New Living Translation
Romans 9:32
32Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.
Romans 9:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
- New International Version (NIV)Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
Context of Romans 9:32
30What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
Read all of Romans 9Romans 9:32 word by word
διὰ τί; ὅτι οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐξ ἔργων προσέκοψαν τῷ λίθῳ τοῦ προσκόμματοςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
- Whereforeτίςtis · which?G5101
- Becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- notοὐou · noG3756
- byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- as it wereὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- the worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- of the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- they stumbledπροσκόπτωproskoptō · to strikeG4350
- at thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- at thatλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
- stumblingstoneπρόσκομμαproskomma · stumbling blockG4348
Cross-references for Romans 9:32
- Romans 4:16So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
- Romans 10:3For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.
- Matthew 19:16Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
- John 6:27But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
- Acts 16:30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- 1 John 5:9Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.
- Romans 11:11Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.
- Matthew 13:57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”
- Luke 2:34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.
- Luke 7:23And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:23So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
Commentaries on Romans 9:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32Wherefore? - And where lies their mistake? Being ignorant of God's righteousness - of his method of saving sinners by faith in Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness - their own method of obtaining everlasting salvation. They attend not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands on the extensive principles of grace and faith; but they turn all their regards to the law of Moses. They imagine that their obedience to that law gives them a…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-33Verses 30-33 The Gentiles knew not their guilt and misery, therefore were not careful to procure a remedy. Yet they attained to righteousness by faith. Not by becoming proselytes to the Jewish religion, and submitting to the ceremonial law; but by embracing Christ, and believing in him, and submitting to the gospel. The Jews talked much of justification and holiness, and seemed very ambitious to be the favourites of God. They sought, but not in the right…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32-33a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense: This phrase means to fail to accept or understand something. In this context, it refers to people who reject or refuse to believe the message about Christ. Instead of trusting him, they turn away because his message challenges what they believe or expect.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 32-3332-33. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were--rather simply, "as" by the works of the law--as if it were thus attainable, which justification is not: Since, therefore, it is attainable only by faith, they missed it. for--it is doubtful if this particle was originally in the text. they stumbled at that stumbling-stone--better, "against the stone of stumbling," meaning Christ. But in this they only did.Read the comment
- Calvin’s Commentaries · v. 3232. Not by faith, but as it were by works, etc. As false zeal seems commonly to be justly excused, Paul shows that they are deservedly rejected, who attempt to attain salvation by trusting in their own works; for they, as far as they can, abolish faith, without which no salvation can be expected. Hence, were they to gain their object, such a success would be the annihilation of true righteousness. You farther see how faith and the merits of works are…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 9:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- 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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