Romans 9:23

Romans 9:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
• New International Version (NIV)What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—
• English Standard Version (ESV)in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
• New King James Version (NKJV)and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

Context of Romans 9:23

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? And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24including us, whom He also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles? 25Just as He says in [the writings of the prophet] Hosea: “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And [I will call] her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ ”

Romans 9:23 word by word

καὶ ἵνα γνωρίσῃ τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ σκεύη ἐλέους ἃ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he might make knownγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
• the richesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the vesselsσκεῦοςskeuos · vesselG4632
• of mercyἔλεοςeleos · mercyG1656
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he had afore preparedπροετοιμάζωproetoimazō · to prepareG4282
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519

Cross-references for Romans 9:23

• Romans 2:4Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?
• Romans 5:20But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more,
• Ephesians 1:6to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].
• Ephesians 2:4But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us,
• Ephesians 3:8To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand],
• Colossians 1:27God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:10when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day [that is, glorified through the changed lives of those who have accepted Him as Savior and have been set apart for His purpose], and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed and trusted [and confirmed in your lives].
• 1 Chronicles 29:18O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You;
• Luke 1:17It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”
• Ephesians 2:3Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].
• Colossians 1:12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity].
• 2 Timothy 2:21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
• 1 Peter 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].

Commentaries on Romans 9:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23And that he might make known - God endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath: To show his wrath, and to make his power known. And also, That he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy. Which he had afore prepared unto glory - The Jews were fitted for destruction long before; but the fittest time to destroy them was after he had prepared the believing Gentiles unto glory. For the rod of the Messiah's strength was to be…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. 1-33n this section, Paul addresses a serious question. Many Jews did not believe in Jesus. If God had promised salvation to Israel, how could Jesus truly fulfill God’s plan when so few Jews believed (9:1–5)? In response, Paul uses the Old Testament to show that God always planned to save only a remnant, that is, a smaller group within Israel (9:6–29). Paul also explains that many Jews did not accept Christ because they refused to trust in him (9:30–10:21)…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. What if God, willing to show--"designing to manifest" his wrath--His holy displeasure against sin. and to make his power--to punish it known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath--that is, "destined to wrath"; just as "vessels of mercy," in Ro 9:23, mean "vessels destined to mercy"; compare Ep 2:3, "children of wrath." fitted for destruction--It is well remarked by Stuart that the "difficulties which such statements involve are not…Read the comment
• Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 2323. That he might also make known the riches of his glory, etc. I doubt not but the two particles καὶ ἵνα, is an instance of a construction, where the first word is put last; (ὕστερον πρότερον) and that this clause may better unite with the former, I have rendered it, That he might also make known, etc. (Ut notas quoque faceret, etc.) It is the second reason which manifests the glory of God in the destruction of the reprobate, because the greatness of…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 9:23

• Blessing
• Gentiles
• Glory
• God Continued...
• Predestination

In the dictionaries

• Continual
• Fault
• Glory
• Resist
• Sovereignty
• Bible, the
• Election
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Paul, the Apostle
• Predestination

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