Devine Scripture

Romans 2:23

What does Romans 2:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 2:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 2:23 means

Boasting in the Law while breaking it turns privilege into dishonor against God. The Law reveals God’s holy character; to transgress it, all the while glorying in possessing it, misrepresents Him to the watching world. The issue is not the Law’s goodness but the sinner’s inconsistency. This verse exposes the spiritual pride that treats the Law as a badge rather than a guide to obedience. Such boasting without obedience magnifies guilt, because it claims to love what it refuses to follow. The ultimate casualty is God’s honor, which should have been displayed by His people’s holy lives.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You who take pride in the law, are you doing wrong to the honour of God by behaviour which is against the law?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

thou who in the law dost boast, through the transgression of the law God dost thou dishonour?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Thou, that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

thou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonourGod?

Context

After the probing questions of verses 21–22, verse 23 states the theological verdict: hypocritical reliance on the Law dishonors God. Verse 24 will support this with a scriptural indictment, showing that Israel’s failures led Gentiles to blaspheme God’s name. The argument is moving from personal inconsistency to its public and Godward consequences, setting up the transition to circumcision and true Jewishness in verses 25–29.

v.22thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?

v.23This passage

v.24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 8:8

    How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.

  • James 4:16

    But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

  • Romans 3:2

    Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

  • John 9:28

    And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

  • Luke 10:26

    And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

  • Romans 9:4

    who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

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