{Or hath not the potter a right over the clay?} ((8820)ouk
echei exousian ho kerameus tou p(886c)ou?). This question, expecting
an affirmative answer, is Paul's reply to the previous one, "Why
didst thou make me thus?" P(886c)os, old word for clay, is mud or
wet clay in  Joh 9:6,11,14f . The old word for potter
(kerameus) in N.T. only here and  Mt 27:7,10 . {Lump}
(phuramatos). Late word from phura(935c), to mix (clay, dough,
etc.). {One part} (ho men) {--another} (ho de). Regular idiom
for contrast (men--de) with the old demonstrative ho (this),
"this vessel (skeuos, old word as in  Mr 11:16 ) for honour,
that for dishonour." Paul thus claims clearly God's sovereign
right (exousian, power, right, authority, from exesti) to use
men (already sinners) for his own purpose.