Romans 9:22

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?”

21 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?

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—

24 including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?

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
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?
KJV
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
WEB
What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
ASV
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
DARBY
And if God, minded to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction;
BLB
And [what] if God, desiring to display the wrath and to make known His power, bore with much patience vessels of wrath, having been fitted for destruction,
ÅB
Men hva om Gud, skjønt han ville vise sin vrede og kunngjøre sin makt, likevel har vist stor tålmodighet til vredens kar, som var laget til ødeleggelse,
OTB
Hva om Gud, villig til å vise sin vrede og gjøre sin kraft kjent, bar med stor tålmodighet over med vredens kar, forberedt til ødeleggelse?
B1930
Men om nu Gud, skjønt han vilde vise sin vrede og kunngjøre sin makt, dog i stort langmod tålte vredens kar, som var dannet til undergang,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 16:4

    The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.

    Read in context
  • Jude 1:4

    For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:21

    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?

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:8

    and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

    Read in context
  • 2 Timothy 2:20

    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 context
  • Exodus 9:16

    But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

    Read in context
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:16

    hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:17

    For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

    Read in context