Romans 1:19 kjv
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:19 nkjv
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Romans 1:19 niv
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Romans 1:19 esv
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
Romans 1:19 nlt
They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
Romans 1 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power...are clearly seen... | Elucidates how God is seen in creation. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness...who suppress the truth... | Direct link to God's wrath against truth suppression. |
| Rom 2:14-15 | ...when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves...their conscience also bearing witness... | Highlights the internal witness ("in them"). |
| Ps 19:1-4 | The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork...There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. | Creation as universal testimony to God. |
| Acts 14:17 | ...He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons... | God's witness through natural provision. |
| Acts 17:24-28 | The God who made the world and everything in it...He Himself gives to all life...He is not far from each one of us... | God's accessibility and life-giving role. |
| Ps 8:3-4 | When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars...what is man that You are mindful of him? | Reflecting on God's majesty in creation. |
| Job 12:7-9 | But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you...that the hand of the LORD has done this... | God's creation speaks of His design. |
| Job 26:14 | Indeed these are but the fringes of His ways; how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand? | Acknowledges a partial, yet powerful, revelation. |
| Isa 40:26 | Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number... | Invites contemplation of God the Creator. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | ...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God...they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. | Consequence of suppressing this knowledge. |
| Rom 2:1-3 | Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge... | Universal inexcusability due to revelation. |
| John 15:22 | If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. | Parallel for lack of excuse based on revelation. |
| Pro 1:29-30 | For they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would have none of my counsel... | Rejection of wisdom/knowledge. |
| Jer 5:21-24 | Hear this now, O foolish people...Who says in his heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain... | People ignoring the clear signs of God. |
| Eph 4:17-18 | ...walk no longer as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened... | Similar theme of spiritual blindness from Romans 1. |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. | Limitations of natural revelation without the Gospel. |
| Heb 11:3 | By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God... | Affirmation of creation by God's Word. |
| John 3:19 | And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. | Preference for darkness over revealed truth. |
| Exo 9:16 | But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. | God revealing Himself through His actions. |
| Is 5:18-20 | Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity...Who call evil good, and good evil... | Reversal of moral understanding due to rejecting God's truth. |
| Acts 4:20 | For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. | Implicit in all God's creation, the divine hand is clear to those who choose to see. |
| Lk 19:40 | If these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. | Illustrates the undeniable nature of divine truth and evidence. |
Romans 1 verses
Romans 1 19 Meaning
Romans 1:19 declares that humanity has a clear and unmistakable knowledge of God because God Himself has revealed it to them. This revelation is universally available, allowing what can be understood about God to be evident and discernible within people. It establishes the foundational principle that God has made His existence and certain aspects of His nature plain to all, forming the basis for human accountability.
Romans 1 19 Context
Romans 1:19 is central to Paul's argument in the first three chapters, where he systematically establishes the universal need for the Gospel. After declaring the power of the Gospel for salvation (Rom 1:16-17) and introducing God's wrath against sin (Rom 1:18), Paul explains why this wrath is justified, specifically for Gentiles who do not have the written Mosaic Law.
This verse begins the detailed explanation of how God has revealed Himself to all humanity, making them accountable for their moral and spiritual state. The revelation is presented as two-fold: what may be known (knowledge about God) and manifest in them (an internal awareness), explicitly stated that God has shown it to them. This general revelation through creation (expounded in Rom 1:20) leaves humanity without excuse when they turn from God to idolatry and immoral practices, which are the direct consequences described in the following verses (Rom 1:21-32). It sets the stage for Paul to demonstrate that both Gentiles and Jews are under sin, thus requiring salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 1 19 Word analysis
- Because: Indicates the reason or justification for God's wrath being revealed (from Rom 1:18). It links the subsequent argument to the previous statement.
- what may be known: (Greek: gnostos, γνωστός) - This refers to that which is knowable or discernible. It does not imply a partial revelation, but rather a clear and observable aspect of God's character and existence. It's not about exhaustive knowledge but sufficient knowledge for accountability.
- of God: Points directly to the divine source and subject of this knowable truth. The focus is specifically on knowledge pertaining to the Creator.
- is manifest: (Greek: phaneros, φανερός) - Means clearly visible, apparent, plain, obvious. It conveys the idea that this knowledge is not hidden or obscure, but overtly displayed and easily perceivable.
- in them: Refers to all humanity. This suggests both an external display in creation that humans observe, and an internal capacity or receptivity to that truth, a natural intuition or a testimony written on the human conscience. It is not something hidden from them, but evident within their comprehension.
- for God: Clearly identifies the agent of this manifestation. This revelation is not incidental or accidental; it is a deliberate act of God.
- has shown it: (Greek: phaneroō, φανερόω) - Similar to phaneros, but as a verb, it emphasizes the action of making something visible or plain. God is the one actively engaged in making this knowledge evident. This highlights His initiative and active role in communicating truth to humanity.
- to them: Reinforces that this revelation is directed toward and made available for humanity. It's an act of divine self-disclosure aimed at humankind.
Words-group analysis:
- "what may be known of God is manifest in them": This phrase asserts that humanity possesses an undeniable, accessible understanding of certain aspects of God. It highlights the clarity and pervasiveness of this revelation within human experience and comprehension.
- "for God has shown it to them": This clarifies the source and reason for this inherent knowledge. It emphasizes God's sovereign and intentional act of self-revelation, which grounds human accountability. This is not human discovery, but divine disclosure.
Romans 1 19 Bonus section
The clarity and accessibility of the revelation described in Romans 1:19-20 is significant. Paul insists that what God reveals through creation is "clearly seen" and "understood." This means that ignorance of God is not due to insufficient evidence, but to the "suppression of the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom 1:18). Humanity's rejection of God, therefore, is portrayed as a moral choice rather than an intellectual failing or lack of opportunity. This concept directly challenges secular philosophies that posit a pure agnosticism based on a perceived absence of God's hand in the world. Instead, Paul asserts an active rebellion against a known God. While general revelation is sufficient for accountability, it is insufficient for salvation, which requires the special revelation of God's redeeming grace through Jesus Christ in the Gospel. This verse explains why all humanity, regardless of their access to special revelation (the Law or the Gospel), remains "without excuse."
Romans 1 19 Commentary
Romans 1:19 is foundational to understanding humanity's universal culpability before God. It unequivocally states that all people have an undeniable awareness of God's existence and character. This is often termed "general revelation," referring to God's disclosure of Himself through the created order and the human conscience. The truth about God is not obscure or available only to a select few; it is "manifest" and "shown" by God Himself "in them" (within humanity's perceptive grasp). This verse preempts any excuse that humanity could not know God or recognize His demands. Instead, it positions human ignorance as a willful suppression of an evident truth, a point amplified in the subsequent verses describing humanity's turn to idolatry. It lays the groundwork for the necessity of God's wrath against sin and highlights the just nature of His judgment upon those who deliberately turn from the light of His self-disclosure.
- Example: Consider the majesty of a sunset or the intricate design of the human eye. Such wonders implicitly point to a Grand Designer, echoing the knowledge God has made manifest. Humanity's capacity for morality and intrinsic sense of right and wrong also reflect God's truth within them.