Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Parallel translations
- WEB But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
- BSB 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?”
- ESV But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
- NKJV But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
- NASB On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?
- NLT No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul reminds the objector that a mere human has no standing to argue against God, any more than a pot can criticize its maker. The creature must not presume to judge the Creator.
Overview
Paul's first response to the objection of v. 19 is to put the creature in its proper place. Echoing Isaiah 29:16 and 45:9, he asks who we are to talk back to God, since the thing formed cannot rightly question the one who formed it. This is not a refusal to give reasons so much as a rebuke of human arrogance that would sit in judgment over the infinitely wise and righteous God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Isa 29:16Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
- Isa 45:9–11Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
- Isa 64:8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
- Job 33:13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
- Job 40:2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
- Job 36:23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
- Matt 20:15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- Job 16:3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
- 1 Tim 6:5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
- Job 40:8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
- Job 38:2–3Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
- 1 Cor 1:20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
- Job 42:2–6I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
- Mic 6:8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
- Job 40:5Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
- Titus 2:9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
- Rom 2:1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
- Jas 2:20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- 1 Cor 7:16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 9:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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