Romans 9 21

Romans 9:21 kjv

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Romans 9:21 nkjv

Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Romans 9:21 niv

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

Romans 9:21 esv

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Romans 9:21 nlt

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn't he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 21 Meaning

Romans 9:21 asserts God's absolute sovereignty and creative prerogative over humanity. Using the common analogy of a potter and clay, the verse declares that the Creator has inherent authority to fashion individuals ("vessels") from the same common human origin ("lump") for distinct, predetermined purposes: some for honor and noble use, and others for ignoble or dishonorable use, according to His divine will and plan. This highlights God's right to appoint differing destinies and roles for individuals, serving His ultimate redemptive and righteous ends, and discredits any human challenge to His wisdom or justice in this regard.

Romans 9 21 Context

Romans 9:21 stands within Paul's discourse (chapters 9-11) addressing the thorny question of Israel's national unbelief and the apparent failure of God's promises to them. In this chapter, Paul grapples with God's sovereignty in salvation, arguing that God's covenant promises are not merely based on physical descent but on divine election and grace. After establishing God's right to choose (Jacob over Esau, Pharaoh as an example of hardening), Paul anticipates an objection in verse 19: "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" He answers this objection in verses 20-21 by emphatically asserting God's unquestionable authority as the Creator, comparing Him to a potter and humanity to clay. Verse 21, therefore, serves as the conclusive statement validating the Creator's absolute freedom to make vessels for differing purposes, directly preceding the application of this truth to "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" and "vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory."

Romans 9 21 Word analysis

• Has not: A rhetorical question (Greek: οὐκ ἔχει – ouk echei), designed to elicit an affirmative answer, powerfully asserting the undeniable right. It presumes the listener already agrees with the inherent principle.
• the potter: (Greek: κεραμεύς – kerameus) Refers to God. This ancient metaphor is consistently used in the Old Testament to describe God as the sovereign Creator with absolute authority over His creation.
• a right: (Greek: ἐξουσίαν – exousian) Denotes authority, power, or liberty to act. It emphasizes that the potter's control is not arbitrary but legitimate, stemming from His nature as the maker.
• over the clay: (Greek: πηλοῦ – pelou) Represents humanity. Like clay, humans are completely dependent on the potter, malleable, and without inherent form or destiny apart from the Creator's design.
• to make: (Greek: ποιῆσαι – poiēsai) To fashion, produce, create. This verb underscores the intentional, active, and creative power of the potter.
• out of the same lump: (Greek: τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος – tou autou phyramatos) The "same lump" refers to a common, undifferentiated mass of clay, signifying a shared origin. In this context, it implies that all humanity comes from the same source (e.g., Adam, or fallen humanity), discrediting any claim of inherent superiority or privilege based on origin alone.
• one vessel: (Greek: σκεῦος ἕν – skeuos hen) Refers to an individual, a created being with a specific function.
• for honorable use: (Greek: εἰς τιμήν – eis timēn) Signifies a purpose that brings honor, glory, or noble function. This relates to those chosen by God for His mercy and salvation, displaying His glory and goodness.
• and another: (Greek: ἕτερον – heteron) Another, but distinct in type or character.
• for dishonorable use: (Greek: εἰς ἀτιμίαν – eis atimian) Signifies a purpose that is ignoble, humble, or serves a lesser, possibly condemnatory, function in God's overall plan. This typically refers to those appointed for divine wrath, who serve to demonstrate God's justice and power. It does not necessarily imply inherent evil in the vessel itself, but the use to which the Potter appoints it.

• "Has not the potter a right over the clay": This phrase directly counters any human argument or objection to God's sovereign disposal of His creation. It's a statement of inherent and undeniable authority.
• "to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use": This whole clause clarifies the extent and nature of the potter's right. It demonstrates that the distinction in purpose (honorable vs. dishonorable) is fully within the potter's prerogative, applied to a common, undifferentiated raw material. This underscores God's elective power to create differing destinies for those originating from the same fallen human condition.

Romans 9 21 Bonus section

The "dishonorable use" spoken of in Romans 9:21 and expanded upon in verse 22 (vessels of wrath prepared for destruction) is not presented as God forcing individuals to sin, but rather as God appointing people, who are already rebellious and sinful by nature, to a purpose that ultimately highlights His justice and power in judging wickedness. It means that even those who reject Him and incur judgment fulfill a role in God's grand plan—demonstrating His righteous indignation and setting an example. Conversely, those chosen for "honorable use" (vessels of mercy) are transformed and used to display the riches of His glory. This dual purpose from the "same lump" highlights God's holistic governance where even resistance serves His overarching will. The analogy does not suggest a pre-creation determination of moral character but rather a pre-purposeful determination for already-existing characters, aligning with Paul's focus on election for a purpose within the context of human fallenness.

Romans 9 21 Commentary

Romans 9:21 acts as a powerful affirmation of divine sovereignty, responding to the implicit human question regarding God's fairness in choosing some for salvation and allowing others to remain in their self-chosen rebellion leading to judgment. By invoking the ancient, self-evident metaphor of a potter and clay, Paul argues that God, as the Creator, possesses an unchallengeable, inherent right (exousia) to determine the destiny and purpose of His creation, including humanity. All humans originate from a "same lump"—a shared fallen humanity—yet God shapes individuals for distinct purposes: some for honor, reflecting His mercy and grace (vessels of mercy, Rom 9:23), and others for dishonor, serving His justice and demonstrating His power against rebellion (vessels of wrath, Rom 9:22). This is not arbitrary injustice but the prerogative of the benevolent Creator whose wisdom and justice are beyond human scrutiny, as articulated in verse 20. It fundamentally underscores that salvation is ultimately a matter of divine grace and sovereign choice, not human merit or right, ensuring that all glory redounds to God alone.