Romans 2:25

Romans 2:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

Context of Romans 2:25

23You 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.” Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

Romans 2:25 word by word

Περιτομὴ μὲν γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἐὰν νόμον πράσσῃς· ἐὰν δὲ παραβάτης νόμου ᾖς, ἡ περιτομή σου ἀκροβυστία γέγονεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
• verilyμένmen · on the other handG3303
• profitethὠφελέωōpheleō · to helpG5623
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• thou keepπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• butδέde · thenG1161
• thou beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a breakerπαραβάτηςparabatēs · transgresorG3848
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• circumcisionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• is madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• uncircumcisionἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203

Cross-references for Romans 2:25

• Romans 2:28A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
• Romans 3:1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
• Romans 4:11And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
• Deuteronomy 30:6The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
• Jeremiah 4:4Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.
• Galatians 5:3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
• Galatians 6:15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
• Ephesians 2:11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—
• Romans 2:23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
• Jeremiah 9:25“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—
• Acts 7:51“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Commentaries on Romans 2:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25For circumcision verily profiteth - It is a blessing to belong to the Church of God and wear the sign of the covenant, provided the terms of the covenant are complied with. But if thou be a breaker of the law - If thou do not observe the conditions of the covenant, the outward sign is both without meaning and without effect. This was a maxim of the rabbins themselves; for they allowed that an apostate or ungodly Israelite must go to hell, notwithstanding…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25For circumcision - John 7:22 note; Acts 7:8 note. This was the special rite by which the relation to the covenant of Abraham was recognised; or by which the right to all the privileges of a member of the Jewish commonwealth was acknowledged. The Jews of course affixed a high importance to the rite. Verily profiteth - Is truly a benefit; or is an advantage. The meaning is, that their being recognised as members of the Jewish commonwealth, and introduced to…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. 25God established the Jewish ceremony of circumcision as a sign of his covenant (special agreement) with Abraham. God required that every male Israelite child be circumcised (Genesis 17:9–13; see Romans 4:11). Circumcision represents God’s covenant with his people, Israel. The ceremony became more important during the intertestamental period (the time between the Old and New Testaments). During this time, the pagan king Antiochus IV Epiphanes tried to…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 2:25

• Circumcision
• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Minister, Christian

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