Romans 2 · Verse 23

Romans 2:23

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Romans 2:23, King James Version

Romans 2:23 in other translations

BSBYou who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
WEBYou who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?
ASVthou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?
YLTthou who in the law dost boast, through the transgression of the law God dost thou dishonour?
DARBYthou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God?
BBEYou who take pride in the law, are you doing wrong to the honour of God by behaviour which is against the law?
WebsterThou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?

What does Romans 2:23 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).

Read the full comment on Romans 2:17-24 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Makest thy boast, etc. To boast in the law implied their conviction of its excellence and obligation, as a man does not boast of that which he esteems to be of no value.

Dishonourest thou God. By boasting of the law, they proclaimed their conviction that it was from God. By breaking it, they denied it. And as actions are a true test of men's real opinions, their breaking the law did it more dishonour than their boasting of it did it honour. This is always the case. It matters little what a man's speculative opinions may be; his practice may do far more to disgrace religion, than his profession does to honour it. It is the life and conduct, and not merely the profession of the lips, that does real honour to the true religion. Alas, with what pertinency and force may this question be put to many who call themselves Christians !

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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…

Read the full comment on Romans 2:17-24 →

Romans 2:23 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.

ὃςhosYou whoG3739
ἐνeninG1722
νόμῳnomōlawG3551
καυχᾶσαι,kauchasaiboast,G2744
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
παραβάσεωςparabaseōstransgressionG3847
τοῦtouof theG3588
νόμουnomoulawG3551
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
ἀτιμάζεις;atimazeisdishonor you?G818

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 2:23

  • James 4:16-17

    But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

  • Romans 2:17

    Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

  • John 5:45

    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

  • Romans 9:4

    Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

  • Romans 3:2

    Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

  • James 1:22-27

    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. …

  • Luke 18:11

    The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

  • Matthew 19:17-20

    And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

  • Luke 10:26-29

    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. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

  • Jeremiah 8:8-9

    How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

  • John 9:28-29

    Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that makest.
17; 3:2; 9:4; Jer 8:8,9; Mt 19:17-20; Lu 10:26-29; 18:11; Joh 5:45
Joh 9:28,29; Jas 1:22-27; 4:16,17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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 2:23

    Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

  • Romans 2:24

    For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Read all of Romans 2

Romans 2:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿Tú, que te jactas de la ley, con infracción de la ley deshonras á Dios?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Toi qui te glorifies en la loi, déshonores-tu Dieu par la transgression de la loi?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Der du dich des Gesetzes rühmst, du verunehrst Gott durch die Übertretung des Gesetzes?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
qui in lege gloriaris, per prævaricationem legis Deum inhonoras.