Romans 2:23

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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)You who boast in the law 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? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

Romans 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 2:17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
• Romans 3:2Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
• Romans 9:4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
• Jeremiah 8:8“ ‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?
• Matthew 19:17“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
• Luke 10:26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
• Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
• John 5:45“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
• John 9:28Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!
• James 1:22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
• James 4:16As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. 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

• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Inconsistency
• Minister, Christian
• 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