What are the vessels of honor and dishonor in Romans 9:21?

In Romans 9:21, the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a potter shaping clay to illustrate God’s sovereignty over humanity: “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” (Romans 9:21, NKJV).

This metaphor is part of a much larger teaching that spans Romans 9—11, focusing on the nation of Israel and its rejection of Christ’s salvation. In chapter 9, Paul explains that salvation is not based on one’s ancestry or any other human merit, but on God’s merciful election (verses 6–13), His justice and mercy (verses 14–18), and His sovereignty (verses 19–29). Paul also demonstrates that, while God is ultimately sovereign over salvation, His purposes embrace the human factor of responsibility in believing the gospel and spreading it (see Romans 10:1–21).

The backdrop for Paul’s analogy of the potter and clay is found in the prophecies of Isaiah (see Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8) and Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 18:4–6). Both prophets stress the potter’s total control over the molding, reshaping, and functioning of his clay creations, underscoring God’s supreme authority over His creation.

In Paul’s word picture, “vessels of honor” are the clay containers crafted by the potter for noble, respectable, and special uses. These vessels represent individuals or groups of people whom God chooses for honorable, significant, or holy purposes. Vessels of honor encompass those who receive God’s mercy and are set apart to serve Him, thereby revealing His glory (see Romans 9:23–24).

By contrast, “vessels of dishonor” are objects intended for ordinary, less distinguished, or even dishonorable use. These represent people or groups whom God allows to serve more common or less glorious roles, including those who face judgment and do not receive His mercy in the same way as the vessels of honor.

In 2 Timothy 2:20–21, Paul sketches a similar word-image that further illuminates the vessel of dishonor. Here, Paul illustrates the difference between true believers and false followers: “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (ESV).

Jesus presents the same general truth through the parable of the wheat and the tares (see Matthew 13:24–30). Intermixed in the world are two groups of people, some who are faithful to their Lord (the “wheat” or honorable vessels) and others who are impostors (the “tares” or vessels of dishonor). The sovereign Lord knows who belongs to Him. The vessels of honor demonstrate a life of good works, reflecting His holiness, while the vessels of dishonor deny the truth by their doctrine and their unrepentant lives.

Throughout biblical history, there have been and will continue to be unworthy persons serving inferior and temporary purposes as vessels of dishonor. Some biblical examples include Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16; cf. Romans 9:17), Judas (Acts 2:23), and false prophets and teachers (Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1–3; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15).

The three biblical metaphors cited above emphasize God’s freedom to assign different roles and destinies according to His plan. God has the right to determine how He uses individuals or groups, just as a potter decides the purpose of each vessel. God has absolute authority over His creation, including His dispensing of either salvation or judgment. Other passages of Scripture develop the teaching that, while God is sovereign, individuals still have responsibility for their responses to Him.

Paul’s primary point in Romans 9:21 is that God is God, and we are not. He is the Potter, and we are the clay. It’s a metaphor that drains us of all pride. He is the Creator, and we are His creation. We may not always comprehend why God does what He does or understand His choices. Nevertheless, it is entirely appropriate and acceptable for Him to construct some vessels for honor and others for dishonor. It is not the vessel’s place to question the potter’s design.

In Romans 9:21, Paul concludes that God must be recognized as free. He is the One with ultimate authority to assign humans to different roles in the ongoing narrative of salvation history for the purpose of fulfilling His overall plan. A vessel of honor is one whom God sets apart for His holy purposes, useful to the Master, and prepared for good works (2 Timothy 2:21). Vessels of dishonor still serve some useful (albeit temporary) purpose in God’s plan. But, eventually, they will hear God declare, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23, ESV). In the end, they will be destroyed (Matthew 13:30; Romans 2:5–11; 9:21–23).