Romans 2:21
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Romans 2:21 in other translations
| BSB | you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? |
|---|---|
| WEB | You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal? |
| ASV | thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? |
| YLT | Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach? |
| DARBY | thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? |
| BBE | You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours? |
| Webster | Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? |
What does Romans 2:21 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 2:17-24
17-24. Behold--"But if" is, beyond doubt, the true reading here. (It differs but in a single letter from the received reading, and the sense is the same).
Barnes' Notes
That preachest. This word means to proclaim in any manner, whether in the synagogue, or in any place of public teaching.
Dost thou steal? It cannot be proved, perhaps, that the Jews were extensively guilty of this crime. It is introduced partly, no doubt, to make the inconsistency of their conduct more apparent. We expect a man to set an example of what he means by his public instruction.
(d) "Thou therefore which" Mt 23:3
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 2:17-24
The apostle directs his discourse to the Jews, and shows of what sins they were guilty, notwithstanding their profession and vain pretensions. A believing, humble, thankful glorying in God, is the root and sum of all religion. But proud, vain-glorious boasting in God, and in the outward profession of his name, is the root and sum of all hypocrisy. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. A great…
Romans 2:21 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 2:21
- 1 Corinthians 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
- Matthew 23:3-28
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, …
- Luke 12:47
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.
- Titus 2:1-7
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, …
- Psalms 50:16-21
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. …
- Luke 11:46
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
- Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
- Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
- Ezekiel 22:12-13
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
- Galatians 6:13
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Romans 2:20
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
- Romans 2:21
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
- Romans 2:22
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Romans 2:21 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Tú pues, que enseñas á otro, ¿no te enseñas á ti mismo? ¿Tú, que predicas que no se ha de hurtar, hurtas? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | toi donc qui enseignes les autres, ne t’enseignes-tu pas toi-même? Toi qui prêches qu’on ne doit pas dérober, dérobes-tu? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | der du nun einen anderen lehrst, du lehrst dich selbst nicht? der du predigst, man solle nicht stehlen, du stiehlst? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Qui ergo alium doces, teipsum non doces: qui prædicas non furandum, furaris: |