9:20a
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?: This is also a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one is worthy enough to answer back to God. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
• As a statement. For example:
You are only human, and human beings have no right to question God. (New Century Version)
But who are you, O man: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as O man :
(1) It is a direct address to the person or persons to whom Paul spoke as you. For example:
On the contrary, who are you, O man (New American Standard Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, Contemporary English Version)
(2) It is a description of the person or persons to whom Paul spoke as you. For example:
But you—who do you think you, a human being, are (New Jerusalem Bible)
(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011), New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because these words are in the emphatic position in the Greek rather than after the Greek word that means you as a description of you. But if the major language version follow interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.
The phrase of address, O man, can refer to either a man or a woman. It occurs in the middle of the clause. In many languages it must be first in the clause. For example:
But, O/you person/human, who are you
But: The Greek word here indicates strong contrast. For example:
But…indeed (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
On the contrary, (New American Standard Bible)
talk back to God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as talk back here implies that this person speaks to God to criticize or argue. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
argue back to God (English Standard Version)
-or-
criticize God
-or-
argue-with God
9:20b–c
Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”: There are two issues here:
Issue 1: Partial quotation
The first part (Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it) occurs in Isaiah 29:16. The second part (“Why did You make me like this?”) takes the general idea of questioning the maker as found in the questions in Isaiah 29:16. It is reworded to connect more clearly to what Paul had been saying. So many translations, like the Berean Standard Bible, do not punctuate it like a quote from Isaiah. Paul did not introduce these words with the usual introduction of a quote from Scripture, for example, “as it is written.”
The Berean Standard Bible, the English Standard Version, and the Contemporary English Version still put in a footnote to refer to Isaiah 29:16 (and 45:9), but the New Living Translation (2004) and the God’s Word do not. But other translations punctuate it like a quote from the Old Testament. For example:
“Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” (New International Version)
The New International Version also references this as a quote from Isaiah 29:16 (and 45:9). See what the major language version in your area does. Or, follow the example of the Berean Standard Bible.
Issue 2: Rhetorical question
This is a rhetorical question. It indicates that the created thing should not ask the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” It implies that people should not criticize God, who made them, asking why he made them that way. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” (New Living Translation (2004))
• As a statement. For example:
An object should not ask the person who made it, “Why did you make me like this?” (New Century Version)
Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it: This is a metaphor that is explained in 9:21. Here the words what is formed refers to something made of clay. The words Him who formed it refers to the person who forms a lump of clay into the shape he wants, specifically, in this case, God. In this metaphor the thing made of clay complains to the person who made it. The metaphor refers figuratively to a person, whom God made, who complains to God about why he made him that way. It implies that it is wrong for people to complain to God like that. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Will what is molded say to its molder (English Standard Version)
-or-
Will what is made say to its maker (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Can the pot say to the potter (Revised English Bible)
In some languages it is unnatural or confusing for something not alive, like a clay pot, to speak. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning without the figurative language. For example:
Can we who are just made, ask Him who made us, saying
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