Devine Scripture

Romans 2:27

What does Romans 2:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 2:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 2:27 means

The obedient, though uncircumcised by nature, will stand in judgment over the circumcised who break the Law. Their obedience exposes the transgressor’s inconsistency. The phrase “with the letter and circumcision” points to the possession of written revelation and the covenant sign—advantages that become liabilities when unaccompanied by obedience. The irony is cutting: those presumed outsiders, by doing what God requires, show up the insiders who rest on badges. God’s courtroom values reality over form. This anticipates Paul’s climax that true Jewishness is inward, defined by heart obedience rather than outward ritual.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they, by their keeping of the law without circumcision, will be judges of you, by whom the law is broken though you have the letter of the law and circumcision.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the uncircumcision, by nature, fulfilling the law, shall judge thee who, through letter and circumcision, <FI>art<Fi> a transgressor of law.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And shall not that which by nature is uncircumcision, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and uncircumcision by nature, fulfilling the law, judge thee, who, with letter and circumcision, [art] a law-transgressor?

Context

Verse 27 heightens the argument by moving from hypothetical recognition (verse 26) to judicial reversal: the obedient uncircumcised will judge the disobedient circumcised. This paves the way for verses 28–29, where Paul will state positively what constitutes true Jewishness and true circumcision—an inward work of the heart by the Spirit, not merely an external mark or adherence to the letter.

v.26If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?

v.27This passage

v.28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:

Cross references

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

  • Romans 13:10

    Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.

  • Romans 2:29

    but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

  • Matthew 12:41

    The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

  • Ezekiel 16:48

    As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

  • Romans 2:20

    a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

  • Matthew 5:17

    Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.

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