Romans 9:20

Romans 9:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
• New International Version (NIV)But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
• New Living Translation (NLT)No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Context of Romans 9:20

18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

Romans 9:20 word by word

ὦ ἄνθρωπε, μενοῦνγε, σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενος τῷ θεῷ; μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι· τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nay butμενοῦνγεmenounge · ratherG3304
• Oὦō · oh!G5599
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• that repliest againstἀνταποκρίνομαιantapokrinomai · to contradictG470
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Shallἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• the thing formedπλάσμαplasma · formed thingG4110
• to him that formedπλάσσωplassō · to moldG4111
• hast thou madeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: makeG4160
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thusοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779

Cross-references for Romans 9:20

• Romans 2:1Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
• Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
• 1 Corinthians 7:16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
• James 2:20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
• Job 33:13Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
• Job 36:23Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
• Job 38:2“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
• Job 40:2“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
• Job 42:2“I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
• Matthew 20:15Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
• Job 16:3Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
• 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
• 1 Timothy 6:5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
• Isaiah 29:16Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
• Isaiah 45:9“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?

Commentaries on Romans 9:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Nay but, O man, who art thou - As if he had said: Weak, ignorant man, darest thou retort on the infinitely good and righteous God? Reflect on thyself; and tell me, after thou hast abused the grace of God, and transgressed his laws, wilt thou cavil at his dispensations? God hath made, created, formed the Jewish nation; and shall the thing formed, when it hath corrupted itself, pretend to correct the wise and gracious Author of its being, and say, Why hast…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. 20-21See Isaiah 29:16 and Isaiah 45:9–10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made--"didst thou make" me thus?--(Is 45:9).Read the comment
• Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 2020. But, O man! who art thou? etc. (“But” is not sufficiently emphatical here; μενοῦνγε; “yes, verily,” in Romans 10:18; “yea, rather,” in Luke 11:28; “doubtless,” in Philippians 3:8; it may be rendered here, “nay, rather.” — Ed.) As it is a participle in Greek, we may read what follows in the present tense, who disputest, or contendest, or strivest in opposition to God; for it is expressed in Greek according to this meaning, — “Who art thou who enterest…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 9:20

• Infidelity
• Murmuring
• Predestination
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• God
• Continual
• Fault
• Resist
• Sovereignty
• Bible, the
• Election
• Form
• Paul, the Apostle
• Potter; Pottery

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