Romans 10:2

Romans 10:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
• New International Version (NIV)For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Context of Romans 10:2

1Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation. For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth. 3For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.

Romans 10:2 word by word

μαρτυρῶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὅτι ζῆλον θεοῦ ἔχουσιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κατ᾽ ἐπίγνωσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• I bearμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a zealζῆλοςzēlos · zealG2205
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• notοὐou · noG3756
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• knowledgeἐπίγνωσιςepignōsis · knowledgeG1922

Cross-references for Romans 10:2

• 2 Corinthians 8:3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,
• Galatians 4:15Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!
• Colossians 4:13For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
• 2 Kings 10:16Jehu said, “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot.
• John 16:2They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
• Acts 21:20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.
• Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today.
• Acts 26:9Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.
• Galatians 1:14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
• Galatians 4:17They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.
• Philippians 3:6In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.
• Romans 10:3For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
• Romans 9:31but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.
• Psalms 14:4All those who behave wickedly do not understand – those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.
• Proverbs 19:2It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.
• Isaiah 27:1At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster.

Commentaries on Romans 10:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2They have a zeal of God - They believe their law to have come immediately from God himself, and are jealous of its glory and excellence; they conscientiously observe its rites and ceremonies, but they do not consider the object and end of those rites; they sin more through ignorance than malice; and this pleads in their excuse. By this fine apology for them, the apostle prepares them for the harsher truths which he was about to deliver.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For I bear them record - To bear record means to be a witness; to give evidence. This, Paul was well qualified to do. He had been a Jew of the strictest order Acts 26:5; Philemon 3:5, and he well knew the extraordinary exertions which they put forth to obey the commands of the Law. A zeal of God - A zeal for God. Thus, John 2:17,” The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;” an earnest desire for the honor of the sanctuary has wholly absorbed my attention…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2zealous: This means a strong and sincere commitment to God and to what God desires (see Numbers 25:6–13). This kind of passion can be good and faithful. In Paul’s time, however, much Jewish zeal was misdirected. Many people did not understand that Jesus Christ is the central point of God’s plan. Because of this, their passion did not lead them to the truth. Paul points to his own life as an example. Before he trusted Christ, Paul showed great zeal, but it…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. For I bear them record--or, "witness," as he well could from his own sad experience. that they have a zeal of--"for" God, but not according to knowledge--(Compare Ac 22:3; 26:9-11; Ga 1:13, 14). He alludes to this well-meaning of his people, notwithstanding their spiritual blindness, not certainly to excuse their rejection of Christ and rage against His saints, but as some ground of hope regarding them. (See 1Ti 1:13).Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 10:2

• Bigotry
• Justification
• Religion
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confession
• Difference
• Establish
• Faith
• Provoke
• Rich
• Zeal
• Bible, the

Commentaries on Romans 10

• 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