Romans 8:20

Christian Standard Bible ®

For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
God has a tight rein on all of creation as everything waits for that hopeful day.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

Legacy Standard Bible
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

Bible in Basic English
For every living thing was put under the power of change, not by its desire, but by him who made it so, in hope

Darby Translation
for the creature has been made subject to vanity, not of its will, but by reason of him who has subjected [the same], in hope

World English Bible
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by him who subjected it,

Weymouth's New Testament
For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it).

King James Version (1611)
For the creature was made subiect to vanitie, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subiected the same in hope:

Literal Translation
For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but through Him subjecting it , on hope;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
because the creature is subdued vnto vanyte agaynst hir will, but for his wyll that hath subdued her vpon hope.

Mace New Testament (1729)
who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto:

Amplified Bible
For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope

American Standard Version
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

Revised Standard Version
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
because the creatures are subdued to vanyte agaynst their will: but for his will which subdueth them in hope.

Update Bible Version
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

Webster's Bible Translation
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope:

Young's Literal Translation
for to vanity was the creation made subject -- not of its will, but because of Him who did subject [it] -- in hope,

New Century Version
Everything God made was changed to become useless, not by its own wish but because God wanted it and because all along there was this hope:

New English Translation
For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope

Berean Standard Bible
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope

Complete Jewish Bible
for the creation was made subject to frustration — not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope

English Standard Version
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

Geneva Bible (1587)
Because the creature is subiect to vanitie, not of it owne will, but by reason of him, which hath subdued it vnder hope,

George Lamsa Translation
For man was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who gave him free will in the hope he would choose rightly.

Hebrew Names Version
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

International Standard Version
because the creation was subjected to frustration, though not by its own choice. The one who subjected it did so in the hopeGenesis 3:19; Romans 8:22;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For the creation hath been subjected to vanity, not willingly, [fn] but on account of him who subjected her, upon the hope

Murdock Translation
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not by its own choice, but because of him who subjected it,

New King James Version
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

New Living Translation
Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope,

New Life Bible
Everything that has been made in the world is weak. It is not that the world wanted it to be that way. God allowed it to be that way. Yet there is hope.

English Revised Version
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

New Revised Standard
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, unto vanity, hath creation been made subject - not by choice, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope.

King James Version
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Lexham English Bible
For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it, in hope

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Because the creature is subiect to vanitie, not wyllyng, but for hym which hath subdued the same in hope.

Easy-to-Read Version
Everything God made was allowed to become like something that cannot fulfill its purpose. That was not its choice, but God made it happen with this hope in view:

New American Standard Bible
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

Good News Translation
For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But the creature is suget to vanyte, not willynge, but for hym that made it suget in hope;

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. ²³ And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the creature: Romans 8:22, Genesis 3:17-19, Genesis 5:29, Genesis 6:13, Job 12:6-10, Isaiah 24:5, Isaiah 24:6, Jeremiah 12:4, Jeremiah 12:11, Jeremiah 14:5, Jeremiah 14:6, Hosea 4:3, Joel 1:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:12 - it Genesis 6:17 - shall die Genesis 7:21 - General Genesis 8:1 - the cattle 1 Samuel 15:3 - ox and sheep 1 Kings 18:5 - grass Job 14:12 - till the heavens Psalms 102:26 - They shall Psalms 104:29 - hidest Ecclesiastes 1:2 - General Jonah 3:7 - herd Romans 3:5 - But if Romans 5:14 - even 2 Peter 3:10 - in the which

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

Genesis 7:2
You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female,

Genesis 8:1
God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside.

Genesis 8:4
The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 8:7
and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.

Genesis 8:8
Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth's surface had gone down,

Genesis 8:15
Then God spoke to Noah,

Genesis 8:16
"Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 8:17
Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the ground—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."

