Romans 2:13

Romans 2:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
• New International Version (NIV)For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.

Context of Romans 2:13

11For there is no partiality with God. 12For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Romans 2:13 word by word

οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἀκροαταὶ νόμου δίκαιοι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, ἀλλ᾽ οἱ ποιηταὶ νόμου δικαιωθήσονται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the hearersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the hearersἀκροατήςakroatēs · hearerG202
• of the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• beforeπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the doersποιητήςpoiētēs · doerG4163
• shall be justifiedδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344

Cross-references for Romans 2:13

• Romans 2:25For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
• Deuteronomy 4:1“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you.
• Deuteronomy 5:1And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.
• Deuteronomy 6:3Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
• Deuteronomy 30:12It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’
• Ezekiel 20:11And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’
• Ezekiel 33:30“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
• Luke 8:21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
• James 1:22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• 1 John 2:29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
• 1 John 3:7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
• Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• Romans 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
• Luke 10:25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
• Galatians 3:11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

Commentaries on Romans 2:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13For not the hearers of the law, etc. - It does not follow, because one people are favored with a Divine revelation, that therefore they shall be saved; while the others who have not had that revelation, shall finally perish: this is not God's procedure; where he has given a law - a Divine revelation, he requires obedience to that law; and only those who have been doers of that law - who have lived according to the light and privileges granted in that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For not the hearers … - The same sentiment is implied in James 1:22; Matthew 7:21, Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:47. The apostle here doubtless designed to meet an objection of the Jews; to wit, that they had the Law, that they manifested great deference for it, that they heard it read with attention, and professed a willingness to yield themselves to it. To meet this, he states a very plain and obvious principle, that this was insufficient to justify them before…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13the doers of the law who will be declared righteous: Regarding the promise of righteousness through obedience, see 2:7 and James 1:22.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1513-15. For not the hearers, &c.--As touching the Jews, in whose ears the written law is continually resounding, the condemnation of as many of them as are found sinners at the last involves no difficulty; but even as respects the heathen, who are strangers to the law in its positive and written form--since they show how deeply it is engraven on their moral nature, which witnesses within them for righteousness and against iniquity, accusing or condemning…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 2:13

• Doer
• Gentiles
• God Continued...
• Hearers
• Judgment
• Justification
• Works

In the dictionaries

• God
• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance
• Judgment, The final
• Resurrection of the dead

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