Romans 9:19-24
New English Translation
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?” 20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being[a]—to talk back to God?[b] Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”[c] 21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay[d] one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?[e] 22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects[f] of wrath[g] prepared for destruction?[h] 23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects[i] of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
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- Romans 9:20 tn Grk “O man.”
- Romans 9:20 tn Grk “On the contrary, O man, who are you to talk back to God?”
- Romans 9:20 sn A quotation from Isa 29:16; 45:9.
- Romans 9:21 tn Grk “Or does not the potter have authority over the clay to make from the same lump.”
- Romans 9:21 tn Grk “one vessel for honor and another for dishonor.”
- Romans 9:22 tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.
- Romans 9:22 tn Or “vessels destined for wrath.” The genitive ὀργῆς (orgēs) could be taken as a genitive of destination.
- Romans 9:22 tn Or possibly “objects of wrath that have fit themselves for destruction.” The form of the participle could be taken either as a passive or middle (reflexive). ExSyn 417-18 argues strongly for the passive sense (which is followed in the translation), stating that “the middle view has little to commend it.” First, καταρτίζω (katartizō) is nowhere else used in the NT as a direct or reflexive middle (a usage which, in any event, is quite rare in the NT). Second, the lexical force of this verb, coupled with the perfect tense, suggests something of a “done deal” (against some commentaries that see these vessels as ready for destruction yet still able to avert disaster). Third, the potter-clay motif seems to have one point: The potter prepares the clay.
- Romans 9:23 tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.
Romans 9:19-24
Lexham English Bible
19 Therefore you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted[a] his will? 20 On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this”?[b] 21 Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump a vessel that is for honorable use[c] and one that is for ordinary use[d]? 22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And he did so[e] in order that he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory, 24 us whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
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- Romans 9:19 Or “who resists”
- Romans 9:20 A quotation from Isa 29:16; 45:9
- Romans 9:21 Literally “honor”
- Romans 9:21 Literally “dishonor”
- Romans 9:23 The words “he did so” are not in the Greek text, but are an understood repetition from the previous clause
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