Bible Strands
Romans 1:19
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman believers, explaining the universal human condition that precedes the gospel's revelation. He addresses the moral blindness of all people, establishing why divine wrath is justified.
The words — The Greek phrase τὸ γνωστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φανερὸν ἐστὶν (to gnōston tou theou phaneron estin) translates literally as "the thing known of God is manifest." The conjunction διότι (dioti) grounds this visibility in God's own action.
The thread — This theme of divine self-disclosure appears in Psalm 19:1, where the heavens declare God's glory, and continues in Romans 1:20, which states creation makes God's invisible qualities clearly seen. Acts 14:16 notes God's past patience with nations before this revelation is fully weighed.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that human knowledge of God originates from divine disclosure, not human discovery. It places the responsibility for suppressing that knowledge squarely on the reader, removing any ground for excuse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Cross-references
- Acts 14:16 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
- Psalms 19:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
- Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
- Acts 17:23 For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
- Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
- John 1:9 The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
- Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.