English Standard Version
Romans 1:20
20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- New International Version (NIV)For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
- New Living Translation (NLT)For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Context of Romans 1:20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Read all of Romans 1Romans 1:20 word by word
τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the invisible thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the invisible thingsἀόρατοςaoratos · invisibleG517
- of himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the creationκτίσιςktisis · creationG2937
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- are clearly seenκαθοράωkathoraō · to perceiveG2529
- being understoodνοέωnoieō · to understandG3539
- by the things that are madeποίημαpoiēma · workmanshipG4161
- ·τεte · and/bothG5037
- eternalἀΐδιοςaidios · eternalG126
- powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- Godheadθειότηςtheiotēs · divinityG2305
- so thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- without excuseἀναπολόγητοςanapologētos · inexcusableG379
Cross-references for Romans 1:20
- John 1:18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
- Colossians 1:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- 1 Timothy 1:17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
- Hebrews 11:27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
- Romans 1:19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
- Deuteronomy 4:19And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
- Job 31:26if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,
- Psalms 8:3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
- Psalms 33:6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
- Psalms 104:5He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
- Psalms 119:90Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
- Psalms 139:13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
- Psalms 148:8fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
- Matthew 5:45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
- Romans 16:26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Commentaries on Romans 1:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The invisible things of him - His invisible perfections are manifested by his visible works, and may be apprehended by what he has made; their immensity showing his omnipotence, their vast variety and contrivance, his omniscience; and their adaptation to the most beneficent purposes, his infinite goodness and philanthropy. His eternal power - , That all-powerful energy that ever was, and ever will exist; so that, ever since there was a creation to be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For the invisible things of him - The expression “his invisible things” refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to the divine character which may be seen by the eye; but that there are things which may be known of him, though not discoverable by the eye. We judge of the objects around us by the senses, the sight, the touch, the ear, etc. Paul affirms, that though we cannot…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The apostle begins to show that all mankind need the salvation of the gospel, because none could obtain the favour of God, or escape his wrath by their own works. For no man can plead that he has fulfilled all his obligations to God and to his neighbour; nor can any truly say that he has fully acted up to the light afforded him. The sinfulness of man is described as ungodliness against the laws of the first table, and unrighteousness against…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-32Paul waits to explain righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until he first teaches about the sinfulness of all people. Both non-Jews and Jews are equally under the power of sin (1:18–32; 2:1–3:8). Because of this, both groups are in the same situation before God. No one can gain God’s favor by their own actions or obedience (3:9–20). All people need God’s saving action, not their own efforts.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. For the invisible things of him from--or "since" the creation of the world are clearly seen--the mind brightly beholding what the eye cannot discern. being understood by the things that are made--Thus, the outward creation is not the parent but the interpreter of our faith in God. That faith has its primary sources within our own breast (Ro 1:19); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 1:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 1
- 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
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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