Devine Scripture

Romans 3:11

What does Romans 3:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 3:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 3:11 means

Paul continues: no one truly understands or seeks after God. The problem is not a lack of data but a moral and spiritual bent away from God. Left to ourselves, we do not pursue him as he is; we prefer gods of our own making or our own autonomy. Understanding and seeking are corrupted by sin’s power. This does not deny that people can be spiritually curious, but it affirms that saving pursuit begins with God seeking us. The verse humbles the reader, removing any claim that some find God by superior insight. Salvation is grace visiting the blind and the wayward with true light.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

There is none that understandeth: there is none that seeketh after God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

there is not the [man] that understands, there is not one that seeks afterGod.

Context

Verse 11 deepens the indictment that began in verse 10 by focusing on the inner faculties: understanding and desire. Paul shows that sin is not only in deeds but in the mind and will. Verses 12–18 will extend this, moving from the heart’s turning aside to the tongue’s corruption and the feet’s violence, concluding with the core issue of lacking the fear of God. This cumulative portrait leads to verses 19–20, where the law’s speech ends all self-defense, proving that no one can be justified by works. The stage is thus set for the revelation of God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ (verses 21–26).

v.10as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

v.11This passage

v.12They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 53:4

    Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And call not upon God?

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Romans 8:7

    because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:

  • Matthew 13:13

    Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

  • Psalms 53:2

    God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

  • Psalms 14:2

    Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

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