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?”
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?”
- KJV 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?
- 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?”
- 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 29:16You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay; that the thing made should say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding?”
- Isa 45:9–11Woe to him who strives with his Maker — a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or your work, ‘He has no hands?’
- Isa 64:8But now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.
- Job 33:13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
- Job 40:2“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
- Job 36:23Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’
- Matt 20:15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
- Job 16:3Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
- 1 Tim 6:5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
- Job 40:8Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
- Job 38:2–3“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
- 1 Cor 1:20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
- Job 42:2–6“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
- Mic 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Job 40:5I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
- Titus 2:9Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;
- Rom 2:1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
- Jas 2:20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
- 1 Cor 7:16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.