Romans 9:19
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Romans 9:19 in other translations
| BSB | One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” |
|---|---|
| WEB | You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?” |
| ASV | Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will? |
| YLT | Thou wilt say, then, to me, ‘Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?' |
| DARBY | Thou wilt say to me then, Why does he yet find fault? for who resists his purpose? |
| BBE | But you will say to me, Why does he still make us responsible? who is able to go against his purpose? |
| Webster | Thou wilt say then to me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will? |
What does Romans 9:19 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Why doth he yet find fault? Why does he blame men, since their conduct is in accordance with his purpose, and since he bestows mercy according to his sovereign will? This objection has been made by sinners in all ages. It is the standing objection against the doctrines of grace. The objection is founded,
(1.) on the difficulty of reconciling the purposes of God with the free agency of man.
(2.) It assumes, what cannot be proved, that a plan or purpose of God must destroy the freedom of man.
(3.) It is said that if the plan of God is accomplished, then that which is best to be done is done, and, of course, man cannot be blamed. These objections are met by the apostle in the following argument.
Who hath resisted his will? That is, who has successfully opposed his will, or frustrated his plan? The word translated resist is commonly used to denote the resistance offered by soldiers or armed men. Thus, Eph 5:13, "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand (resist, or successfully oppose) in the evil day." See Lk 21:15, "I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist." See also Acts 6:10, 13:8, "But Elymas-- withstood them," etc. The same Greek word, Rom 13:2, Gal 2:11. This does not mean that no one has offered resistance or opposition to God, but that no one had done it successfully. God had accomplished his purposes in spite of their opposition. This was an established point in the sacred writings, and one of the admitted doctrines of the Jews. To establish it had even been a part of the apostle's design; and the difficulty now was to see how, this being admitted, men could be held chargeable with crime. That it was the doctrine of the Scriptures, see 2Chr 20:6, "In thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Dan 4:35, "He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" See also the case of Joseph and his brethren, Gen 1:20, "As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."
(r) "who hath resisted his will" 2Chr 20:6, Dan 4:35
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 9:14-24
Whatever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hos 13:9. God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind…
Romans 9:19 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 9:19
- Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
- 2 Chronicles 20:6
And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
- 1 Corinthians 15:12
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
- 1 Corinthians 15:35
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
- Job 9:19
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
- Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
- Psalms 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
- Job 9:12-15
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
- Job 23:13-14
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
- Isaiah 10:6-7
I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
- Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
- Isaiah 46:10-11
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Romans 9:18
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
- Romans 9:19
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
- Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Romans 9:19 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Me dirás pues: ¿Por qué, pues, se enoja? porque ¿quién resistirá á su voluntad? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Tu me diras donc: Pourquoi se plaint-il encore? car qui est-ce qui a résisté à sa volonté? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Du wirst nun zu mir sagen: Warum tadelt er noch? Denn wer hat seinem Willen widerstanden? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Dicis itaque mihi: Quid adhuc queritur? voluntati enim ejus quis resistit? |