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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>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</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/8-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/45_Rom_08_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 8:20 - Future Glory" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/romans/8-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/romans/8-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/romans/">Romans</a> > <a href="/romans/8.htm">Chapter 8</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/8-19.htm" title="Romans 8:19">◄</a> Romans 8:20 <a href="/romans/8-21.htm" title="Romans 8:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/romans/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/romans/8.htm">New International Version</a> For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope <a href="/nlt/romans/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, <a href="/esv/romans/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/bsb/romans/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope <a href="/blb/romans/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the One having subjected it, in hope <a href="/kjv/romans/8.htm">King James Bible</a> For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, <a href="/nkjv/romans/8.htm">New King James Version</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; <a href="/nasb_/romans/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/nasb/romans/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/nasb77/romans/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/lsb/romans/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/amp/romans/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/csb/romans/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility —not willingly, but because of him who subjected it —in the hope <a href="/hcsb/romans/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope <a href="/asv/romans/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/cev/romans/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope <a href="/erv/romans/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/gwt/romans/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Creation was subjected to frustration but not by its own choice. The one who subjected it to frustration did so in the hope <a href="/gnt/romans/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope <a href="/isv/romans/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> because the creation has become subject to futility, though not by anything it did. The one who subjected it did so in the certainty <a href="/msb/romans/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope <a href="/net/romans/8.htm">NET Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility--not willingly but because of God who subjected it--in hope <a href="/nheb/romans/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope <a href="/wbt/romans/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope: <a href="/wey/romans/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it) <a href="/web/romans/8.htm">World English Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/romans/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> for to vanity was the creation made subject—not of its will, but because of Him who subjected [it]—in hope, <a href="/blb/romans/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the One having subjected it, in hope <a href="/ylt/romans/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> for to vanity was the creation made subject -- not of its will, but because of Him who did subject it -- in hope, <a href="/slt/romans/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For the creation was subject to vanity, not voluntarily, but by him having subjected in hope,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/romans/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope: <a href="/cpdv/romans/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For the creature was made subject to emptiness, not willingly, but for the sake of the One who made it subject, unto hope. <a href="/nabre/romans/8.htm">New American Bible</a> for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope <a href="/nrsvce/romans/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/romans/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For man was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who gave him free will in the hope he would choose rightly. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> For the creation has been subjected to futility, not by its choice, but because of him who subjected it upon hope.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/romans/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For the creature was subject to frailty, (not by its own will, but for his sake who subjected it,) <a href="/godbey/romans/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> For the creature has been subordinated to mortality, not willingly, but through Him who subordinated it; <a href="/haweis/romans/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> For the creation was made subject to vanity, not voluntarily, but by him who made it subject, <a href="/mace/romans/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto: <a href="/wey/romans/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it) <a href="/worrell/romans/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> For the creation was made subject to vanity, not of choice, but by reason of Him Who subjected it, in hope <a href="/worsley/romans/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> (for the world was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but through him who made it subject:) <a href="/parallel/romans/8-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=1976" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/romans/8.htm">Future