Romans 9:20

That's no way to speak, for who are you—a mere mortal—to contradict God? Can something that is created say to its creator, “Why did you make me like this?”

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

19Now you'll argue with me and ask, “So why does he still blame us then? Who can resist the will of God?”

21Doesn't a potter have the right to use the same batch of clay to make both a decorative bowl and an everyday pot?

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Cross References

Job 16:3Will your windy speeches never cease? What's bothering you that you have to answer me?

Job 36:23Who has instructed him what to do? Who can say to him ‘You have done wrong’?

Job 40:2“Are you still going to fight with the Almighty and try to set him straight? Anyone who argues with God must give some answers.”

Job 40:8Are you really going to say my decisions are wrong? Are you going to condemn me so you can be right?

Isaiah 29:16How perverse you are! It's as if the clay was thought of as making the potter! Should something made say to its maker, “You didn't make me”? Can the pot tell the potter, “You don't understand anything”?

Isaiah 64:8But you, Lord, are our Father. We're the clay, you're the potter. You made us all with your own hands.

Matthew Henry on Romans 9:15-25

The Divine Sovereignty. ( a. d. 58.) 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the… Read the whole commentary →

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