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—
• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.

Context of Romans 9:23

21Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call '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 presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
• Romans 5:20Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
• Ephesians 1:6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
• Ephesians 2:4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
• Ephesians 3:8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
• Colossians 1:27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
• 1 Chronicles 29:18O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
• Luke 1:17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
• Ephesians 2:3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
• Colossians 1:12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
• 2 Timothy 2:21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
• 1 Peter 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

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