Glory</a> …19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20<a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">For</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2937.htm" title="2937: ktisis (N-NFS) -- From ktizo; original formation.">creation</a> <a href="/greek/5293.htm" title="5293: hypetagē (V-AIP-3S) -- From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey.">was subjected</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">to</a> <a href="/greek/3153.htm" title="3153: mataiotēti (N-DFS) -- From mataios; inutility; figuratively, transientness; morally, depravity.">futility,</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouch (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">not</a> <a href="/greek/1635.htm" title="1635: hekousa (Adj-NFS) -- Willing, willingly, voluntarily. Of uncertain affinity; voluntary.">by its own will,</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: alla (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.">but</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">because of</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the One who</a> <a href="/greek/5293.htm" title="5293: hypotaxanta (V-APA-AMS) -- From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey.">subjected it,</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: eph’ (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">in</a> <a href="/greek/1680.htm" title="1680: helpidi (N-DFS) -- Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence.">hope</a> 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17-19</a> 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. / Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. / By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:2</a> “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” <a href="/genesis/5-29.htm">Genesis 5:29</a> 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.” <a href="/genesis/6-11.htm">Genesis 6:11-12</a> Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. / And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways. <a href="/isaiah/24-5.htm">Isaiah 24:5-6</a> The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant. / Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive. <a href="/jeremiah/12-4.htm">Jeremiah 12:4</a> 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.” <a href="/hosea/4-3.htm">Hosea 4:3</a> 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. <a href="/genesis/8-21.htm">Genesis 8:21</a> When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done. <a href="/psalms/39-5.htm">Psalm 39:5-6</a> You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away. <a href="/psalms/90-10.htm">Psalm 90:10</a> The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. <a href="/2_peter/3-13.htm">2 Peter 3:13</a> But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-42.htm">1 Corinthians 15:42-44</a> So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-53.htm">1 Corinthians 15:53-54</a> For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. / When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” <a href="/2_corinthians/4-16.htm">2 Corinthians 4:16-18</a> Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. / For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. <a href="/2_corinthians/5-1.htm">2 Corinthians 5:1-4</a> For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope,the creature.<a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a> For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.<a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17-19</a> And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; … <a href="/genesis/5-29.htm">Genesis 5:29</a> And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/2-4.htm">Change</a> <a href="/acts/15-7.htm">Choice</a> <a href="/romans/8-19.htm">Creation</a> <a href="/romans/8-19.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/psalms/144-14.htm">Failure</a> <a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-17.htm">Frustration</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-16.htm">Futility</a> <a href="/romans/5-5.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/romans/8-11.htm">Power</a> <a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/luke/10-20.htm">Subjected</a> <a href="/romans/6-20.htm">Subjection</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Vanity</a> <a href="/john/6-21.htm">Willingly</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_corinthians/5-6.htm">Change</a> <a href="/romans/8-33.htm">Choice</a> <a href="/romans/8-21.htm">Creation</a> <a href="/romans/8-21.htm">Creature</a> <a href="/romans/11-12.htm">Failure</a> <a href="/romans/11-22.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-20.htm">Frustration</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-17.htm">Futility</a> <a href="/romans/8-21.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/romans/8-21.htm">Power</a> <a href="/romans/9-33.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/romans/10-3.htm">Subject</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-27.htm">Subjected</a> <a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Subjection</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-17.htm">Vanity</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/9-17.htm">Willingly</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 8</div>1. <a href="/romans/8-1.htm">Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation.</a> 5. <a href="/romans/8-5.htm">What harm comes of the flesh;</a> 13. <a href="/romans/8-13.htm">and what good of the Spirit.</a> 19. <a href="/romans/8-19.htm">The glorious deliverance the creation longs for,</a> 29. <a href="/romans/8-29.htm">was beforehand decreed from God.</a> 38. <a href="/romans/8-38.htm">Nothing can sever us from his love.