God’s Word Translation
Romans 11:35
35Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back?
Romans 11:35 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
- New International Version (NIV)“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
Context of Romans 11:35
33God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways. 34“Who knows how the Lord thinks? Who can become his adviser?” Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back? 36Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!
Read all of Romans 11Romans 11:35 word by word
ἢ τίς προέδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνταποδοθήσεται αὐτῷ;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 11:35
- Job 35:7If you’re righteous, what can you give him, or what can he get from you?
- Job 41:11Who can confront me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven belongs to me!
- Matthew 20:15Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?’
- 1 Corinthians 4:7Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren’t a gift?
Commentaries on Romans 11:35
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35Or, who hath first given to him - Who can pretend to have any demands upon God? To whom is he indebted? Have either Jews or Gentiles any right to his blessings? May not he bestow his favors as he pleases, and to whom he pleases? Does he do any injustice to the Jews in choosing the Gentiles! And was it because he was under obligation to the Gentiles that he has chosen them in the place of the Jews? Let him who has any claim on God prefer it; and he shall…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35Or who hath - The sentiment in this verse is found substantially in Job 41:11. “Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him.” The Hebrew word “prevented” means to anticipate, to go before; and God asks who has anticipated me; who has conferred favors on me before I have on him; who has thus laid me under obligation to him.” This is the sense in which the apostle uses the word here. Who has, by his services, laid God under obligation to recompense or…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 11:35
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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