Passage

Romans 3.20-28

Book: Romans · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"18. There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:"

"20. because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. 21. But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; 23. for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25. whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; 26. for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. 27. Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith. 28. We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

"29. Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also: 30. if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith." (Romans 3:18-30, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19. Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God."

"20. Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23. for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25. whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; 26. to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. 27. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28. We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

"29. Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30. since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith." (Romans 3:18-30, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"18. There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ^{guilty: or, subject to the judgment of God}"

"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. 21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22. 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: 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ^{set forth: or, foreordained} ^{remission: or, passing over} 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

"29. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." (Romans 3:18-30, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.' 19. And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;"

"20. wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin. 21. And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets, 22. and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing,, for there is no difference, 23. for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God, 24. being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that [is] in Christ Jesus, 25. whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God, 26. for the shewing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who [is] of the faith of Jesus. 27. Where then [is] the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith: 28. therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law."

"29. The God of Jews only [is He], and not also of nations? 30. yes, also of nations; since one [is] God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith." (Romans 3:18-30, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Five Pillars of Islam

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.