Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Romans 2:13 in other translations
| BSB | For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous. |
|---|---|
| WEB | For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified |
| ASV | for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; |
| YLT | for not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be declared righteous: -- |
| DARBY | (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. |
| BBE | For it is not the hearers of the law who will be judged as having righteousness before God, but only the doers: |
| Webster | (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. |
What does Romans 2:13 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 2:13-15
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Are just. Are justified before God, or are personally holy. Or, in other words, simply hearing the law is not meeting all its requirements, and making men holy. If they expected to be saved by the law, it required something more than merely to hear it. It demanded perfect obedience.
But the doers of the law. They who comply entirely with its demands; or who yield to it perfect and perpetual obedience. This was the plain and obvious demand, not only of common sense, but of the Jewish law itself, De 4:1, Lev 18:5. Comp. Rom 10:9.
Shall be justified. This expression is evidently synonymous with that in Lev 18:5 where it is said that "he shall live in them." The meaning is, that it is a maxim or principle of the law of God, that if a creature will keep it, and obey it entirely, he shall not be condemned, but shall be approved, and live for ever. This does not affirm that any one ever has thus lived in this world, but it is an affirmation of a great general principle of law, that if a creature is justified BY the law, the obedience must be entire and perpetual. If such were the case, as there would be no ground of condemnation, man would be saved by the law. If the Jews, therefore, expected to be saved by their law, it must be, not by hearing the law, nor by being called a Jew, but by perfect and unqualified obedience to all its requirements. This passage is designed, doubtless, to meet a very common and pernicious sentiment of the Jewish teachers, that all who became hearers and listeners to the law would be saved. The inference from the passage is, that no man can be saved by his external privileges, or by an outward respectful deference to the truths and ordinances of religion.
(v) "For not the hearers" Jas 1:22,25
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 2:1-16
The Jews thought themselves a holy people, entitled to their privileges by right, while they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous. But all who act thus, of every nation, age, and description, must be reminded that the judgment of God will be according to their real character. The case is so plain, that we may appeal to the sinner's own thoughts. In every wilful sin, there is contempt of the goodness of God…
Romans 2:13 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Romans 2:13
- James 1:22-25
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- 1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
- James 2:21-25
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. …
- Romans 2:25
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
- Luke 8:21
And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
- Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- Galatians 3:11-12
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
- 1 John 2:29
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- Romans 10:5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
- Ezekiel 20:11
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
- Luke 10:25-29
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. …
- Psalms 143:2
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
25; De 4:1; 5:1; 6:3; 30:12-14; Eze 20:11; 33:30-33; Mt 7:21-27
Lu 8:21; Jas 1:22-25; 1Jo 2:29; 3:7
but the.
3:20,23; 10:5; Lu 10:25-29; Ga 3:11,12
justified.
3:30; 4:2-5; Ps 143:2; Lu 18:14; Ac 13:39; Ga 2:16; 5:4; Jas 2:21-25
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Romans 2:12
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
- Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
- Romans 2:14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Romans 2:13 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque no los oidores de la ley son justos para con Dios, mas los hacedores de la ley serán justificados. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | (car ce ne sont pas les auditeurs de la loi qui sont justes devant Dieu; mais ce sont ceux qui accomplissent la loi qui seront justifiés; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | denn nicht die Hörer des Gesetzes sind gerecht vor Gott, sondern die Täter des Gesetzes werden gerechtfertigt werden. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Non enim auditores legis justi sunt apud Deum, sed factores legis justificabuntur. |