Romans 9:21
19 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
- KJV
- Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
- WEB
- Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
- ASV
- Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
- DARBY
- Or has not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour?
- BLB
- Or does the potter not have authority over the clay to make out of the same lump the one vessel indeed for honor, but the one for dishonor?
- ÅB
- Har ikke pottemakeren makt over leiren, så han av samme klump kan lage et kar til ære, og et annet til vanære?
- OTB
- Har ikke pottemakeren myndighet til å forme fra den samme leirklumpen noen kar til spesielle formål og noen til vanlig bruk?
- B1930
- Eller har ikke pottemakeren makt over leret, så han av samme deig kan arbeide det ene kar til ære, det andre til vanære?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
Read in context2 Timothy 2:20–21
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
Read in contextProverbs 16:4
The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Read in contextJeremiah 18:3–6
So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel.
Read in contextActs 9:15
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
Read in contextRomans 9:22–23
What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
Read in contextRomans 9:11
Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
Read in contextRomans 9:18
Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
Read in context