Romans 1:31
New International Version
they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

New Living Translation
They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

English Standard Version
foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Berean Standard Bible
They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

Berean Literal Bible
foolish, untrustworthy, heartless, unmerciful;

King James Bible
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

New King James Version
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

New American Standard Bible
without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful;

NASB 1995
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

NASB 1977
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Legacy Standard Bible
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Amplified Bible
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful [without pity].

Christian Standard Bible
senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

American Standard Version
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

Contemporary English Version
They are stupid, unreliable, and don't have any love or pity for others.

English Revised Version
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
don't have any sense, don't keep promises, and don't show love to their own families or mercy to others.

Good News Translation
they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others.

International Standard Version
foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.

Majority Standard Bible
They are senseless, faithless, heartless, unforgiving, merciless.

NET Bible
senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.

New Heart English Bible
foolish, promise-breakers, heartless, unforgiving, unmerciful;

Webster's Bible Translation
Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Weymouth New Testament
faithless to their promises, without natural affection, without human pity.

World English Bible
without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

Berean Literal Bible
foolish, untrustworthy, heartless, unmerciful;

Young's Literal Translation
unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

Smith's Literal Translation
Destitute of understanding, unsteady, devoid of natural affection, implacable, merciless:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
foolish, disorderly; without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.

New American Bible
They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

New Revised Standard Version
foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
These have no respect for a covenant. They know neither love nor peace, nor is there mercy in them;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because they have no stability, neither love, nor peace, nor compassion in them,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

Godbey New Testament
covenant-breakers, incontinent, without natural affections, unmerciful,

Haweis New Testament
unintelligent, unfaithful to engagements, unnatural, implacable, unmerciful:

Mace New Testament
fidelity, and natural affection; implacable, and unmerciful:

Weymouth New Testament
faithless to their promises, without natural affection, without human pity.

Worrell New Testament
without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful;

Worsley New Testament
covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Wrath against Sin
30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.…

Cross References
2 Timothy 3:2-4
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, / traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

2 Peter 3:3
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:18-19
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. / Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

1 Timothy 1:9-10
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Mark 7:21-22
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Jeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Hosea 4:1-2
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Psalm 14:1-3
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. / The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.


Treasury of Scripture

Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Without understanding.

Romans 1:20,21
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: …

Romans 3:11
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Proverbs 18:2
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

covenant-breakers.

2 Kings 18:14
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

Isaiah 33:8
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

2 Timothy 3:3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

without natural affection.

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Affection Breakers Covenant Faithless Foolish Heartless Human Implacable Mercy Natural Pity Promises rs Ruthless Senseless True. Understanding Undertakings Unforgiving Unintelligent Unkind Unloving Void
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Romans 1
1. Paul commends his calling to the Romans;
9. and his desire to come to them.
16. What his gospel is.
18. God is angry with sin.
21. What were the sins of mankind.














Senseless
The Greek word used here is "asunetos," which conveys a lack of understanding or discernment. In the context of Romans 1, Paul is describing the moral and spiritual decline of humanity when they turn away from God. This senselessness is not merely intellectual but spiritual, indicating a willful ignorance of God's truth. Historically, this reflects the Greco-Roman world, where despite great philosophical advancements, there was a profound spiritual blindness. For the believer, this serves as a reminder to seek wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit, as true knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).

Faithless
The term "asunthetos" in Greek suggests a breach of trust or covenant. In the ancient world, faithfulness was a highly valued trait, essential for maintaining social and familial bonds. Paul highlights the faithlessness of humanity as a symptom of their rebellion against God. This faithlessness is not just towards fellow humans but primarily towards God, who is always faithful. For Christians, this calls us to reflect on our own faithfulness to God and His commandments, emphasizing the importance of living a life that honors our covenant with Him.

Heartless
The Greek word "astorgos" refers to a lack of natural affection, particularly within family relationships. In the Roman context, familial bonds were crucial, yet Paul observes a breakdown of these natural affections as people turn away from God. This heartlessness is indicative of a society that has lost its moral compass. For believers, it is a call to cultivate love and compassion, especially within our families and communities, reflecting the love of Christ, who commands us to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34).

Merciless
The Greek "aneleemon" denotes a lack of compassion or pity. In a world where mercy was often seen as a weakness, Paul points out that a merciless attitude is a result of rejecting God's mercy. Historically, the Roman Empire was known for its harshness and lack of mercy, particularly in its legal and military systems. For Christians, this is a stark reminder of the mercy we have received through Christ and the imperative to extend that mercy to others. Jesus taught, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7), urging us to embody His grace in our interactions with others.

(31) Without understanding--i.e., without moral or spiritual understanding; incapable of discriminating between right and wrong, expedient and inexpedient. St. Paul prays that the Colossians may possess this faculty (Colossians 1:9).

Without natural affection.--The affection founded upon natural relationship--e.g., between parent and child, husband and wife, brother and sister. In illustration of this particular expression, we may remember that infanticide and divorce were very common at this period.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[They are] senseless,
ἀσυνέτους (asynetous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 801: Unintelligent, without wisdom, unwise, undiscerning (implying probably moral defect). By implication, wicked.

faithless,
ἀσυνθέτους (asynthetous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 802: Not covenanting, untrue to an agreement, treacherous. Properly, not agreed, i.e. Treacherous to compacts.

heartless,
ἀστόργους (astorgous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 794: Unloving, devoid of affection. Hard-hearted towards kindred.

merciless.
ἀνελεήμονας (aneleēmonas)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 415: Unpitying, unmerciful, without compassion, cruel. Merciless.


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NT Letters: Romans 1:31 Without understanding covenant breakers without natural affection (Rom. Ro)
Romans 1:30
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