“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?”
The full verse · Romans 11:34 · KJV
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Asked by
Paul: the apostle, breaking into praise after explaining God's dealings with Israel and the Gentiles (Romans 11:32-33)
The Scene
Paul has just finished explaining God's plan for Israel and the nations, "that he might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32), and bursts out, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionPaul has spent three chapters tracing God's ways with Israel and the Gentiles. Now he stops arguing and starts worshiping. These two questions say that no one has ever seen into God's mind on their own or given Him advice. Barnes says they express "the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God, by affirming that no being could teach him, or counsel him." He adds that they are also meant "to silence all opposition to his plans, and to hush all murmurings." After hard teaching about election and hardening, Paul answers every objection with awe.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe expected answer is: no one. Paul adds a third question in the same spirit, "Or who hath first given to him?" (Romans 11:35). Then he closes the whole section with praise: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsBarnes says this verse "is a quotation, with a slight change," from Isaiah 40:13, which reads, "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?" Barnes explains the picture behind "counsellor": earthly kings had counsellors of state to consult in times of trouble, "But God has no such council. He sits alone." Gill takes "the mind of the Lord" to mean "The intentions of his mind, the thoughts of his heart, and the counsels of his will," which "could never have been known, if he had not revealed them."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThese questions show who God is: the One who needs no adviser and answers to no one. Paul does not end his hardest teaching with a neat explanation. He ends it with worship. Matthew Henry writes that Paul, who knew God's mysteries as well as anyone, "confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth." Henry adds, "Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most."
Yet God has not left Himself wholly hidden. Gill's note reminds us that what we know of His mind, we know because He revealed it. Barnes concludes that even when God's plan seems "mysterious and inscrutable," it is our duty "to confide in his wisdom, though he was not able to trace the reason of his doings."
Look Closer
Which Old Testament passage does Paul's question echo?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, Your ways are past finding out; what have I been trying to counsel You about instead of trusting You with it?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- When you cannot understand what God is doing, do you tend to argue, withdraw, or worship? Why?
- Share a time when praising God helped you rest in something you still did not understand.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
You don't have to understand all of God's ways to trust Him. Paul knew more about God's plan than most, and still ended in wonder. When you reach the limit of what you can explain, worship is a better response than worry.
This doesn't mean you should stop asking questions or stop studying. Paul just spent three chapters reasoning carefully (Romans 9-11). Ask, search, and learn; then bow before the God whose wisdom goes deeper than your understanding.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”
“For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?”
“Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?”
“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”