Romans 9:31
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Romans 9:31 in other translations
| BSB | but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. |
|---|---|
| WEB | but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness. |
| ASV | but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. |
| YLT | and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive; |
| DARBY | But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law. |
| BBE | But Israel, going after a law of righteousness, did not get it. |
| Webster | But Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. |
What does Romans 9:31 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 9:30-31
30-31. What shall we say then?--"What now is the result of the whole?" The result is this--very different from what one would have expected. That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained--"attained" to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith--As we have seen that "the righteousness of faith" is the righteousness which justifies (see on Ro 3:22, &c.), this verse must mean that "the…
Barnes' Notes
Which followed after the law of righteousness. The phrase, "the law of righteousness," means the law of justice, or the just law. That law demands perfect purity; and even its external observance demanded holiness. The Jews supposed that they rendered such obedience to that law as to constitute a meritorious ground of justification. This they had followed after; that is, pursued zealously and unremittingly. The reason why they did not obtain justification in that way is fully stated in chapters 1-3., where it is shown that the law demands perfect compliance with its precepts; and that Jews, as well as Gentiles, had altogether failed in rendering such compliance.
Hath not attained to the law of righteousness. They have not come to yield true obedience to the law, even though imperfect; not such obedience as to give evidence that they have been justified. We may remark here,
(1.) that no conclusion could have been more humbling to a Jew than this. It constituted the whole of the prevalent religion, and was the object of their incessant toils.
(2.) As they made the experiment fully, and failed; as they had the best advantages for it, and did not succeed, but reared only a miserable and delusive system of self-righteousness, (Php 3:4-9); it follows, that all similar experiments must fail, and that none now can be justified by the law.
(3.) Thousands fail in the same attempt. They seek to justify themselves before God. They attempt to weave a righteousness of their own. The moral man does this. The immoral man attempts it as much as the moral man, and is as confident in his own righteousness. The troubled sinner does this; and this it is which keeps him so long from the cross of Christ. All this must be renounced; and man must come as a poor, lost, ruined sinner, and throw himself upon the mere mercy of God in Christ for justification and life.
(g) "which followed after the law" Rom 10:2, 11:7
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 9:30-33
The Gentiles knew not their guilt and misery, therefore were not careful to procure a remedy. Yet they attained to righteousness by faith. Not by becoming proselytes to the Jewish religion, and submitting to the ceremonial law; but by embracing Christ, and believing in him, and submitting to the gospel. The Jews talked much of justification and holiness, and seemed very ambitious to be the favourites of God. They…
Romans 9:31 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Romans 9:31
- Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
- Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- James 2:10-11
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
- Romans 10:2-4
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
- Galatians 5:3-4
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
- Galatians 3:10-11
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
- Galatians 3:21
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
- Romans 4:14-15
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
- 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.
- Philippians 3:6
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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 9:32
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 9:31 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas Israel que seguía la ley de justicia, no ha llegado á la ley de justicia. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais Israël, poursuivant une loi de justice, n’est point parvenu à cette loi. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Israel aber, einem Gesetz der Gerechtigkeit nachstrebend, nicht zu diesem Gesetz gelangt ist. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Israël vero sectando legem justitiæ, in legem justitiæ non pervenit. |