Romans 8:20
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Romans 8:20 in other translations
| BSB | For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope |
|---|---|
| WEB | For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope |
| ASV | For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope |
| YLT | for to vanity was the creation made subject--not of its will, but because of Him who did subject it --in hope, |
| DARBY | for the creature has been made subject to vanity, not of its will, but by reason of him who has subjected the same, in hope |
| BBE | For every living thing was put under the power of change, not by its desire, but by him who made it so, in hope |
| Webster | For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope: |
What does Romans 8:20 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:19-22
19-22. For, &c.--"The apostle, fired with the thought of the future glory of the saints, pours forth this splendid passage, in which he represents the whole creation groaning under its present degradation, and looking and longing for the revelation of this glory as the end and consummation of its existence" [Hodge]. the earnest expectation--(compare Php 1:20). of the creature--rather, "the creation." waiteth for the…
Barnes' Notes
Subject to vanity. The word "subject to" means placed in such a state; subjected to it by the appointment of another, as a soldier has his rank and place assigned him in an army. The word vanity here (ματαιοτητι) is descriptive of the present condition of the Christian, as frail and dying; as exposed to trials, temptations, and cares; as in the midst of conflicts, and of a world which may be emphatically pronounced vanity. More or less, the Christian is brought under this influence; his joys are marred; his peace is discomposed; his affections wander; his life is a life of vanity and vexation.
Not willingly. Not voluntarily. It is not a matter of choice. It is not that which is congenial to his renewed nature. That would aspire to perfect holiness and peace. But this subjection is one that is contrary to it, and from which he desires to be delivered. This describes substantially the same condition as Rom 7:15-24.
But by reason. By him, (δια). It is the appointment of God, who has chosen to place his people in this condition; and who for wise purposes retains them in it.
Who hath subjected the same. Who has appointed his people to this condition. It is his wise arrangement. Here we may observe,
(1.) that the instinctive feelings of Christians lead them to desire a purer and a happier world, Php 1:23.
(2.) That it is not what they desire, to be subjected to the toils of this life, and to the temptations and vanities of this world. They sigh for deliverance.
(3.) Their lot in Life; their being subjected to this state of vanity, is the arrangement of God. Why it is, he has not seen fit to inform us fully. He might have taken his people at once to heaven as soon as they are converted. But though we know not all the reasons why they are continued here in this state of vanity, we can see some of them.
(a) Christians are subjected to this state to do good toIn hope. Rom 5:4. Hope has reference to the future; and in this state of the Christian, he sighs for deliverance, and expects it.
their fellow-sinners. They remain on earth for this
purpose; and this should be their leading aim.
(b) By their remaining here, the power of the gospel is shown
in overcoming their sin; in meeting their temptations; in
sustaining them in trial; and in thus furnishing living
evidence to the world of the power and excellency of
that gospel. This could not be attained if they were
removed at once to heaven.
(c) It furnishes occasion for some interesting exhibitions
of character--for hope, and faith, and love, and for
increasing and progressive excellence.
(d) It is a proper training for heaven. It brings out the
Christian character, and fits it for the skies. There may
be inestimable advantages, all of which we may not see, in
subjecting the Christian to a process of training in
overcoming his sins, and in producing confidence in
God, before he is admitted to his state of final rest.
(e) It is fit and proper that he should engage here in the
service of Him who has redeemed him. He has been ransomed
by the blood of Christ, and God has the highest claim on him
in all the conflicts and toils, in all the labours and
services, to which he may be subjected in this life.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:18-25
The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment. How vastly different are the sentence of the word and the sentiment of the world, concerning the sufferings of this present time! Indeed the whole creation seems to wait with earnest expectation for the period when the children of God shall be manifested in the…
Romans 8:20 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 8:20
- Genesis 3:17-19
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
- Genesis 5:29
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
- Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
- Jeremiah 12:4
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
- Isaiah 24:5-6
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
- Jeremiah 14:5-6
Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
- Hosea 4:3
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- Genesis 6:13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
- Joel 1:18
How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
- Job 12:6-10
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? …
- Jeremiah 12:11
They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Romans 8:19
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
- Romans 8:20
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
- Romans 8:21
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:20 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque las criaturas sujetas fueron á vanidad, no de grado, mas por causa del que las sujetó con esperanza, |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car la création a été assujettie à la vanité (non de sa volonté, mais à cause de celui qui l’a assujettie), |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn die Schöpfung ist der Eitelkeit unterworfen worden, auf Hoffnung, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Vanitati enim creatura subjecta est non volens, sed propter eum, qui subjecit eam in spe: |