ROM 9:19 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So now you’ll ask me: Then how can God blame us, because how could anyone resist whatever he wants to do?

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT You will say then to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has ever withstood his will?”

UST As a result of what I have said, one of you may tell me, “If what you have said is true, then surely God should not blame people for doing what they do! God should not do that because no one can ever stop him from doing whatever he wants to do!”

BSB One of you will say to me, “Then why does [God] still find fault? For who can resist His will?”

MSB One of you will say to me, “Why[fn] does [God] still find fault? For who can resist His will?”

BLB Then you will say to me, "Why then does He still find fault? For who is resisting His purpose?"

AICNT You will say to me then, Why [then][fn] does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?

9:19, then: 𝔓46 B(03) D(05) NA28[] SBLGNT ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. ℵ(01) A(02) THGNT BYZ TR

OEB Perhaps you will say to me – “How can anyone still be blamed? For who withstands his purpose?”

WEBBE You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?”

LSV You will say, then, to me, “Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His counsel?”

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

9:19 Quoting Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9.

TCNT Yoʋ will say to me then, “[fn]Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”

9:19 Why ¦ Why then NA SBL

T4T One of you may object to this by saying to me, “Because God determines ahead of time everything that people do, that also implies that he wants us to do everything that we do. ◄No one has resisted what God has willed!/Who has resisted what God has willed?► [RHQ] Therefore, ◄it would not be right that God would still condemn a person for having sinned!/why does God still condemn a person for having sinned?► [RHQ]”

LEB Therefore you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted[fn] his will?

9:19 Or “who resists”

BBE But you will say to me, Why does he still make us responsible? who is able to go against his purpose?

Moff "Then," you will retort, "why does he go on finding fault? Who can oppose his will?"

Wymth "Why then does God still find fault?" you will ask; "for who is resisting His will?"

ASV Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?

DRA Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will?

YLT Thou wilt say, then, to me, 'Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?'

Drby Thou wilt say to me then, Why does he yet find fault? for who resists his purpose?

RV Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me, Why doth/does he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will? )

SLT Thou wilt then say to me, Why does he yet blame For who has withstood his will?

Wbstr Thou wilt say then to me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will?

KJB-1769 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me, Why doth/does he yet find fault? For who hath/has resisted his will? )

KJB-1611 Thou wilt say then vnto mee; Why doeth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Thou wylt say then vnto me: Why then blameth he vs yet? For who hath ben able to resist his wyll?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me: Why then blameth he us yet? For who hath/has been able to resist his wyll?)

Gnva Thou wilt say then vnto me, Why doeth he yet complaine? for who hath resisted his will?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me, Why doth/does he yet complaine? for who hath/has resisted his will? )

Cvdl Thou wilt saye then vnto me: Why blameth he vs yet? For who can resiste his will?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me: Why blameth he us yet? For who can resiste his will?)

TNT Thou wilt saye then vnto me: why then blameth he vs yet? For who can resist his will?
(Thou/You wilt/will say then unto me: why then blameth he us yet? For who can resist his will? )

Wycl Thanne seist thou to me, What is souyt yit? for who withstondith his wille?
(Then sayest/say thou/you to me, What is sought yet? for who withstondith his wille?)

Luth So sagest du zu mir: Was schuldiget er denn uns? Wer kann seinem Willen widerstehen?
(So saidst you(sg) to/for to_me: What guiltyet he because/than us/to_us/ourselves? Who can his Will resist?)

ClVg Dicis itaque mihi: Quid adhuc queritur? voluntati enim ejus quis resistit?[fn]
(Sayis therefore to_me: What still queritur? to_the_will because his who/any resistit? )

9.19 Quid adhuc. Postquam constat ex voluntate Dei esse, quare inquiritur unde alius sit bonus, alius sit malus? Non est opus, quia talis erit quisque qualem vult Deus esse, et ideo injuste alium damnat, alium salvat: vel quid queritur, id est cur nititur aliquis bene agere, cum nihil possit, nisi quod Deus velit?

9.19 What still. Postquam it_is_agreed/certain from willingly of_God to_be, why inquiritur from_where/who another be good/kind/gracious, another be bad? Not/No it_is opus, because such will_be everyone/whoever qualem wants God to_be, and therefore/for_that_reason unjustly another damnat, another savet: or what queritur, that it_is cur nititur someone well to_act, when/with nothing can, except that God wants?

UGNT ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν, τί οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται? τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀνθέστηκεν?
(ereis moi oun, ti oun eti memfetai? tōi gar boulaʸmati autou, tis anthestaʸken?)

SBL-GNT Ἐρεῖς ⸂μοι οὖν⸃· Τί ⸀οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται; τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν;
(Ereis ⸂moi oun⸃; Ti ⸀oun eti memfetai; tōi gar boulaʸmati autou tis anthestaʸken;)

RP-GNT Ἐρεῖς οὖν μοι, Τί ἔτι μέμφεται; Τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν;
(Ereis oun moi, Ti eti memfetai; Tōi gar boulaʸmati autou tis anthestaʸken;)

TC-GNT Ἐρεῖς [fn]οὖν μοι, [fn]Τί ἔτι μέμφεται; Τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκε;
(Ereis oun moi, Ti eti memfetai; Tōi gar boulaʸmati autou tis anthestaʸke; )

9:19 ουν μοι ¦ μοι ουν CT

9:19 τι ¦ τι ουν NA SBL

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:14–29: God always does what is right

In this section, Paul began by asking if God acts unjustly when he chooses some people and not others. Paul answered his own question with a strong “No!” All God’s choices depend on his mercy and not on anything about the people he chooses. God made Pharaoh the way he was when he wanted the Jews to leave Egypt.

