EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Romans 11:34
34The Bible says this: ‘Nobody knows the thoughts of the Lord God. Nobody is able to tell him what he should do.’
Romans 11:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
- New International Version (NIV)“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”
Context of Romans 11:34
32God says that everyone is guilty because they do not obey him. He says that so that he can be kind and he can forgive everyone. 33Yes! God is very great! He has everything! He knows and he understands all things! Nobody can completely understand the things that he decides. Nobody can explain the ways in which he works. The Bible says this: ‘Nobody knows the thoughts of the Lord God. Nobody is able to tell him what he should do.’ 35‘Nobody has ever given anything to God, so that God had a debt to pay back to them.’ 36It is God who made all things. He also causes all things to continue. And all things are there to show how great he is. We praise him! He is great for ever! Amen. This is true!
Read all of Romans 11Romans 11:34 word by word
τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου; ἢ τίς σύμβουλος αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 11:34
- Job 15:8You do not know God's secret plans. You are not the only wise person in the world.
- Job 36:22Yes, God is very powerful. There is no teacher as good as he is.
- Isaiah 40:13Nobody understands the mind of the Lord. Nobody can be his advisor, to tell him what he should do.
- Jeremiah 23:18But none of those prophets has met with the Lord. They have not seen him and they have not heard his voice. So none of them has ever listened to him to know what he is saying.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16As it says in the Bible: ‘Nobody can know what the Lord God is thinking. Nobody can tell him what he should do.’ But we think about these things in the same way that Christ thinks.
Commentaries on Romans 11:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? - Who can pretend to penetrate the counsels of God, or fathom the reasons of his conduct? His designs and his counsels are like himself, infinite; and, consequently, inscrutable. It is strange that, with such a scripture as this before their eyes, men should sit down and coolly and positively write about counsels and decrees of God formed from all eternity, of which they speak with as much confidence and decision…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34For who hath known? - This verse is a quotation, with a slight change, from Isaiah 40:13, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” It is designed to express the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God, by affirming that no being could teach him, or counsel him. Earthly monarchs have counsellors of state, whom they may consult in times of perplexity or danger. But God has no such council. He sits alone; nor does…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-36Verses 33-36 The apostle Paul knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well as ever any man; yet he confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth. Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most. There is not only depth in the Divine counsels, but riches; abundance of that which is precious and valuable. The Divine counsels are complete; they have not…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 34-3534-35. For who hath known the mind of the Lord?--See Job 15:8; Jr 23:18. or who hath been his counsellor--See Is 40:13, 14.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 11:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- 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
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- 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
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