20
On the contrary,μενοῦνγεwhoτίςareεἶyou,σὺOὦhuman being,ἄνθρωπεwho answer backὁ ἀνταποκρινόμενοςto God?τῷ θεῷThe thing formedτὸ πλάσμαwill notμὴsayἐρεῖto the one who formed it,τῷ πλάσαντιwill it:WhyΤίdid you makeἐποίησαςmeμεlike this?οὕτως
Romans 9:20
Study it in the app“On the contrary, who are you, O human being, who answer back to God? The thing formed will not say to the one who formed it, will it: Why did you make me like this?”
With the Greek beneath
Romans 9:20, word by word
- On the contraryμενοῦνγεmenounge
rather
"Rather", "on the contrary", "indeed".
Where else “menounge” appears- areεἶei
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “ei” appears- Oὦō
O
O!
Where else “ō” appears- human beingἄνθρωπεanthrōpe
mortal
Humans, weak before God.
Where else “anthrōpe” appears- who answer backἀνταποκρινόμενοςantapokrinomenos
answer back
Answer back, reply against.
Where else “antapokrinomenos” appears- to Godθεῷtheōi
God
The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.
Where else “theōi” appears- The thing formedπλάσμαplasma
thing formed
Something formed: what has been shaped, like clay.
Where else “plasma” appears- sayἐρεῖerei
say
To express something in words to others.
Where else “erei” appears- to the one who formed itπλάσαντιplasanti
form, mold
Form, mold, as a potter does.
Where else “plasanti” appears- did you makeἐποίησαςepoiēsas
make
To bring something into being: to make or create it.
Where else “epoiēsas” appears
Translation note
Allusion to Isaiah 29:16 and 45:9.
The context
19You will say to me then, Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted his will?
20 · This verse (above)
21Or has the potter no authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
To study Romans 9 in a group
1. What it says
What does Paul feel for his people, the Israelites, and what does he say about them? (vv. 1-5)
2. What it means
What does Paul's sorrow show us about how he saw his people? (vv. 1-3)
3. How I live it
Paul grieved for people he loved. How can you accompany with care and respect someone you love who sees faith differently?