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/romans/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>For the creation was subjected to futility This phrase reflects the consequences of the Fall as described in <a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3</a>. When Adam and Eve sinned, not only humanity but all of creation was affected. The term "futility" suggests a state of frustration and decay, indicating that creation is not fulfilling its intended purpose. This aligns with <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:2</a>, where life is described as "meaningless" or "vanity" under the curse of sin. The idea of creation groaning under this burden is further elaborated in <a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a>.not by its own will Creation did not choose this state of futility; it was imposed upon it. This highlights the distinction between the will of creation and the will of God. The passive role of creation in this subjection underscores the impact of human sin on the natural world. This involuntary subjection is reminiscent of the way the earth was cursed because of Adam's sin (<a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17-19</a>).but because of the One who subjected it God is the One who subjected creation to futility. This was part of His righteous judgment following the Fall. However, it is important to note that God's actions are always purposeful and redemptive. This subjection is not arbitrary but serves a greater divine plan. The sovereignty of God over creation is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in passages like <a href="/job/38.htm">Job 38-41</a>, where God’s control over the natural world is emphasized.in hope Despite the current state of futility, there is a promise of future restoration. This hope is rooted in God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The phrase "in hope" points to the eschatological expectation of a new creation, as described in <a href="/revelation/21.htm">Revelation 21:1-5</a>, where God will make all things new. This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation based on God's promises. The concept of hope is central to the Christian faith, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/11.htm">Hebrews 11:1</a>, which defines faith as being sure of what we hope for.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/c/creation.htm">Creation</a> Refers to the entire universe and all living things within it, which have been affected by the fall of man and the resulting curse. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_one_who_subjected_it.htm">The One who subjected it</a> This is understood to be God, who subjected creation to futility as a result of sin, but with a purpose and hope for future redemption. 3. <a href="/topical/f/futility.htm">Futility</a> Represents the state of frustration and decay that creation experiences due to sin, leading to a longing for restoration. 4. <a href="/topical/h/hope.htm">Hope</a> The expectation of future redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ, which is a central theme in Christian eschatology.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_futility.htm">Understanding Futility</a> Recognize that the frustration and decay in the world are a result of sin, but they serve a purpose in God's redemptive plan. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a> Trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He subjected creation to futility with a hopeful purpose, pointing towards redemption. <a href="/topical/l/living_in_hope.htm">Living in Hope</a> As believers, we are called to live with the hope of future restoration, which should influence our perspective on current struggles. <a href="/topical/c/creation's_groaning.htm">Creation's Groaning</a> Acknowledge that creation itself longs for redemption, and this should inspire us to care for the environment as stewards of God's creation. <a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a> Maintain an eternal perspective, focusing on the glory that will be revealed, rather than being overwhelmed by present difficulties.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_romans_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Romans 8</a> <a href="/q/can_christians_experience_depression.htm">Can Christians experience depression?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_disabilities.htm">Why does God permit disabilities in people?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_kids_to_suffer.htm">Why does God permit suffering in innocent children?</a> <a href="/q/why_don't_disasters_spare_worship_sites.htm">Why do natural disasters not avoid places of worship?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/romans/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) For the creature.--The Apostle gives the reason for this earnest expectation in the present state of nature; pointing out what creation is. If creation were perfect, and were fulfilling the noblest possible purpose, there would be no cause for looking forward hopefully to the future.Was made subject to vanity.--"Vanity" = "emptiness" or "nothingness." Creation is fulfilling an unworthy instead of a worthy and noble end. (Comp. <a href="/context/genesis/3-17.htm" title="And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;">Genesis 3:17-18</a>.) It was made subject to this "not willingly," i.e., by its own act or with its own concurrence, but "by reason of Him who hath subjected the same," i.e., in pursuance of the sovereign purpose and counsel of God. The one thing which takes out the sting from this impoverished and degraded condition is Hope.It is needless to say that this is not Darwinism, but it is easily reconcilable with evolution. Indeed, such a theory seems to give it additional force and emphasis. It helps to bring out both the present "vanity" and hope for the future, and to show both as parts of one "increasing purpose" widening through the ages. "Allowing for irregularities and fluctuations, on the whole, higher and higher forms of life have appeared. There has been unquestionably an enormous advance between the times of the Eozoon Canadense and our own. And, further, we have to notice that a new kind of progress, of far greater intrinsic importance than mere physical improvement, has of late appeared. I mean intellectual and moral progress, as it is seen in man. . . . And this progress, I would say, is most important in our argument as to the character of God, for it is full of promise of far better things than this sad world has ever seen. It points most decidedly to a supremacy of the power for good, and a great hope of final happiness for our race." (Rev. S. T. Gibson, Religion and Science, p. 34.