Romans 9:21

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
- King James Version

Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
- New American Standard Version (1995)

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?
- American Standard Version (1901)

Or has not the potter the right to make out of one part of his earth a vessel for honour, and out of another a vessel for shame?
- Basic English Bible

Or has not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour?
- Darby Bible

Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor?
- Webster's Bible

Or has not the potter rightful power over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for more honourable and another for less honourable uses?
- Weymouth Bible

Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
- World English Bible

Whether a potter of cley hath not power to make of the same gobet o vessel in to honour, an othere in to dispit?
- Wycliffe Bible

hath not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make the one vessel to honour, and the one to dishonour?
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Romans 9:21

9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay - And much more hath not God power over his creatures, to appoint one vessel, namely, the believer, to honour, and another, the unbeliever, to dishonour? If we survey the right which God has over us, in a more general way, with regard to his intelligent creatures, God may be considered in two different views, as Creator, Proprietor, and Lord of all; or, as their moral Governor, and Judge. God, as sovereign Lord and Proprietor of all, dispenses his gifts or favours to his creatures with perfect wisdom, but by no rules or methods of proceeding that we are acquainted with. The time when we shall exist, the country where we shall live, our parents, our constitution of body and turn of mind; these, and numberless other circumstances, are doubtless ordered with perfect wisdom, but by rules that lie quite out of our sight. But God's methods of dealing with us, as our Governor and Judge, are dearly revealed and perfectly known; namely, that he will finally reward every man according to his works: He that believeth shalt be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned. Therefore, though He hath mercy on whom he willeth, and whom he willeth he hardeneth, that is, suffers to be hardened in consequence of their obstinate wickedness; yet his is not the will of an arbitrary, capricious, or tyrannical being. He wills nothing but what is infinitely wise and good; and therefore his will is a most proper rule of judgment. He will show mercy, as he hath assured us, to none but true believers, nor harden any but such as obstinately refuse his mercy. #Jer 18:6|,7

People's Bible Notes for Romans 9:21

Ro 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay? So God, as far as right is involved, has the right to make of his creatures what he will. It is not said that we are as clay in the potter's hands, but that God has the right over us that the potter has over his clay. One lump the potter can use for a splendid vase; another for a vessel for base uses.