New Living Translation
Romans 1:20
20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- New International Version (NIV)For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Context of Romans 1:20
18But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
Read all of Romans 1Romans 1:20 word by word
τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the invisible thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the invisible thingsἀόρατοςaoratos · invisibleG517
- of himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the creationκτίσιςktisis · creationG2937
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- are clearly seenκαθοράωkathoraō · to perceiveG2529
- being understoodνοέωnoieō · to understandG3539
- by the things that are madeποίημαpoiēma · workmanshipG4161
- ·τεte · and/bothG5037
- eternalἀΐδιοςaidios · eternalG126
- powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- Godheadθειότηςtheiotēs · divinityG2305
- so thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- without excuseἀναπολόγητοςanapologētos · inexcusableG379
Cross-references for Romans 1:20
- John 1:18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
- Colossians 1:15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
- 1 Timothy 1:17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
- Hebrews 11:27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
- Romans 1:19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
- Deuteronomy 4:19And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.
- Job 31:26“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,
- Psalms 8:3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
- Psalms 33:6The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
- Psalms 104:5You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
- Psalms 119:90Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.
- Psalms 139:13You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
- Psalms 148:8fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him,
- Matthew 5:45In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
- Romans 16:26But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.
Commentaries on Romans 1:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The invisible things of him - His invisible perfections are manifested by his visible works, and may be apprehended by what he has made; their immensity showing his omnipotence, their vast variety and contrivance, his omniscience; and their adaptation to the most beneficent purposes, his infinite goodness and philanthropy. His eternal power - , That all-powerful energy that ever was, and ever will exist; so that, ever since there was a creation to be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For the invisible things of him - The expression “his invisible things” refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to the divine character which may be seen by the eye; but that there are things which may be known of him, though not discoverable by the eye. We judge of the objects around us by the senses, the sight, the touch, the ear, etc. Paul affirms, that though we cannot…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The apostle begins to show that all mankind need the salvation of the gospel, because none could obtain the favour of God, or escape his wrath by their own works. For no man can plead that he has fulfilled all his obligations to God and to his neighbour; nor can any truly say that he has fully acted up to the light afforded him. The sinfulness of man is described as ungodliness against the laws of the first table, and unrighteousness against…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-32Paul waits to explain righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until he first teaches about the sinfulness of all people. Both non-Jews and Jews are equally under the power of sin (1:18–32; 2:1–3:8). Because of this, both groups are in the same situation before God. No one can gain God’s favor by their own actions or obedience (3:9–20). All people need God’s saving action, not their own efforts.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. For the invisible things of him from--or "since" the creation of the world are clearly seen--the mind brightly beholding what the eye cannot discern. being understood by the things that are made--Thus, the outward creation is not the parent but the interpreter of our faith in God. That faith has its primary sources within our own breast (Ro 1:19); but it becomes an intelligible and articulate conviction only through what we observe around us ("by the…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 1:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 1
- 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
- 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
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