Romans 2:17

Romans 2:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
• New International Version (NIV)Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
• New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,

Context of Romans 2:17

15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them 16on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,

Romans 2:17 word by word

Εἰ δὲ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν θεῷRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• art calledἐπονομάζωeponomazō · to nameG2028
• a JewἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• restestἐπαναπαύωepanapauomai · to rest/rely onG1879
• in the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• in the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• makest thy boastκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Romans 2:17

• Romans 2:28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.
• Romans 9:4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.
• Psalms 135:4For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his treasured possession.
• Isaiah 48:1“Listen to this, house of Jacob — those who are called by the name Israel and have descended from Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord and declare the God of Israel, but not in truth or righteousness.
• Matthew 3:9And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
• Matthew 8:11I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
• John 8:33“We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.
• Galatians 2:15We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,”
• Ephesians 2:11So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands.
• Philippians 3:3For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh —
• Revelation 2:9I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
• Revelation 3:1“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
• Romans 2:23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
• Jeremiah 7:4Do not trust deceitful words, chanting, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”
• Zephaniah 3:11On that day you will not be put to shame because of everything you have done in rebelling against me. For then I will remove from among you your jubilant, arrogant people, and you will never again be haughty on my holy mountain.

Commentaries on Romans 2:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Behold, thou art called a Jew - What the apostle had said in the preceding verses being sufficient to enforce conviction on the conscience of the Jew, he now throws off the cover, and openly argues with him in the most plain and nervous manner; asserting that his superior knowledge, privileges, and profession, served only to aggravate his condemnation. And that, in fact, he who, under all his greater advantages, transgressed the law of God, stood…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Behold - Having thus stated the general principles on which God would judge the world; having shown how they condemned the Gentiles; and having removed all objections to them, he now proceeds to another part of his argument, to show how they applied to the Jews. By the use of the word “behold,” he calls their attention to it, as to an important subject; and with great skill and address, he states their privileges, before he shows them how those privileges…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great evil of the sins professors…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-20The pride of the Jews reflects Old Testament and Jewish teachings about the privileges and responsibilities God gave to Israel. God gave his law to Israel, formed a special relationship with them, and gave them the task of being a spiritual light to the Gentiles (see Isaiah 42:6–7). Jews were not wrong to enjoy these blessings; their error was in failing to live up to their privileged position.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2417-24. Behold--"But if" is, beyond doubt, the true reading here. (It differs but in a single letter from the received reading, and the sense is the same).Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:17

• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Self-Righteousness
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Sure

Commentaries on Romans 2

• 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