OET interlinear ROM 9:21

9:21a–c

This verse illustrates that it is right for God to decide as he wants, even regarding people. It uses the example of someone who makes things with clay. He can choose as he wants what he will use each thing for.

Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that the potter has the right to make some things for honorable use and some things for dishonorable use from the same lump of clay. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

  Doesn’t a potter have the right to make a fancy bowl and a plain bowl out of the same lump of clay? (CEV)

• As a statement. For example:

  Surely the potter has the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common/regular use.

  He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. (GW)

9:21a

9:21a–b

potter…clay: The word potter refers to someone who makes things with clay. Often he made clay pots, thus the name potter. Some languages will not have a single word for this kind of person. For example:

The one who makes plates and such from clayYongkom Back Translation, unpublished manuscript, Papua New Guinea.

the person who makes cups and things from earthMengen Back Translation, unpublished manuscript, Papua New Guinea.

In some languages people are unfamiliar with clay. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

  the person who makes hard things with sticky/pliable earth/soil and then bakes them

  the person who makes things with sticky/pliable earth/soil and then bakes them to make them hard

• Use major language word for clay.

  the one who makes things with kleiUsing the Dutch word for clay.

• Use a familiar substitute. For example:

  The man that makes the basketAmanab Back Translation, unpublished manuscript, Papua New Guinea.

  the woman who makes a woven-bag

right: Here this word refers to having the authority and power to do as one chooses. Here are other ways to translate this word:

power (KJV)

can do what he likes (REB)

9:21b

lump of clay: Here this word refers to an amount of something solid, of one piece, and of no particular size or shape. Here are other ways to translate this word:

clumpYakan Back Translation on TW.

hunk

If you used a substitute for clay in 9:21a, you should use an appropriate word for a group of the material used. For example:

(basket)…bundle

(woven-bag)…bark

9:21c

vessel: Here this word refers to any kind of container or thing that people use to put things in or on, including plates, cups, baskets, pots, jars, and so on. Here is another English word:

container

Some languages must use a more specific word or a more general word here. For example:

jar/pot/bowl

thing

for special occasions: This clay vessel brings honor, for example, someone may give one to guests for them to use at a feast, or it might be something a priest uses at the temple to honor God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

for noble purposes (NIV)

for valuable usesKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

for common use: There are two main ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as common use:

1. It means dishonorable here. For example:

   for an ignoble one (NABRE) (KJV, ESV, NABRE, NLT)

2. It means ordinary here. For example:

   for menial use (RSV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, REB, NET, GW, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is the much more common meaning of the word.