Devine Scripture

Romans 3:12

What does Romans 3:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 3:12 means

All have turned aside from God’s path and become useless for the purpose of reflecting his goodness. In absolute terms, none does good as God defines it—good springing from a pure heart, measured by his standards, and aimed at his glory. Human society may deem many deeds good, and in a limited sense they are beneficial. Yet, before a perfectly holy God, sin infects motives and aims. This verse underscores the universality and depth of the problem: the race has deviated together, not just isolated individuals. The indictment is corporate and comprehensive, leaving no person able to claim inherent moral fitness for God’s presence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

They have all gone out of the way, there is no profit in any of them; there is not one who does good, not so much as one:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

All did go out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

All have turned out of the way: they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good, there is not so much as one.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one:

Context

Following verse 11’s statement about the lack of true understanding and seeking, verse 12 moves to the corporate deviation of humanity and the absence of God-defined goodness. It reinforces the universality of the charge announced in verses 9–10. Next, verses 13–14 will focus on sinful speech, showing how words flow from corrupt hearts, and verses 15–17 will describe violent conduct. Verse 18 will name the root problem: no fear of God. This scriptural chain prepares for verses 19–20, where the law’s role is clarified—to shut every mouth and bring knowledge of sin—paving the way for the unveiling of righteousness apart from the law in verses 21–26.

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

v.12This passage

v.13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:

Cross references

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

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20

    Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:29

    Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

  • Matthew 25:30

    And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

  • Ephesians 2:8

    for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • Philemon 1:11

    who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

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