Devine Scripture

Romans 3:14

What does Romans 3:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 3:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 3:14 means

The mouth, designed to praise and build up, becomes filled with cursing and bitterness. This shows how sin twists good gifts into instruments of harm. Bitterness poisons relationships; cursing assaults the dignity of others made in God’s image. The verse is not saying that every person speaks at maximum malice all the time, but that humanity’s speech, by nature, is corrupted and often destructive. Our words betray our hearts. This is why redemption must reach the inner spring, not just alter outward behavior. Only a new heart will cleanse the mouth so that it expresses truth, grace, and reverence rather than hostility and deceit.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Whose mouth is full of curses and bitter words:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;

Context

Together with verse 13, this verse completes the focus on corrupt speech. Having shown that words can be like venom and death, Paul notes the bitterness and cursing that often fill human mouths. Next, verses 15–17 shift from speech to action, highlighting the swiftness with which people move toward violence and the absence of peace on their paths. Verse 18 will explain that such behavior flows from the absence of the fear of God. With this bleak picture in place, verses 19–20 announce the law’s purpose: to stop every mouth, not to justify. This opens the door for the revelation of righteousness through faith in Jesus (verses 21–26).

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

v.14This passage

v.15Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Cross references

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

  • James 3:10

    out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

  • Psalms 10:7

    His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

  • Psalms 109:17

    Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.

  • Psalms 59:12

    Forthe sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for cursing and lying which they speak.

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