Paul spoke to a possible complaint about no one ultimately being able to resist God’s will. He said that complaining to God about that is futile.

God shows his anger and power against people he has hardened. He does this to show how great his mercy is to other people. Both Jews and Gentiles are eligible to receive his mercy.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God’s choices/will are/is sovereign/supreme

God chooses whom he wants for both Jews and Gentiles

9:19a

One of you will say to me,

¶ So, you^(sing) will/might ask me,
¶ And/Now/But certainly someone will ask me,

One of you will say to me: In the Greek, a word that is usually translated as “then” or “therefore” connects One of you will say to me to what Paul said in 9:14–18. The BSB omits this word. However, many English versions include it. For example:

You will say to me then… (ESV)

In many languages this word must be first in the clause. For example:

Then you will say…

So, you will say…

Some languages will use a different word to connect “You will say to me” to 9:18 in a natural way. For example:

And you will say…

Now you will say…

One of you: The word you is singular in the Greek. This letter is addressed to the whole church in Rome. So, here the singular you refers to someone in a general way.Moo (page 600) says, “We need not identify a specific opponent.” It does not accuse the whole church in Rome of asking the following questions of Paul.Jewett (page 590). Some languages must translate differently for the correct meaning. For example:

certainly there will some person whoUma Back Translation on TW.

maybe someone

will say to me: 9:19b–c are questions. In some languages the word “ask” will be more natural. For example:

ask me (NJB)

9:19b

“Then why does God still find fault?

“Why does he then blame us for doing bad things?
“Why does he/God still accuse people of wrongdoing?

Then why does God still find fault?: There is a textual issue here. The Greek word that the BSB translates as Then means “then, therefore.” It occurs in some Greek manuscripts after the word translated why. There are two options:

It should be included. For example:
How then can he ever blame anyone…? (NJB) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NJB, NRSV, NABRE, REB, NCV)
It should be omitted. For example:
Why does he still find fault? (RSV) (RSV, NASB, KJV, ESV, NLT, CEV, GW, NET)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the Greek NT 5 includes it.They put it in brackets, indicating that they are not certain. But they did decide to include it.

This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the meaning of “God should not find fault (with anyone).” This hypothetical person thinks that God should not find fault with any person. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Then why does God blame us for our sins? (NCV)
As a statement. For example:
He should not blame is for our sins.

All the English versions in Translator’s Workplace and all the commentators consulted translate this as a question.

find fault: This phrase refers to accusing someone of wrongdoing. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

blame (NJB)

accuse people of sin

9:19c

For who can resist His will?”

For who opposes his desire/plan?”
For no one overturns anything he plans to do.”

For: This word introduces an explanation for the question in 9:19b,Jewett (page 591). or gives a basis for that question.

who can resist His will?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one can resist God’s will. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
who can oppose his will? (NABRE)
As a statement. For example:
no one can oppose his will (NJB)

who can resist: The Greek word that the BSB translates as can resist uses the perfect tense in the Greek. Here it indicates an ongoing situation. For example:

who resists his will (NIV)

It indicates that when God decides something, no one has ever changed what he decides into something else. It implies that no one is able to change his decisions, so some translations use can resist.

resist: This word refers to opposing something. Here it implies successfully gaining victory over it. For example, if God decided someone will die, no one can change that outcome. Here are other ways to translate this word:

oppose (NJB)

fight (NCV)

His will: Here the word will refers to making a decision. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

what God wantsKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

his determined-planTagbanwa Back Translation on TW.

General Comment on 9:19b–c

The basis (9:19c) occurs after the conclusion (9:19b). In some languages it is more natural to have the conclusion last. For example:

No one can resist his will. Then why does God still find fault?

No one can resist his will. Then God should not still find fault!

9:19b–c

(reordered) “Who can resist his will, so why does he still find fault?”

(reordered) “No one overturns anything he/God plans to do. So why does he still accuse people of wrongdoing?”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ἐρεῖς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐρεῖς μοί οὖν τί Οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται τῷ Γάρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν)

You here is singular and refers to a hypothetical person who opposes Paul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate this explicitly. Alternate translation: [You people who oppose me will say]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐρεῖς μοί οὖν τί Οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται τῷ Γάρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν)

Here, then indicates that what follows is a response to what Paul said in [9:14–18](../09/14.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [Then you will respond to what I just said by saying to me]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

μοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐρεῖς μοί οὖν τί Οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται τῷ Γάρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν)

The pronoun me here refers to Paul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [to me, Paul]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται? τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀνθέστηκεν?

why (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐρεῖς μοί οὖν τί Οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται τῷ Γάρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν)

Paul is not asking for information, but is using these two questions here to express the objections that someone who opposes him might have to what he said in [9:14–18](../09/14.md). If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [Then he should not find fault with us! No one has ever been able to withstand his will!]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

τί οὖν

why (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐρεῖς μοί οὖν τί Οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται τῷ Γάρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τίς ἀνθέστηκεν)

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

μέμφεται & αὐτοῦ

˱he˲_˓is˒_blaming & ˱of˲_him

In this verse the pronouns he and his refer to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [does God … find fault … God’s]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἔτι μέμφεται

still ˱he˲_˓is˒_blaming

Here, find fault refers to blaming someone for doing something bad. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [does he blame us for our sins]

Parallel ROM 9:19

Section 9:14–29: God always does what is right

9:19a

9:19b

9:19c

General Comment on 9:19b–c

9:19b–c