Genesis 13:4
to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of Yahweh there.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the creature was made subject to vanity,.... This designs the vanity and emptiness of the minds of the Gentiles, who were without God and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, without the law and Gospel, and grace of God; also the vain conceits they had of themselves, of their wisdom, knowledge, learning, and eloquence; likewise their vain philosophy, particularly their gross idolatry, their polytheism, or worshipping of many gods; together with their divers lusts and vices, to which they were addicted, to such a degree, that they might be truly said to be made subject thereunto, being under the government of these things, slaves unto them, and in such subjection, as that they could not deliver themselves from it; though it is said,

not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Though they were willingly vain, yet they were not willingly made subject to vanity; they willingly went into idolatrous and other evil practices, but the devil made them subject, or slaves unto them; he led them captive at his will, and powerfully worked in them, by divine permission, so that they became vassals to him, and to their lusts; for he seems to be designed, "by him who hath subjected the same", and not Adam, by whom sin entered into the world.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the creature - The renewed creature; the Christian mind. This is given as a reason for its aspiring to the full privileges of adoption, that the present state is not one of choice, or one which is preferred, but one to which it has been subjected for wise reasons by God.

Subject to vanity - The word “subject to” means placed in such a state; subjected to it by the appointment of another, as a soldier has his rank and place assigned him in an army. The word “vanity” here ματαιότης mataiotēs is descriptive of the present condition of the Christian, as frail and dying; as exposed to trials, temptations, and cares; as in the midst of conflicts, and of a world which may be emphatically pronounced vanity. More or less, the Christian is brought under this influence; his joys are marred; his peace is discomposed; his affections wander; his life is a life of vanity and vexation.

Not willingly - Not voluntarily. It is not a matter of choice. It is not what is congenial to his renewed nature. That would aspire to perfect holiness and peace. But this subjection is one that is contrary to it, and from which he desires to be delivered. This describes substantially the same condition as Romans 7:15-24.

But by reason - By him διά dia. It is the appointment of God, who has chosen to place his people in this condition; and who for wise purposes retains them in it.

Who hath subjected the same - Who has appointed his people to this condition. It is his wise arrangement. Here we may observe,

(1) That the instinctive feelings of Christians lead them to desire a purer and a happier world, Philippians 1:23.

(2) That it is not what they desire, to be subjected to the toils of this life, and to the temptations and vanities of this world. They sigh for deliverance.

(3) Their lot in life; their being subjected to this state of vanity, is the arrangement of God. Why it is, he has not seen fit to inform us fully. He might have taken his people at once to heaven as soon as they are converted. But though we know not all the reasons why they are continued here in this state of vanity, we can see some of them:

1. Christians are subjected to this state to do good to their fellow sinners. They remain on earth for this purpose: and this should be their leading aim.
2. By their remaining here the power of the gospel is shown in overcoming their sin; in meeting their temptations; in sustaining them in trial; and in thus furnishing living evidence to the world of the power and excellency of that gospel. This could not be attained if they were removed at once to heaven.
3. It furnishes occasion for some interesting exhibitions of character - for hope, and faith, and love, and for increasing and progressive excellence.
4. It is a proper training for heaven. It brings out the Christian character, and fits it for the skies. There may be inestimable advantages, all of which we may not see, in subjecting the Christian to a process of training in overcoming his sins, and in producing confidence in God, before he is admitted to his state of final rest.
5. It is fit and proper that he should engage here in the service of Him who has redeemed him. He has been ransomed by the blood of Christ, and God has the highest claim on him in all the conflicts and toils, in all the labors and services to which he may be subjected in this life.

In hope - See the note at Romans 5:4. Hope has reference to the future; and in this state of the Christian, he sighs for deliverance, and expects it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity — The Gentile world were subject to vanity of mind; but how? not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same. May we not say, it became vain willingly, but was made subject to vanity unwillingly? For, let us recur to the origin of Gentilism, the confusion of languages, by reason of the attempt to build the tower of Babel; and though there are some passages in the gloss of the Targumists upon this matter that are sufficiently ridiculous, yet as to their scope and design they are worthy of notice. "They said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, and let its head reach unto the top of heaven; and let us make a house of worship in the top of it; and let us put a sword in his hand that he may wage war for us against our enemies, before we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." It is an ancient tradition among the Jews, that this tower was built on an idolatrous account. The confusion of tongues, by which true religion was lost in the world, is a proof that the builders of this tower sinned against God in the highest degree. They were inclined to vanity, i.e. idolatry, WILLINGLY; but they were subjected to vanity UNWILLINGLY; for this proceeded from the just indignation and vengeance of God. From this time the world lay under heathenism till the bringing in of the Gospel, upwards of 2000 years after. See Lightfoot.