English Standard Version
Romans 2:23
23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
Romans 2:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
- New International Version (NIV)You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
- New King James Version (NKJV)You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
- New Living Translation (NLT)You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
Context of Romans 2:23
21you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." 25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
Read all of Romans 2Romans 2:23 word by word
ὃς ἐν νόμῳ καυχᾶσαι, διὰ τῆς παραβάσεως τοῦ νόμου τὸν θεὸν ἀτιμάζεις;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thou thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- makest thy boastκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- breakingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- breakingπαράβασιςparabasis · transgressionG3847
- dishonourest thouἀτιμάζωatimazō · to dishonorG818
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Romans 2:23
- Romans 2:17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
- Romans 3:2Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
- Romans 9:4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
- Jeremiah 8:8"How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
- Matthew 19:17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
- Luke 10:26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
- John 5:45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
- John 9:28And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- James 1:22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
- James 4:16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Commentaries on Romans 2:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Makest thy boast - To boast in the Law implied their conviction of its excellence and obligation, as a man does not boast of what he esteems to be of no value. Dishonourest thou God - By boasting of the Law, they proclaimed their conviction that it was from God. By breaking it, they denied it. And as actions are a true test of man‘s real opinions, their breaking the Law did it more dishonor than their boasting of it did it honor. This is always the…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. 1-29Paul waits to explain righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until he first teaches about the sinfulness of all people. Both non-Jews and Jews are equally under the power of sin (1:18–32; 2:1–3:8). Because of this, both groups are in the same situation before God. No one can gain God’s favor by their own actions or obedience (3:9–20). All people need God’s saving action, not their own efforts.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 2:23
In the dictionaries
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
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