New Living Translation
Romans 3:9
9Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.
Romans 3:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
- New International Version (NIV)What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
- English Standard Version (ESV)What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
- New King James Version (NKJV)What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
Context of Romans 3:9
7“But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.
Read all of Romans 3Romans 3:9 word by word
Τί οὖν; προεχόμεθα; οὐ πάντως· προῃτιασάμεθα γὰρ Ἰουδαίους τε καὶ Ἕλληνας πάντας ὑφ᾽ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναιRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- are we betterπροέχωproechomai · to excelG4284
- Noοὐou · noG3756
- in no wiseπάντωςpantōs · surelyG3843
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- we have before provedπροαιτιάομαιproaitiaomai · to accuseG4256
- bothκαίkai · andG2532
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- andτεte · and/bothG5037
- GentilesἝλλην=ἝλληνHellēn · Greek, GentileG1672
- that they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
- sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
Cross-references for Romans 3:9
- Romans 3:5“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)
- Romans 6:15Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
- Romans 11:7So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.
- 1 Corinthians 10:19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?
- 1 Corinthians 14:15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.
- Philippians 1:18But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
- Romans 3:22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
- Isaiah 65:5Yet they say to each other, ‘Don’t come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.
- Luke 7:39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
- Luke 18:9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
- 1 Corinthians 4:7For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
- Romans 1:28Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.
- Romans 2:1You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
- Galatians 3:10But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”
Commentaries on Romans 3:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Jew. What then? - After all, have not we Jews a better claim to the privileges of the kingdom of God than the Gentiles have? Apostle. No, in no wise - For I have already proved that both Jews and Gentiles are under the guilt of sin; that they are equally unworthy of the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom; and that they must both, equally, owe their salvation to the mere mercy of God. From this, to the end of the 26th verse, the apostle proceeds to prove…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9What then? - This is another remark supposed to be made by a Jewish objector. “What follows? or are we to infer that we are better than others? Are we better than they? - Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? Or rather, have we any preference, or advantage as to character and prospects, over the Gentiles? These questions refer only to the great point in debate, to wit, about justification before God. The apostle had admitted Romans 3:2 that the Jews had…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Not at all: Paul's strong response does not contradict his earlier statement in 3:1–2 that Jews have an advantage. However, this advantage has not benefited them because they did not obey God's commands and encountered God's punishment. Jews, like Gentiles (here, Greeks), have sinned against the revelation of God and stand condemned. under sin: Being "under" something means it controls a person. The main problem for humans is not only that they have sin…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-209. are we better than they?--"do we excel them?" No, in no wise--Better off the Jews certainly were, for having the oracles of God to teach them better; but as they were no better, that only aggravated their guilt.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 3:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 3
- 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
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