Romans 2:25

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

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

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
KJV
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
WEB
For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
ASV
For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
DARBY
For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep [the] law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
BLB
For circumcision indeed profits if you practice the law; but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
ÅB
For omskjærelsen har sin nytte om du holder loven. Men er du en lovbryter så har omskjærelsen din blitt til forhud.
OTB
Omskjærelse har verdi hvis du holder Loven, men hvis du bryter Loven, er det som om du ikke har blitt omskåret.
B1930
For omskjærelsen har vel sin nytte om du holder loven; men er du en lov-bryter, da er din omskjærelse blitt til forhud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Galatians 5:3–6

    For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 4:4

    Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

    Read in context
  • Galatians 6:15

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

    Read in context
  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 30:6

    And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 9:25–26

    Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

    Read in context
  • Romans 2:23

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

    Read in context
  • Romans 2:28–3:2

    For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

    Read in context