Romans 2:12
What does Romans 2:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 2:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 2:12 means
Paul explains accountability in light of revelation. Those who sinned without the Law will perish without being judged by the Law; those who sinned under the Law will be judged by that Law. The point is not that some escape, but that all who sin face judgment, and the standard matches the light they received. Possessing the Law increases responsibility, not immunity. This verse levels the field: ignorance does not excuse sin, and knowledge does not shield from its penalty. God’s justice takes into account the context of sin while maintaining its seriousness for every person.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All those who have done wrong without the law will get destruction without the law: and those who have done wrong under the law will have their punishment by the law;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for as many as without law did sin, without law also shall perish, and as many as did sin in law, through law shall be judged,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For whosoever have sinned without the law shall perish without the law: and whosoever have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For as many as have sinned without law shall perish also without law; and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law,
Context
After asserting God’s impartiality (verse 11), Paul shows how this plays out with differing access to revelation. Verse 12 distinguishes those without the Law (Gentiles) and those under it (Jews). Verses 13–15 will clarify that merely hearing the Law does not justify; doing matters, and Gentile conscience shows moral awareness. Verse 16 will anchor all of this in the final judgment conducted by Jesus Christ. The argument dismantles false refuge in possession of the Law.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
- Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
- Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.
- James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.
- Ezekiel 16:49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
- Galatians 2:16
yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
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