Romans 8:20

New Living Translation

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

Parallel Translations

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:

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.

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]

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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:

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Christian Standard Bible®
For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the 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

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

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:

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

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

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

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. ¹⁸ Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. ²⁰ Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, ²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²² For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. ²⁴ We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. ²⁵ But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

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
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,

Genesis 7:2
Take with you seven pairs—male and female—of each animal I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take one pair of each of the others.

Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.

Genesis 8:4
exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 8:7
and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up.

Genesis 8:8
He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground.

Genesis 8:15
Then God said to Noah,

Genesis 8:16
"Leave the boat, all of you—you and your wife, and your sons and their wives.

Genesis 8:17
Release all the animals—the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth."

Genesis 13:4
This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.

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.