Romans 9:20

Romans 9:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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?
• New International Version (NIV)But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Context of Romans 9:20

18So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills. 19You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]? 22What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?

Romans 9:20 word by word

ὦ ἄνθρωπε, μενοῦνγε, σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενος τῷ θεῷ; μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι· τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nay butμενοῦνγεmenounge · ratherG3304
• Oὦō · oh!G5599
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• that repliest againstἀνταποκρίνομαιantapokrinomai · to contradictG470
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Shallἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• the thing formedπλάσμαplasma · formed thingG4110
• to him that formedπλάσσωplassō · to moldG4111
• hast thou madeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: makeG4160
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thusοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779

Cross-references for Romans 9:20

• Romans 2:1Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others; for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, because you who judge [from a position of arrogance or self-righteousness] are habitually practicing the very same things [which you denounce].
• Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?
• 1 Corinthians 7:16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?
• James 2:20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless?
• Job 33:13“Why do you complain against Him? That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.
• Job 36:23Who has appointed God His way, And who can say [to Him], ‘You have done wrong’?
• Job 38:2“Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom] By words without knowledge?
• Job 40:2“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who disputes with God answer it.”
• Job 42:2“I know that You can do all things, And that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.
• Matthew 20:15Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’
• Job 16:3Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind? Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?
• 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom?
• 1 Timothy 6:5and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—withdraw from them].
• Isaiah 29:16You turn things upside down [with your perversity]! Shall the potter be considered equal with the clay, That the thing that is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or the thing that is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
• Isaiah 45:9“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who quarrels with his Maker— A [worthless] piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces [equally worthless]! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or does the thing say, ‘He has no hands’?

Commentaries on Romans 9:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Nay but, O man, who art thou - As if he had said: Weak, ignorant man, darest thou retort on the infinitely good and righteous God? Reflect on thyself; and tell me, after thou hast abused the grace of God, and transgressed his laws, wilt thou cavil at his dispensations? God hath made, created, formed the Jewish nation; and shall the thing formed, when it hath corrupted itself, pretend to correct the wise and gracious Author of its being, and say, Why hast…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-24Verses 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 himself by his own…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21See Isaiah 29:16 and Isaiah 45:9–10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. 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--"didst thou make" me thus?--(Is 45:9).Read the comment
• Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 2020. But, O man! who art thou? etc. (“But” is not sufficiently emphatical here; μενοῦνγε; “yes, verily,” in Romans 10:18; “yea, rather,” in Luke 11:28; “doubtless,” in Philippians 3:8; it may be rendered here, “nay, rather.” — Ed.) As it is a participle in Greek, we may read what follows in the present tense, who disputest, or contendest, or strivest in opposition to God; for it is expressed in Greek according to this meaning, — “Who art thou who enterest…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 9:20

• Infidelity
• Murmuring
• Predestination
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Continual
• Fault
• Resist
• Sovereignty
• Bible, the
• Election
• Form
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on Romans 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings