Romans 8 · Verse 33

Romans 8:33

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 8:33, King James Version

Romans 8:33 in other translations

BSBWho will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
WEBWho could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
ASVWho shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth;
YLTWho shall lay a charge against the choice ones of God? God is He that is declaring righteous,
DARBYWho shall bring an accusation against God's elect? It isGod who justifies:
BBEWho will say anything against the saints of God? It is God who makes us clear from evil;
WebsterWho will lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth:

What does Romans 8:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:33-34
33-34. Who shall lay anything to the charge of--or, "bring any charge against." God's elect?--the first place in this Epistle where believers are styled "the elect." In what sense this is meant will appear in next chapter.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 33. Verse 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge? This expression is taken from courts of law, and means, who shall accuse, or condemn, or so charge with crime before the tribunal of God as to cause their condemnation?

God's elect. His chosen people. Those who have been chosen according to his eternal purpose. Rom 8:28. As they are the chosen of God, they are dear to him; and as he purposed to save them, he will do it in such a way as that none can bring against them a charge that would condemn them.

It is God that justifieth. That is, who has pardoned them, and admitted them to his favour; and pronounced them just in his sight. Rom 1:17; Rom 3:24. It would be absurd to suppose that he would again condemn them. The fact that he has justified them is, therefore, a strong proof that they will be saved. This may be read with much force as a question, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? Shall God who justifieth " The Greek will bear either mode of rendering. The passage implies that there would be a high degree of absurdity in supposing that the same Being would both justify and condemn the same individual. The Christian, therefore, is secure.

(q) "Who shall lay" Isa 1:8,9 (r) "It is God" Rev 12:10,11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 This and the two following verses contain a string of questions, most appropriately introduced and most powerfully urged, tending to show the safety of the state of those who have believed the Gospel of the grace of God. I shall lay these verses down as they are pointed by the best Greek critics: - "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? - God who justifieth? Who is he that condemneth? - Christ who died? or, rather, who is risen again? He, who is at the right hand of God? He, who maketh intercession for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - Tribulation? or distress? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or peril? or sword?" In all these questions the apostle intimates that if neither God nor Christ would bring any charge against them who love him, none else could. And as God justifies through Christ who died, consequently no charge can lie against these persons, as God alone could produce any; and He, so far from doing this, has justified them - freely forgiven their trespasses. For the proper meaning and sense of the terms chosen, elect, called, etc., etc., see the discourse prefixed to this epistle; and especially Section 6, p. 19, etc., and Section 7, p. 23, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:32-39

All things whatever, in heaven and earth, are not so great a display of God's free love, as the gift of his coequal Son to be the atonement on the cross for the sin of man; and all the rest follows upon union with him, and interest in him. All things, all which can be the causes or means of any real good to the faithful Christian. He that has prepared a crown and a kingdom for us, will give us what we need in the…

Read the full comment on Romans 8:32-39 →

Romans 8:33 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.

ΤίςTisWhoG5101
ἐγκαλέσειegkaleseiwill bring an accusationG1458
κατὰkataagainstG2596
ἐκλεκτῶνeklektōn[the] electG1588
θεοῦ;theouof God?G2316
θεὸςtheosGod [is]G2316
ὁhowhoG3588
δικαιῶν·dikaiōnis justifying;G1344

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

Cross references for Romans 8:33

  • Revelation 12:10-11

    And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

  • Isaiah 50:8-9

    He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

  • Isaiah 54:17

    No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

  • Romans 8:1

    There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  • Luke 18:7

    And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:4

    Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

  • Zechariah 3:1-4

    And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

  • Romans 3:26

    To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

  • Job 42:7-9

    And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.

  • 1 Peter 1:2

    Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

  • Isaiah 42:1

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

  • Matthew 24:24

    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who.
1; Job 1:9-11; 2:4-6; 22:6-30; 34:8,9; 42:7-9; Ps 35:11; Isa 54:17
Zec 3:1-4; Re 12:10,11
of God's.
Isa 42:1; Mt 24:24; Lu 18:7; 1Th 1:4; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:2
It is.
3:26; Isa 50:8,9; Ga 3:8; Re 12:10,11

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

Context

  • Romans 8:32

    He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

  • Romans 8:33

    Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

  • Romans 8:34

    Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Read all of Romans 8

Romans 8:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién acusará á los escogidos de Dios? Dios es el que justifica.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui intentera accusation contre des élus de Dieu? – C’est Dieu qui justifie;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer wird wider Gottes Auserwählte Anklage erheben? Gott ist es, welcher rechtfertigt;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis accusabit adversus electos Dei? Deus qui justificat,