Devine Scripture

Romans 9:21

What does Romans 9:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:21 means

The potter has authority over the clay to make different kinds of vessels from the same lump—some for honorable use, others for common use. Paul’s point is God’s right to order His creation and redemptive plan as He wills. The same humanity (“one lump”) yields diverse outcomes according to the Potter’s design. This does not erase human responsibility; it asserts divine prerogative. The analogy teaches us to submit to God’s wisdom, trusting that His purposes—whether in showing mercy or in allowing dishonor—are just and purposeful, aligned with the revelation of His glory.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Or has not the potter the right to make out of one part of his earth a vessel for honour, and out of another a vessel for shame?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

hath not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make the one vessel to honour, and the one to dishonour?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Or has not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour?

Context

Building on verse 20’s rebuke, Paul uses the potter-clay image to underline God’s sovereign rights. The analogy prepares for verses 22–23, where Paul speculatively frames God’s endurance of “vessels of wrath” and His display of glory in “vessels of mercy.” Verse 24 will then identify these vessels of mercy as including both Jews and Gentiles, transitioning from the doctrine of God’s rights to the surprising scope of His saving call.

v.20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?

v.21This passage

v.22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 9:11

    for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,

  • Romans 9:18

    So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.

  • Jeremiah 18:3

    Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.

  • Isaiah 64:8

    But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

  • Jeremiah 22:28

    Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? is he a vessel wherein none delighteth? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into the land which they know not?

  • Romans 9:22

    What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:

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