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 20, 21. - For the creature (or, creation, as before) was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who subjected it in hope. Because (or, that; i.e. in hope that) the creature (or, creation) also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God. The aorist ὑπετάγη ("was subjected") seems to imply that the present "vanity" and "bondage of corruption" were not inherent in the original Creation, or of necessity to last for ever. Thus the assertions of <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Genesis 1</a>: and 31, stand unshaken, viz. that in the beginning God created all things, and that all at first was "very good." The ideas, resorted to in order to account for existing evil, of matter (ὕλη) being essentially evil, and of a δημιουργός, other than the Supreme God, having made the world, are alike precluded. It might serve as an answer to the argument of Lucretius against a Divine origin of things- "Nequaquam nobis divinius esse paratam Naturam rerum, tanta star praedita culpa" Why the "creature" was thus "subjected" is not here explained. No solution of the old insoluble problem of τοθὲν τὸ κακὸν is given. All that is, or could be, said is that it was διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, meaning God. It was his will that it should be so; this is all we know; except that we find the beginning of evil, so far as it affects man, attributed in Scripture to human sin. But he so subjected his creation in hope. This expression may refer to the protoevangelium of <a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a>, or to the never-dying hope in the human heart; to either or to both. The latter idea is expressed in the myth of Pandora's box. Further, the creature is said to have been so subjected "not willingly" (οὐχ ἑκοῦσα). No sentient beings acquiesce in suffering; they resent evil, and would fain flee from it. Man especially unwillingly submits to his present bondage. When in ver. 21 the hope is expressed of the creature (or creation) itself being eventually freed from the present bondage of corruption, it may be that the human part of creation only is in the writer's eye; but it may be also (there being still no expressed limitation of the word κτίσις) that he conceives a final emancipation of the whole creation from evil (cf. <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm">Ephesians 1:10</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/15-23.htm">1 Corinthians 15:23-27</a>; <a href="/2_peter/3-13.htm">2 Peter 3:13</a>). But if so, it is not said that the peculiar glory of the sons of God will extend to all creation, but only that all will be freed into the freedom of their glory; which may mean that the day of the revelation of the sons of God in glory will bring with it a general emancipation of all creation from its present bondage. Such a great final hope finds expression in the verse - "That God, which ever lives and loves, One God, one law, one element, And one far-off Divine event, To which the whole creation moves." (In Memoriam.') The present condition of things is in ver. 20 denoted by ματαιότης, and in ver. 21 by τῆς δουλειάς τῆς φθορᾶς. The first of these words is the equivalent in the LXX. of the Hebrew XXX, which means properly "breath," or "vapour," and is used metaphorically for anything frail, fruitless, evanescent, vain. It is often applied to idols, and it is the word in Ecclesiastes where it is said that "all is vanity" (cf. also <a href="/psalms/39-5.htm">Psalm 39:5, 6</a>). It seems here to denote the frailty, incompleteness, transitoriness, to which all things are now subject. "Ματαιότης sonat frustatio, quod creatura interim non assequatur quod utcunque contendit efficere" (Erasmus). Φθορᾶς intimates corruption and decay. <a href="/commentaries/romans/8-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>For γὰρ (gar) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. the ἡ (hē) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. creation κτίσις (ktisis) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2937.htm">Strong's 2937: </a> From ktizo; original formation. was subjected ὑπετάγη (hypetagē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5293.htm">Strong's 5293: </a> From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey. to τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. futility, ματαιότητι (mataiotēti) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3153.htm">Strong's 3153: </a> From mataios; inutility; figuratively, transientness; morally, depravity. not οὐχ (ouch) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. by its own will, ἑκοῦσα (hekousa) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1635.htm">Strong's 1635: </a> Willing, willingly, voluntarily. Of uncertain affinity; voluntary. but ἀλλὰ (alla) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_235.htm">Strong's 235: </a> But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. because of διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the [One who] τὸν (ton) Article - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. subjected [it], ὑποτάξαντα (hypotaxanta) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5293.htm">Strong's 5293: </a> From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey. in ἐφ’ (eph’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. hope ἑλπίδι (helpidi) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1680.htm">Strong's 1680: </a> Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/romans/8-20.htm">Romans 8:20 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/romans/8-20.htm">NT Letters: Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to vanity (Rom. 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