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 9:20 in other translations
| BSB | But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” |
|---|---|
| WEB | But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” |
| ASV | Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus? |
| YLT | nay, but, O man, who art thou that art answering again to God? shall the thing formed say to Him who did form it, Why me didst thou make thus? |
| DARBY | Aye, but thou, O man, who art thou that answerest again to God? Shall the thing formed say to him that has formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? |
| BBE | But, O man, who are you, to make answer against God? May the thing which is made say to him who made it, Why did you make me so? |
| Webster | No, 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? |
What does Romans 9:20 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:20-21
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Who art thou, etc. Paul here strongly reproves the impiety and wickedness of arraigning God. This impiety appears,
(1.) because man is a creature of God, and it is improper that he should arraign his Maker.
(2.) He is unqualified to understand the subject. "Who art thou ?" What qualifications has a creature of a day,--a being just in the infancy of his existence; of so limited faculties; so perverse, blinded, and interested as man--to sit in judgment on the doings of the Infinite Mind? Who gave him the authority, or invested him with the prerogatives of a judge over his Maker's doings?
(3.) Even if man were qualified to investigate those subjects, what right has he to reply against God, to arraign him, or to follow out a train of argument tending to involve his Creator in shame and disgrace? Nowhere is there to be found a more cutting or humbling reply to the pride of man than this. And on no subject was it more needed. The experience of every age has shown that this has been a prominent topic of objection against the government of God; and that there has been no point in the Christian theology to which the human heart has been so ready to make objections as to the doctrine of the sovereignty of God.
Repliest against God. Margin, "Answerest again; or, disputest with God." The passage conveys the idea of answering again; or of arguing to the dishonour of God. It implies, that when God declares his will, man should be still. God has his own plans of infinite wisdom, and it is not ours to reply against him, or to arraign him of injustice, when we cannot see the reason of his doings.
Shall the thing formed, etc. This sentiment is found in Isa 29:16. See also Isa 45:9. It was peculiarly proper to adduce this to a Jew. The objection is one which is supposed to be made by a Jew, and it was proper to reply to him by a quotation from his own Scriptures. Any being has a right to fashion his work according to his own views of what is best; and as this right is not denied to men, we ought not to blame the infinitely wise God for acting in a similar way. They who have received every blessing they enjoy from him, ought not to blame him for not making them different.
(1) "repliest" or, "answerest again" or, "disputest with God." (s) "shall the thing formed" Isa 29:16.
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 9:20 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 9:20
- Isaiah 29:16
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
- Isaiah 45:9-11
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
- Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
- Job 33:13
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
- Job 36:23
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
- Job 40:2
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
- Matthew 20:15
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- Job 16:3
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
- 1 Timothy 6:5
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
- Job 40:8
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
- Job 38:2-3
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
- Job 42:2-6
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. …
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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 9:21
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Romans 9:20 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas antes, oh hombre, ¿quién eres tú, para que alterques con Dios? Dirá el vaso de barro al que le labró: ¿Por qué me has hecho tal? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais plutôt, toi, ô homme, qui es-tu, qui contestes contre Dieu? La chose formée dira-t-elle à celui qui l’a formée: Pourquoi m’as-tu ainsi faite? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Ja freilich, o Mensch, wer bist du, der du das Wort nimmst wider Gott? Wird etwa das Geformte zu dem Former sagen: Warum hast du mich also gemacht? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | O homo, tu quis es, qui respondeas Deo? numquid dicit figmentum ei qui se finxit: Quid me fecisti sic? |