ , to the Pharaoh ) who lived in the time of Moses .— ὅτι εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐξήγειρὰ σε , ὅπως ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν…
The phrase "I have raised you up" for Pharaoh doesn't just mean God appointed him king, but that God sustained him, preserving him through difficult circumstances. This preservation was specifically so God could demonstrate His power through Pharaoh's resistance and subsequent defeat, ultimately making His name known.
Paul is addressing the apparent tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, specifically concerning His choosing of people. He uses the example of Isaac and Ishmael, then Jacob and Esau, to show that God's choice isn't based on works or lineage but on His sovereign will. This leads him to address the objection of unrighteousness, citing God's declaration to Pharaoh in Exodus to demonstrate His right to show mercy or harden hearts for His own purposes.
Paul is addressing the apparent tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, specifically concerning His choosing of people. He uses the example of Isaac and Ishmael, then Jacob and Esau, to show that God's choice isn't based on works or lineage but on His sovereign will. This leads him to address the objection of unrighteousness, citing God's declaration to Pharaoh in Exodus to demonstrate His right to show mercy or harden hearts for His own purposes.
"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”" — The phrase "I have raised you up" for Pharaoh doesn't just mean God appointed him king, but that God sustained him, preserving him through difficult circumstances. This preservation was specifically…
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Last reviewed October 2026