Romans 8:20

Romans 8:20 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
• New Living Translation (NLT)Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,

Context of Romans 8:20

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:20 word by word

τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, ἐφ᾽ ἑλπίδιRead the interlinear

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the creatureκτίσιςktisis · creationG2937
• was made subjectὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• to vanityματαιότηςmataiotēs · futilityG3153
• notοὐou · noG3756
• willinglyἑκώνhekōn · voluntarilyG1635
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• by reason ofδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680

Cross-references for Romans 8:20

• Romans 8:22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
• Genesis 3:17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
• Genesis 5:29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
• Genesis 6:13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
• Job 12:6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
• Isaiah 24:5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
• Jeremiah 12:4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
• Jeremiah 14:5Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
• Hosea 4:3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
• Joel 1:18How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

Commentaries on Romans 8:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity - The Gentile world were subject to vanity of mind; but how? not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same. May we not say, it became vain willingly, but was made subject to vanity unwillingly? For, let us recur to the origin of Gentilism, the confusion of languages, by reason of the attempt to build the tower of Babel; and though there are some passages in the gloss of the Targumists upon this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For the creature - The renewed creature; the Christian mind. This is given as a reason for its aspiring to the full privileges of adoption, that the present state is not one of choice, or one which is preferred, but one to which it has been subjected for wise reasons by God. Subject to vanity - The word “subject to” means placed in such a state; subjected to it by the appointment of another, as a soldier has his rank and place assigned him in an army. The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment. How vastly different are the sentence of the word and the sentiment of the world, concerning the sufferings of this present time! Indeed the whole creation seems to wait with earnest expectation for the period when the children of God shall be manifested in the glory prepared for them. There…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21creation: This includes animals, plants, and the earth itself. Paul follows the pattern found in the Old Testament by speaking about creation as if it were a person (see especially Psalm 65:12–13; Isaiah 24:4; Jeremiah 4:28; 12:4). waits in eager expectation for: Just as Adam’s sin brought harm to the whole created world, creation will also share in the blessings God has promised to his people. This hope includes the renewal of the earth itself (for…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2219-22. For, &c.--"The apostle, fired with the thought of the future glory of the saints, pours forth this splendid passage, in which he represents the whole creation groaning under its present degradation, and looking and longing for the revelation of this glory as the end and consummation of its existence" [Hodge]. the earnest expectation--(compare Php 1:20). of the creature--rather, "the creation." waiteth for the manifestation--"is waiting for the…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 8:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Earth
• Holy Spirit
• Suffering
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Adoption
• Allow
• Bondage
• Carnal
• Creature
• Enmity
• Fear
• Flesh
• Foreknow
• Glorify

Commentaries on Romans 8

• 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