Romans 9:21

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ, ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν σκεῦος, ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν;

Transliteration

Or not echei exousian the kerameus of the pēlou, out of the same phyramatos poiēsai which men for timēn skeuos, which de for atimian?

Grammar Details

*echei*: present, indicative, active, 3rd person singular - has
*exousian*: accusative, feminine, singular - authority/right
*kerameus*: nominative, masculine, singular - potter
*pēlou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of clay
*phyramatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of lump/batch
*poiēsai*: aorist, infinitive, active - to make
*men*: particle - on the one hand
*timēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - honor
*skeuos*: accusative, neuter, singular - vessel
*de*: particle - but/and/on the other hand
*atimian*: accusative, feminine, singular - dishonor

Word Meanings

*echei exousian*: has authority/has power/has right
*kerameus*: potter/craftsman
*pēlou*: of clay/of mud
*phyramatos*: of lump/of batch/of mixture
*poiēsai*: to make/to create/to fashion
*timēn*: honor/dignity/value
*skeuos*: vessel/instrument/container
*atimian*: dishonor/common use/dishonorable use

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Isa 64:8 : 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.
Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
2 Tim 2:20-21 : 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, {G2532} meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.
Prov 16:4 : 4 Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Rom 9:11 : 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,
Rom 9:18 : 18 So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.
Rom 9:22-23 : 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: 23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
Jer 18:3-6 : 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels. 4 And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
Jer 22:28 : 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?
Hos 8:8 : 8 Israel is swallowed up: now are they among the nations as a vessel wherein none delighteth.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Rom 9:14-20
7 verses
84%
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.
18So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
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?
Jer 18:2-7
6 verses
83%
2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
4And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
Rom 9:22-23
2 verses
79%
22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
Isa 29:16
78%
16Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?
Isa 45:9-10
2 verses
78%
9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
10Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With what travailest thou?
2 Tim 2:20-21
2 verses
75%
20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.
21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, {G2532} meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.
Isa 64:8
73%
8But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Job 10:8-9
2 verses
71%
8Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again?
Isa 30:14
68%
14And he shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.
Jer 16:20
68%
20Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?
2 Cor 4:7
68%
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
Job 4:17
68%
17Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
Isa 44:10
68%
10Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing?
Acts 7:50
67%
50Did not my hand make all these things?
Job 31:15
67%
15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
Job 33:6
67%
6Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.
Isa 40:18
67%
18To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Job 38:14
66%
14It is changed as clay under the seal; And [all things] stand forth as a garment:
Ps 2:9
66%
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Rom 14:4
66%
4Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.
1 Cor 4:7
65%
7For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if {G2532} thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
Rom 9:11
65%
11for [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,
Isa 41:24-25
2 verses
65%
24Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work is of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you.
25I have raised up one from the north, and he is come; from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon my name: and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay.
1 Cor 1:28
65%
28and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
Job 4:19
65%
19How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!
Prov 27:21
65%
21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.
Isa 54:16
64%
16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Job 9:4
64%
4[ He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered? --
Jer 22:28
64%
28Is 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?
Lam 4:2
64%
2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!