Romans

Romans 9:17–23

¹⁷For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”^g ¹⁸Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy , and He hardens whom He wants to harden .

¹⁹One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” ²⁰But 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?”^h ²¹Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

²²What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? ²³What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory —

Footnotes

g 9:17 Exodus 9:16|EXO 9:16(see also LXX)
h 9:20 Isaiah 29:16|ISA 29:16; Isaiah 45:9

Read all of Romans 9

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Romans 9:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
Scripture	γραφὴ	graphē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1124 a writing, passage of scripture, the scriptures
says	λέγει	legei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
to	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
Pharaoh	Φαραὼ	Pharaō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G5328 Pharaoh
I raised you up	ἐξήγειρά	exēgeira	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G1825 I raise up, arouse
for	Εἰς	Eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
this very	αὐτὸ	auto	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
that	ὅπως	hopōs	Conjunction	G3704 how, in order that, so that
I might display	ἐνδείξωμαι	endeixōmai	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular	G1731 I show forth
My	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
power	δύναμίν	dynamin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1411 might, power, marvelous works
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
you	σοὶ	soi	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular	G4771 you
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
that	ὅπως	hopōs	Conjunction	G3704 how, in order that, so that
My	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
name	ὄνομά	onoma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3686 name, character, reputation
might be proclaimed	διαγγελῇ	diangelē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1229 I announce throughout, spread the news of
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
all	πάσῃ	pasē	Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
the	τῇ	tē	Article - Dative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
earth	γῇ	gē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1093 the earth, soil, land

Romans 9:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Therefore	ἄρα	ara	Conjunction	G686 then, therefore, since
has mercy	ἐλεεῖ	eleei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1653 I pity, have mercy on
on whom	ὃν	hon	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
He wants	θέλει	thelei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire
and	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
He hardens	σκληρύνει	sklērynei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4645 I harden
whom	ὃν	hon	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
He wants	θέλει	thelei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire

Romans 9:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
One of you will say	Ἐρεῖς	Ereis	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G2046 I say, speak
to me	μοι	moi	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
Then	οὖν	oun	Conjunction	G3767 therefore, then
why	Τί	Ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
does	μέμφεται	memphetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G3201 I blame, censure
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
who	τίς	tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
can resist	ἀνθέστηκεν	anthestēken	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G436 I take a stand against, oppose, resist
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
will	βουλήματι	boulēmati	Noun - Dative Neuter Singular	G1013 will, counsel, purpose

Romans 9:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	μενοῦνγε	menounge	Particle	G3304 nay rather
who	τίς	tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
are you	εἶ	ei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
O	ὦ	ō	Interjection	G5599 O, an exclamation
man	ἄνθρωπε	anthrōpe	Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular	G444 a man, one of the human race
to talk back	ἀνταποκρινόμενος	antapokrinomenos	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular	G470 I contradict
to God	Θεῷ	Theō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
what	τὸ	to	Article - Nominative Neuter Singular	G3588 the
is formed	πλάσμα	plasma	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G4110 a thing formed or fashioned
say	ἐρεῖ	erei	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2046 I say, speak
to Him who	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
formed	πλάσαντι	plasanti	Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular	G4111 I form, mould
Why	Τί	Ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
did You make	ἐποίησας	epoiēsas	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G4160 I do, make
me	με	me	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
like this	οὕτως	houtōs	Adverb	G3779 thus, so, in this manner

Romans 9:21

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
not	οὐκ	ouk	Adverb	G3756 no, not
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
potter	κεραμεὺς	kerameus	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2763 a potter
have	ἔχει	echei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
the right	ἐξουσίαν	exousian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1849 power, authority, weight
to make	ποιῆσαι	poiēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G4160 I do, make
from	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Neuter Singular	G3588 the
same	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
lump	φυράματος	phyramatos	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G5445 a mass or lump
of clay	πηλοῦ	pēlou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G4081 clay, mud
one	ὃ	ho	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
vessel	σκεῦος	skeuos	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4632 a vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
for	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
special occasions	τιμὴν	timēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G5092 a price, honor
and	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
for	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
common use	ἀτιμίαν	atimian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G819 disgrace, dishonor

Romans 9:22

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What if	Εἰ	Ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
intending	θέλων	thelōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire
to show	ἐνδείξασθαι	endeixasthai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle	G1731 I show forth
wrath	ὀργὴν	orgēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3709 anger, wrath, passion
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
make	γνωρίσαι	gnōrisai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1107 I make known, declare, know
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
power	δυνατὸν	dynaton	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G1415 powerful, able, possible
bore	ἤνεγκεν	ēnenken	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5342 I carry, bear, bring, lead
with	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
great	πολλῇ	pollē	Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular	G4183 much, many, often
patience	μακροθυμίᾳ	makrothymia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G3115 patience, forbearance
vessels	σκεύη	skeuē	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4632 a vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
of His wrath	ὀργῆς	orgēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3709 anger, wrath, passion
prepared	κατηρτισμένα	katērtismena	Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural	G2675 I fit together, prepare
for	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
destruction	ἀπώλειαν	apōleian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G684 destruction, ruin, loss

Romans 9:23

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
to	ἵνα	hina	Conjunction	G2443 in order that, so that
make	γνωρίσῃ	gnōrisē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1107 I make known, declare, know
the	τὸν	ton	Article - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
riches	πλοῦτον	plouton	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G4149 riches, wealth
of	τῆς	tēs	Article - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3588 the
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
glory	δόξης	doxēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1391 honor, renown, glory splendor
to	ἐπὶ	epi	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
vessels	σκεύη	skeuē	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4632 a vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
of	ἐλέους	eleous	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G1656 pity, mercy
whom	ἃ	ha	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3739 who, which, what, that
He prepared in advance	προητοίμασεν	proētoimasen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4282 I prepare beforehand, predestine
for	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
glory	δόξαν	doxan	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1391 honor, renown, glory splendor