Romans 2:28
26 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
- KJV
- For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
- WEB
- For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
- ASV
- For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:
- DARBY
- For he is not a Jew who [is] one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh;
- BLB
- For [it is] not the one [who] on the outside is a Jew, nor [is] [that] on the outside in flesh circumcision.
- ÅB
- For den sanne jøden er ikke den som er det i det ytre; og sann omskjærelse er heller ikke den som skjer i det ytre, på kjøttet;
- OTB
- En person er ikke en jøde som bare er det utvendig, heller ikke er omskjærelse bare utvendig og fysisk.
- B1930
- For ikke den er jøde som er det i det åpenbare; heller ikke er det omskjærelse som skjer i det åpenbare, på kjøttet;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
Read in contextMatthew 3:9
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Read in contextRevelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
Read in contextRomans 9:6–8
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
Read in contextRomans 4:10–12
In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
Read in contextIsaiah 48:1–2
“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth or righteousness—
Read in contextHosea 1:6–9
Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them.
Read in contextJohn 1:47
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
Read in context