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

21A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. 22If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can’t he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory? 24This is what God did for us whom he called—whether we are Jews or not. 25As God says in Hosea: “Those who are not my people I will call my people. Those who are not loved I will call my loved ones.

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 2:4Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?
• Romans 5:20The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more.
• Ephesians 1:6so that the kindness he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.
• Ephesians 2:4But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.
• Ephesians 3:8I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish.
• Colossians 1:27God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery—which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:10⌞This will happen⌟ on that day when he comes to be honored among all his holy people and admired by all who have believed in him. This includes you because you believed the testimony we gave you.
• 1 Chronicles 29:18Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you.
• Luke 1:17He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.”
• Ephesians 2:3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
• Colossians 1:12You will also thank the Father, who has made you able to share the light, which is what God’s people inherit.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. You are loved by the Lord and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through a life of spiritual devotion and faith in the truth.
• 2 Timothy 2:21Those who stop associating with dishonorable people will be honored. They will be set apart for the master’s use, prepared to do good things.
• 1 Peter 1:2God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with the Spirit’s help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. May good will and peace fill your lives!

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