Bible Strands
Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, continuing his argument about present suffering and future glory in the middle of Romans 8.
The words — ὑποτάγη (hupetagē) means “was subjected,” and ματαιότητι (mataiotēti) means “futility” or “pointlessness.”
The thread — The text traces the origin of this subjection to Genesis 3:17, looks forward to Genesis 5:29 and Romans 8:21, and links to the groaning described in Romans 8:22.
Why it lands — The text states that creation’s current brokenness was imposed by God rather than chosen by creation itself, and that this condition exists only as a temporary state. A reader must recognize that present disorder is neither final nor self-inflicted, and must align their expectation with the hope already established in the surrounding context.
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
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Cross-references
- Genesis 3:17 And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
- Genesis 5:29 And he named him Noah, saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.”
- Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.
- Jeremiah 12:4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”
- Isaiah 24:5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant.
- Jeremiah 14:5 Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass.
- Hosea 4:3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”
- Genesis 6:13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.
- Job 12:6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.