Romans 10:15
What does Romans 10:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 10:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 10:15 means
Paul adds the final link: preachers must be sent. He then cites Scripture, “How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!” The beauty is not aesthetic but moral and spiritual—their coming brings news of peace, joy, and salvation. Sending implies divine initiative; gospel heralds go because God commissions them. This elevates the task of preaching as a participation in God’s saving purpose. The “feet” image highlights movement and effort—crossing distances so that others may hear. Where the gospel is carried, God’s goodness arrives in words that call people to faith in Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
KJV
King James Version · 1611And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As it is said, How beautiful are the feet of those who give the glad news of good things.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and how shall they preach, if they may not be sent? according as it hath been written, `How beautiful the feet of those proclaiming good tidings of peace, of those proclaiming good tidings of the good things!'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and how shall they preach unless they have been sent? according as it is written, How beautiful the feet of them that announce glad tidings of peace, of them that announce glad tidings of good things!
Context
Verse 15 completes the chain of verse 14 and celebrates the dignity of gospel proclamation. Yet, as verse 16 will soberly note, not all who hear will obey the good news, echoing Isaiah’s lament. Verse 17 will then reaffirm the principle: faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. The flow shows why the mission is necessary, beautiful, and yet often resisted. This prepares for the closing section (vv. 18–21), where Paul addresses Israel’s hearing, knowledge, and persistent disobedience.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nahum 1:15
Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
- Luke 2:10
And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:
- John 20:21
Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- Jeremiah 23:32
Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah.
- 1 Peter 1:12
To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
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