Romans 2:26

Romans 2:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
• New International Version (NIV)So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
• English Standard Version (ESV)So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

Context of Romans 2:26

24For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. 25Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.

Romans 2:26 word by word

ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ἀκροβυστία τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ νόμου φυλάσσῃ, οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ εἰς περιτομὴν λογισθήσεται;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the uncircumcisionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the uncircumcisionἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203
• keepφυλάσσωphulassō · to keep/guard: observeG5442
• the righteousnessδικαίωμαdikaiōma · righteous actG1345
• of the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• shall notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• be countedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061

Cross-references for Romans 2:26

• Isaiah 56:6As for the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to become his servants — all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to my covenant —
• 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.
• Matthew 15:28Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.
• Acts 10:2He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
• Acts 11:3saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:18Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.
• 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 —
• Colossians 2:11You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

Commentaries on Romans 2:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision, etc. - If the Gentile be found to act according to the spirit and design of the law, his acting thus uprightly, according to the light which God has afforded him, will be reckoned to him as if he were circumcised and walked agreeably to the law.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Therefore, if the uncircumcision - If those who are not circumcised, that is, the pagan. Keep the righteousness of the law - Keep what the Law of Moses commands. It could not be supposed that a pagan would understand the requirements of the ceremonial law; but reference is had here to the moral law. The apostle does not expressly affirm that this was ever done; but he supposes the case, to show the true nature and value of the rites of the Jews. Shall not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-29Verses 25-29 No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?: Paul might be referring to Gentile Christians who are God's people because they follow God's law. Alternatively, he could be speaking in an imaginary way about what would happen if a non-Jew perfectly obeyed God's law.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 25-2925-29. For circumcision--that is, One's being within the covenant of which circumcision was the outward sign and seal. verily profiteth, if thou keep the law--if the inward reality correspond to the outward sign. but if, &c.--that is, "Otherwise, thou art no better than the uncircumcised heathen."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:26

• Circumcision
• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Sure
• Treasure
• Bible, the

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