33O the immeasurable vastness of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His decrees and untraceable — leaving no discernible path — His ways! [11:34] For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? [11:35] Or who has given to Him first, that it will be repaid to him? [11:36] For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the honor and splendor forever. Amen.
ROM 11:33-36
A Hymn of Praise
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman world, divine wisdom and knowledge were often associated with philosophical schools like Stoicism, which sought to understand the rational order of the cosmos. However, Paul’s hymn elevates God’s wisdom and knowledge as beyond human comprehension, contrasting sharply with Greco-Roman ideals of attainable divine insight. The term 'depth' evokes the inscrutable nature of God’s ways, resonating with Jewish apocalyptic traditions that emphasized God’s mysteries as hidden from human understanding. The 'judgments' of God reflect His sovereign decrees, a concept familiar to Jewish audiences who saw God’s actions in history as both just and unfathomable. The rhetorical questions—'Who has known the mind of the Lord?'—echo Isaiah 40:13, grounding this hymn in Jewish Scripture while challenging Greco-Roman notions of divine accessibility. The declaration that all things are 'from Him, through Him, and to Him' underscores God’s ultimate authority and self-sufficiency, countering Roman imperial ideology that ascribed such sovereignty to Caesar. The hymn concludes with 'glory' , a term that encapsulates God’s majesty and rightful honor, affirming His supremacy over all creation.
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How other translations render this
ROM 11:33
- KJV
- O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
- BSB
- O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- Koinōnos
- O the immeasurable vastness of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His decrees and untraceable — leaving no discernible path — His ways!
ROM 11:34
- KJV
- For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
- BSB
- “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
- Koinōnos
- For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?
ROM 11:35
- KJV
- Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
- BSB
- “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”
- Koinōnos
- Or who has given to Him first, that it will be repaid to him?
ROM 11:36
- KJV
- For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
- BSB
- For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
- Koinōnos
- For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the honor and splendor forever. Amen.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 11:33
- [the] depth:The word translated 'depth' here can refer to either great depth or great height, conveying a sense of immeasurable vastness or profundity.
- judgments:The term translated 'judgments' refers to decisions or decrees, often with a legal or authoritative connotation, rather than merely opinions or assessments.
- untraceable:The word translated 'untraceable' suggests something that cannot be followed or tracked, like a path that leaves no discernible footprints, emphasizing its inscrutable nature.
ROM 11:36
- glory:The word translated 'glory' carried a sense of honor, reputation, and splendor, often associated with a visible manifestation of divine presence or majesty.