Romans 2:29

Romans 2:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
• New International Version (NIV)No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Context of Romans 2:29

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. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart — by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

Romans 2:29 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ Ἰουδαῖος, καὶ περιτομὴ καρδίας ἐν πνεύματι οὐ γράμματι, οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• a JewἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• inwardlyκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
• of the heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• notοὐou · noG3756
• in the letterγράμμαgramma · something writtenG1121
• whoseὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• praiseἔπαινοςepainos · praiseG1868
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Romans 2:29

• 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
• Psalms 45:13In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.
• Jeremiah 4:14Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem, so that you will be delivered. How long will you harbor malicious thoughts?
• Matthew 23:25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
• Luke 11:39But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.
• Luke 17:21no one will say, ‘See here! ’ or ‘There! ’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
• John 4:23But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.
• 1 Peter 3:4but rather what is inside the heart — the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
• Deuteronomy 10:16Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer.
• Deuteronomy 30:6The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.
• Jeremiah 4:4Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of your evil deeds.
• 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,
• Romans 2:27A 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.
• Romans 7:6But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.
• Romans 14:17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Commentaries on Romans 2:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29But he is a Jew - A true member of the Church of God. Which is one inwardly - Who has his heart purified, according to what God has uniformly prescribed by his prophets; see above: for circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, by the Spirit of God, who is the author of all spiritual affections and holy purposes: or, every thing here is to be understood spiritually, and not literally; for without holiness none can please God, and without holiness none…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29But he is a Jew - He comes up to the design of the Jewish institution; he manifests truly what it is to be a Jew. Which is one inwardly - Who is “in heart” a Jew. Who has the true spirit, and fulfils the design of their being separated as a special people. This passage proves that the design of separating them was not merely to perform certain external rites, or to conform to external observances, but to be a people holy in heart and in life. It cannot be…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. 29the written code: This refers to God's law written on tablets of stone (see 2 Corinthians 3:3). Now the Holy Spirit writes God’s law on people’s hearts, meaning that God places his law within them and changes how they think and live (Jeremiah 31:33–34). This contrast shows the difference between obeying rules only on the outside and obeying God because he has changed a person’s inner life.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 2:29

• Circumcision
• Formalism
• God
• Heart
• Holiness
• Hypocrisy
• Man
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

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

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