Rom 11:33-36 | RWP | e4.org | O the depth ( Ο βαθος ). Exclamation with omega and the nominative case of βαθος (see on ; ). Paul's argument concerning God's elective grace and goodness has carried him to the heights and now he pauses on the edge of the precipice as he contemplates God's wisdom and knowledge, fully conscious of his inability to sound the bottom with the plummet of human reason and words. Unsearchable ( ανεξεραυνητα ). Double compound ( α privative and εξ ) verbal adjective of ερευναω (old spelling -ευ- ), late and rare word (LXX, Dio Cassius, Heraclitus), only here in N.T. Some of God's wisdom can be known ( .), but not all. Past tracing out ( ανεξιχνιαστο ). Another verbal adjective from α privative and εξιχνιαζω , to trace out by tracks ( ιχνος ). Late word in Job ( ; ; ) from which use Paul obtained it here and (only N.T. examples). Also in ecclesiastical writers. Some of God's tracks he has left plain to us, but others are beyond us.

‏ Romans 11:33-36

O the depth ( Ο βαθος ). Exclamation with omega and the nominative case of βαθος (see on 2Co 8:2; Ro 8:39). Paul's argument concerning God's elective grace and goodness has carried him to the heights and now he pauses on the edge of the precipice as he contemplates God's wisdom and knowledge, fully conscious of his inability to sound the bottom with the plummet of human reason and words.

Unsearchable ( ανεξεραυνητα ). Double compound ( α privative and εξ ) verbal adjective of ερευναω (old spelling -ευ- ), late and rare word (LXX, Dio Cassius, Heraclitus), only here in N.T. Some of God's wisdom can be known (1:20f.), but not all.

Past tracing out ( ανεξιχνιαστο ). Another verbal adjective from α privative and εξιχνιαζω, to trace out by tracks ( ιχνος Ro 4:12). Late word in Job (Job 5:9; 9:10; 34:24) from which use Paul obtained it here and Eph 3:8 (only N.T. examples). Also in ecclesiastical writers. Some of God's tracks he has left plain to us, but others are beyond us.

Who hath known? ( τις εγνω? ). Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω, a timeless aorist, did know, does know, will know. Quotation from Isa 40:13. Quoted already in 1Co 2:16.

Counsellor ( συμβουλος ). Old word from συν and βουλη. Only here in N.T.

His ( αυτου ). Objective genitive, counsellor to him (God). Some men seem to feel competent for the job.

First driven to him ( προεδωκεν αυτω ). First aorist active indicative of προδιδωμ, to give beforehand or first. Old verb, here alone in N.T. From Job 41:11, but not like the LXX, Paul's own translation.

Shall be recompensed ( ανταποδοθησετα ). First future passive of double compound ανταποδιδωμ, to pay back (both αντ and απο ), old word in good sense, as here and Lu 14:14; 1Th 3:9 and in bad sense as 2Th 1:6; Ro 12:19.

Of him ( εξ αυτου ),

through him ( δι' αυτου ),

unto him ( εις αυτον ). By these three prepositions Paul ascribes the universe ( τα παντα ) with all the phenomena concerning creation, redemption, providence to God as the

Source ( εξ ), the

Agent ( δ ), the

Goal ( εις ).

For ever ( εις τους αιωνας ). "For the ages." Alford terms this doxology in verses 33-36 "the sublimest apostrophe existing even in the pages of inspiration itself."