Romans 8:20

Romans 8:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
• 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;

Context of Romans 8:20

18For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us. 19For the creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of the One who subjected it—in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers birth pains until now—

Romans 8:20 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·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 groans together and suffers birth pains until now—
• Genesis 3:17Then to the man He said, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate of the tree which I commanded you, saying, ‘You must not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground because of you— with pain will you eat of it all the days of your life.
• Genesis 5:29And he named him Noah saying, “This one will comfort us from our work and from the pain of our hands because of the ground which Adonai cursed.”
• Genesis 6:13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh is coming before Me, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Behold, I am about to bring ruin upon them along with the land.
• Job 12:6The tents of marauders prosper, and there is security for those who provoke God— for those whom God brings in His hand.
• Isaiah 24:5The land is polluted by its inhabitants, for they have transgressed Torah, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
• Jeremiah 12:4How long will the land mourn and the grass of all the field wither? Because those living in it are evil, beasts and birds are swept away. For they said, “He cannot see our end.”
• Jeremiah 14:5For even the doe in the field abandons her newborn fawn, because there is no grass.
• Hosea 4:3Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone dwelling in it will languish along with the beasts of the field and the flying creatures of the sky— even the fish of the sea will be removed.
• Joel 1:18How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture. The flocks of sheep also suffer.

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