Romans 11:33
What does Romans 11:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 11:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 11:33 means
Confronted with God’s plan to save both Jew and Gentile through surprising turns of mercy and hardening, Paul erupts in praise. God’s wisdom and knowledge are unfathomable; His judgments cannot be exhaustively traced. The verse confesses creaturely limits: we grasp enough to adore, but not enough to master. The salvation-historical panorama just sketched leaves no room for pride. Instead, it invites worship of a God whose ways surpass our calculations, yet whose mercy shines unmistakably. Theology leads to doxology when rightly understood, and this exclamation embodies that movement from explanation to adoration.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
KJV
King James Version · 1611O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949O how deep is the wealth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! no one is able to make discovery of his decisions, and his ways may not be searched out.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890O depth of riches both of [the] wisdom and knowledge ofGod! how unsearchable his judgments, and untraceable his ways!
Context
After summarizing God’s purpose in verse 32, Paul turns to worship. Verse 33 begins the doxology that crowns chapters 9–11. It frames the entire discussion in awe at God’s unsearchable wisdom and judgments. The next verses (34–35) will reinforce this with rhetorical questions that deny any human claim to counsel or obligate God, before the final ascription of glory in verse 36.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Colossians 2:2
that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,
- Psalms 92:5
How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep.
- Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
- Psalms 36:6
Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Jehovah, thou preservest man and beast.
- Job 33:13
Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
- Ephesians 3:18
may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
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