Devine Scripture

Romans 3:10

What does Romans 3:10 mean?

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

What Romans 3:10 means

Paul begins a chain of quotations to prove universal guilt: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Righteousness here is not mere outward conformity but true conformity to God’s will and character. By invoking Scripture, Paul shows that this is not his private opinion but God’s verdict. The statement does not deny that people can perform civil good or kindness, but it insists that, in relation to God, none possess the perfect, unstained righteousness his holiness requires. This levels every claim to self-justification. The door to boasting is shut; the need for a righteousness from God, not from ourselves, is opened wide.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

As it is said in the holy Writings, There is not one who does righteousness;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

according as it hath been written--`There is none righteous, not even one;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

As it is written: There is not any man just.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

according as it is written, There is not a righteous [man], not even one;

Context

Having declared that all are under sin (verse 9), Paul supports the claim with a series of Old Testament citations (verses 10–18). Verse 10 sets the categorical tone: no one is righteous in God’s sight on their own. The following verses will expand the indictment across the faculties of mind, heart, speech, and action, painting a comprehensive picture of human depravity. This litany prepares for verses 19–20, where the law’s function is to silence every defense. Only against this backdrop does the unveiling of God’s righteousness apart from the law (verses 21–26) appear as the necessary and glorious remedy for a universally bankrupt humanity.

v.9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

v.10This passage

v.11There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

Cross references

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

  • Titus 3:3

    For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

  • Romans 11:8

    according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

  • Mark 7:21

    For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

  • Jeremiah 17:9

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

  • Romans 15:3

    For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

  • Romans 3:23

    for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

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