Romans 2:26

Romans 2:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
• English Standard Version (ESV)So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
• New Living Translation (NLT)And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?

Context of Romans 2:26

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. So 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. 28A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

Romans 2:26 word by word

ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ἀκροβυστία τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ νόμου φυλάσσῃ, οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ εἰς περιτομὴν λογισθήσεται;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the uncircumcisionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the uncircumcisionἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203
• keepφυλάσσωphulassō · to keep/guard: observeG5442
• the righteousnessδικαίωμαdikaiōma · righteous actG1345
• of the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• shall notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• be countedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061

Cross-references for Romans 2:26

• Isaiah 56:6And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—
• Matthew 8:11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 15:28Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
• Acts 10:2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
• Acts 11:3and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
• Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
• Colossians 2:11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,

Commentaries on Romans 2:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision, etc. - If the Gentile be found to act according to the spirit and design of the law, his acting thus uprightly, according to the light which God has afforded him, will be reckoned to him as if he were circumcised and walked agreeably to the law.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Therefore, if the uncircumcision - If those who are not circumcised, that is, the pagan. Keep the righteousness of the law - Keep what the Law of Moses commands. It could not be supposed that a pagan would understand the requirements of the ceremonial law; but reference is had here to the moral law. The apostle does not expressly affirm that this was ever done; but he supposes the case, to show the true nature and value of the rites of the Jews. Shall not…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. 26will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?: Paul might be referring to Gentile Christians who are God's people because they follow God's law. Alternatively, he could be speaking in an imaginary way about what would happen if a non-Jew perfectly obeyed God's law.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 2:26

• Circumcision
• Formalism
• Hypocrisy
• Salvation

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