Romans 3:20

Romans 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Context of Romans 3:20

18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;

Romans 3:20 word by word

διότι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ· διὰ γὰρ νόμου ἐπίγνωσις ἁμαρτίας.Read the interlinear

• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• justifiedδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344
• knowledgeἐπίγνωσιςepignōsis · knowledgeG1922
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266

Cross-references for Romans 3:20

• Romans 3:28We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
• Romans 2:13for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified;
• Romans 4:13For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
• Romans 9:32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
• Acts 13:39and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
• Galatians 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
• Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.
• Galatians 5:4Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
• Ephesians 2:8for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
• James 2:9but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
• Job 25:4How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
• Psalms 130:3If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
• Psalms 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous.
• James 2:20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
• Job 15:15Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:
• Job 25:5Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in his sight:

Commentaries on Romans 3:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Therefore, by the deeds of the law - On the score of obedience to this moral law, there shall no flesh, , no human being, be justified; none can be accepted in the sight of God. And why? Because by the law is the knowledge of sin: it is that which ascertains what sin is; shows how men have deviated from its righteous demands; and sentences them to death because they have broken it. Thus the law is properly considered as the rule of right; and, unless God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20By the deeds of the law - By works; or by such deeds as the Law requires. The word “Law” has, in the Scriptures, a great variety of significations. Its strict and proper meaning is, a rule of conduct prescribed by superior authority. The course of reasoning in these chapters shows the sense in which the apostle uses it here. He intends evidently to apply it to those rules or laws by which the Jews and Gentiles pretended to frame their lives; and to affirm…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-20Verses 19-20 It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20by works of the law: This means obeying the rules given by Moses, the prophet and leader of Israel. While this phrase refers to Jews, the principle extends to all people. If Jews cannot be put in right relationship with God by obeying the law God gave them, certainly other people cannot establish such a relationship through good deeds.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Therefore by the deeds of--obedience to the law there shall no flesh be justified--that is, be held and treated as righteous; as is plain from the whole scope and strain of the argument. in his sight--at His bar (Psa 143:2). for by the law is the knowledge of sin--(See on Ro 4:15; Ro 7:7; and 1Jo 3:4). Note, How broad and deep does the apostle in this section lay the foundations of his great doctrine of Justification by free grace--in the disorder of…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 3:20

• Bigotry
• Boasting
• Catholicity
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Boasting
• Conclude
• Destruction
• Establish
• Faith
• Justifier
• Overcome
• Sin
• Bible, the
• Galatians, Epistle to the

Commentaries on Romans 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings