Devine Scripture

Romans 9:22

What does Romans 9:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 9:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 9:22 means

Paul offers a “what if” scenario: suppose God, wanting to reveal His wrath and make His power known, patiently endured vessels of wrath destined for destruction. The point is not to probe how these vessels were fitted but to stress God’s patience and purpose. He does not rush to judgment; He waits, even toward the rebellious, so that His justice is clear. Wrath is not capricious; it is a holy response to evil. This endurance serves a larger design, which becomes explicit in the next verse: highlighting the riches of His glory in mercy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

What if God, desiring to let his wrath and his power be seen, for a long time put up with the vessels of wrath which were ready for destruction:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And if God, willing to shew the wrath and to make known His power, did endure, in much long suffering, vessels of wrath fitted for destruction,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

What if God, willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ifGod, minded to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction;

Context

Verse 22 begins a conditional reflection connected to the potter-clay analogy. Rather than fully explain the mystery, Paul frames God’s actions in terms of revealing attributes—wrath and power—while exercising great longsuffering. Verse 23 will present the complementary purpose: to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy. This pairing prepares for verse 24, where Paul identifies the called—Jews and Gentiles—as those vessels of mercy.

v.21Or 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?

v.22This passage

v.23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 6:9

    And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

  • Matthew 23:31

    Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

  • Exodus 9:16

    but in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

  • Psalms 90:11

    Who knoweth the power of thine anger, And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?

  • Genesis 15:16

    And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.

  • Jude 1:4

    For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

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