Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Romans 9:30 in other translations
| BSB | What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; |
|---|---|
| WEB | What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; |
| ASV | What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith: |
| YLT | What, then, shall we say? that nations who are not pursuing righteousness did attain to righteousness, and righteousness that is of faith, |
| DARBY | What then shall we say? That they of the nations, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is on the principle of faith. |
| BBE | What then may we say? That the nations who did not go after righteousness have got righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith: |
| Webster | What shall we say then? That the Gentiles who followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith: |
What does Romans 9:30 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:30-31
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
The Gentiles. That many of the Gentiles; or that the way was open for them, and many of them had actually embraced the righteousness of faith. This epistle was written as late as the year 57, (see Introduction,) and at that time multitudes of heathens had embraced the Christian religion.
Which followed not after righteousness. The apostle does not mean that none of the pagans had any solicitude about right and wrong, or that there were no anxious inquiries among them; but he intends particularly to place them in contrast with the Jew. They had not made it their main object to justify themselves; they were not filled with prejudice and pride as the Jews were, who supposed that they had complied with the law, and who felt no need of any other justification; they were sinners, and they felt it, and had no such mighty obstacle in a system of self-righteousness to overcome as the Jew had. Still it was true that they were excessively wicked, and that the prevailing characteristic among them was that they did not follow after righteousness. See Rom 1:1 and following. The word "followed" here often denotes to pursue with intense energy, as a hunter pursues his game, or a man pursues a flying enemy. The Jews had sought righteousness in that way; the Gentiles had not. The word righteousness here means the same as justification. The Gentiles, which sought not justification, have obtained justification.
Have attained to righteousness, have become justified. This was a matter of fact; and this was what the prophet had predicted. The apostle does not say that the sins of the Gentiles, or their indifference to the subject, was any reason why God justified them, or that men would be as safe in sin as in attempting to seek for salvation. He establishes the doctrine, indeed, that God is a sovereign; but still it is implied that the gospel had not the peculiar obstacle to contend with among the Gentiles that it had among the Jews. There was less pride, obstinacy, self-confidence; and men were more easily brought to see that they were sinners, and to feel their need of a Saviour. Though God dispenses his favours as a sovereign, and though all are opposed by nature to the gospel, yet it is always true that the gospel finds more obstacles among some men than among others. This was a most cutting and humbling doctrine to the pride of a Jew; and it is no wonder, therefore, that the apostle guarded it as he did.
Which is of faith. Justification by faith in Christ. Rom 1:17,31.
(e) "the Gentiles" Rom 10:20 (f) "the righteousness which is of faith" Rom 1:17, Php 3:9
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 9:30-33
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Romans 9:30 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 9:30
- Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
- Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- 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.
- Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
- Galatians 5:5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
- Romans 10:20
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
- Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
- Romans 10:6
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
- Isaiah 51:1
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
- Romans 9:14
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
- Romans 3:21-22
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
14; 3:5
the Gentiles.
1:18-32; 4:11; 10:20; Isa 65:1,2; 1Co 6:9-11; Eph 2:12; 4:17-19
1Pe 4:3
followed.
31; Pr 15:9; 21:21; Isa 51:1; 1Ti 6:11
even the righteousness.
1:17; 3:22; 4:9,11,13,22; 5:1; 10:10; Ga 3:8; 5:5; Php 3:9; Heb 11:7
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Romans 9:29
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
- Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
- Romans 9:31
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Romans 9:30 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¿Pues qué diremos? Que los Gentiles que no seguían justicia, han alcanzado la justicia, es á saber, la justicia que es por la fe; |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Que dirons-nous donc? Que les nations qui ne poursuivaient pas la justice, ont trouvé la justice, la justice qui est sur le principe de la foi. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Was wollen wir nun sagen? Daß die von den Nationen, die nicht nach Gerechtigkeit strebten, Gerechtigkeit erlangt haben, eine Gerechtigkeit aber, die aus Glauben ist; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quid ergo dicemus? Quod gentes, quæ non sectabantur justitiam, apprehenderunt justitiam: justitiam autem, quæ ex fide est. |