Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Study Note
Study Note
The doxology concluding Paul's long argument about Israel and the Gentiles in Romans 9-11 — 'Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!' — shifts from theological argument to theological adoration. The three elements — riches, wisdom, knowledge — echo the divine treasuries of Proverbs 8 and Colossians 2:3 and frame the preceding argument as an exploration of what is ultimately inexhaustible. Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11 (verses 34-35) to support the inscrutability of divine ways, applying wisdom texts to the specific mystery of Israel's partial hardening and future restoration. The doxology models the proper terminus of theological reflection: reasoning about God's ways should issue in worship, not triumphalism.
Other Translations
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
O how deep is the wealth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! no one is able to make discovery of his decisions, and his ways may not be searched out.
Cross References
Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of …
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of …
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the …