η 2228 PRT ουκ 3756 PRT-N εχει 2192 5719 V-PAI-3S εξουσιαν 1849 N-ASF ο 3588 T-NSM κεραμευς 2763 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSM πηλου 4081 N-GSM εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSN αυτου 846 P-GSN φυραματος 5445 N-GSN ποιησαι 4160 5658 V-AAN ο 3739 R-ASN μεν 3303 PRT εις 1519 PREP τιμην 5092 N-ASF σκευος 4632 N-ASN ο 3739 R-ASN δε 1161 CONJ εις 1519 PREP ατιμιαν 819 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Power (exousian). Or right. See on Mark ii. 10; John i. 12.Lump (furamatov). From furaw to mix so as to make into dough.
Hence any substance mixed with water and kneaded. Philo uses it of the human frame as compounded. By the lump is here meant human nature with its moral possibilities, "but not yet conceived of in its definite, individual, moral stamp" (Meyer). 52 The figure of man as clay molded by God carries us back to the earliest traditions of the creation of man (Gen. ii. 7). According to primitive ideas man is regarded as issuing from the earth. The traditions of Libya made the first human being spring from the plains heated by the sun. The Egyptians declared that the Nile mud, exposed to the heat of the sun, brought forth germs which sprang up as the bodies of men. A subsequent divine operation endowed these bodies with soul and intellect, and the divine fashioner appears upon some monuments molding clay, wherewith to form man, upon a potter's wheel. The Peruvians called the first man "animated earth;" and the Mandans of North America related that the Great Spirit molded two figures of clay, which he dried and animated with the breath of his mouth, one receiving the name of First Man, the other that of Companion. The Babylonian account, translated by Berosus, represents man as made of clay after the manner of a statue. See Francois Lenormant, "Beginnings of History."
To make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor (poihsai o men eijv timhn skeuov, o de eijv ajtimian). Rev., more correctly, to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another part, etc. For vessel, see on 1 Pet. iii. 7; compare Matt. xii. 29; Acts ix. 15. The vessel here is the one which has just come from the potter's hand. Those in ver. 22 have been in household use.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:21 {Or hath not the potter a right over the clay?} ( ouk ecei exousian ho kerameus tou plou?). this question, expecting an affirmative answer, is Paul's reply to the previous one, "Why didst thou make me thus?" pelos, old word for clay, is mud or wet clay in #Joh 9:6,11,14f. The old word for potter (kerameus) in N.T. only here and #Mt 27:7,10. {Lump} (furamatos). Late word from furaw, to mix (clay, dough, etc.). {One part} (ho men) {--another} (ho de). Regular idiom for contrast (men--de) with the old demonstrative ho ( this ), " this vessel (skeuos, old word as in #Mr 11:16) for honor, that for dishonor." Paul thus claims clearly God's sovereign right (exousian, power, right, authority, from exesti) to use men (already sinners) for his own purpose.
