Devine Scripture

Romans 10:3

What does Romans 10:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 10:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 10:3 means

Here Paul diagnoses Israel’s core error: they did not understand God’s righteousness and tried to construct their own record of rightness before Him. In doing so, they refused to submit to the righteousness that God gives. Righteousness is not a human project but a divine provision. The heart of unbelief is not only ignorance but a proud insistence on self-made standing with God. The phrase “subject themselves” shows that receiving God’s righteousness requires humble surrender. This verse exposes the futility of self-justification and points the reader to the next claim—that God’s righteousness is centered in Christ, not in human performance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Because, not having knowledge of God's righteousness, and desiring to give effect to their righteousness, they have not put themselves under the righteousness of God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for not knowing the righteousness of God, and their own righteousness seeking to establish, to the righteousness of God they did not submit.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For they, not knowing the justice of God and seeking to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the justice of God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For they, being ignorant ofGod's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own [righteousness], have not submitted to the righteousness ofGod.

Context

Verse 3 builds directly on verse 2’s statement about zeal without knowledge. Paul now states the content of that missing knowledge: the nature of God’s righteousness and the necessity of submitting to it. The argument moves in verse 4 to its Christ-centered climax—Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Verses 5–8 will then contrast the law-based approach with the faith-based approach. Thus, verse 3 is the hinge between acknowledging zeal and announcing Christ as the fulfillment of God’s righteous plan.

v.2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

v.3This passage

v.4For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 16:15

    And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

  • Leviticus 26:41

    I also walked contrary unto them, and brought them into the land of their enemies: if then their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity;

  • Psalms 71:15

    My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, Andof thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers thereof.

  • Isaiah 51:6

    Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

  • Romans 3:26

    for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.

  • Galatians 5:3

    Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

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