Romans 2:21
New International Version
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Living Translation
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?

English Standard Version
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Berean Standard Bible
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

Berean Literal Bible
then you teaching another, do you do not teach yourself? You preaching not to steal, do you steal?

King James Bible
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

New King James Version
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

New American Standard Bible
you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal?

NASB 1995
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

NASB 1977
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?

Legacy Standard Bible
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

Amplified Bible
well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]?

Christian Standard Bible
you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal"—do you steal?

American Standard Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Contemporary English Version
But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You preach it is wrong to steal. But do you steal?

English Revised Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As you teach others, are you failing to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, are you stealing?

Good News Translation
You teach others--why don't you teach yourself? You preach, "Do not steal"--but do you yourself steal?

International Standard Version
as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Majority Standard Bible
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

NET Bible
therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Heart English Bible
You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Weymouth New Testament
you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?

World English Bible
You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You, then, who are teaching another, do you not teach yourself?

Berean Literal Bible
then you teaching another, do you do not teach yourself? You preaching not to steal, do you steal?

Young's Literal Translation
Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore teaching another, teachest thou not thyself proclaiming not to steal, stealest thou?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest:

Catholic Public Domain Version
As a result, you teach others, but you do not teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, but you yourself steal.

New American Bible
then you who teach another, are you failing to teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Revised Standard Version
you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now, therefore, you teach others but fail to teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, yet you steal.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
You therefore who are teaching others, you do not teach yourself. You who are preaching that people should not steal, you are stealing!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
you, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

Godbey New Testament
therefore do not you who teach another teach yourself? do you, who preach not to steal, steal?

Haweis New Testament
Thou therefore who teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that proclaimest aloud that a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Mace New Testament
you therefore who instruct others don't you instruct yourself?

Weymouth New Testament
you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?

Worrell New Testament
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that men should not steal, do you steal?

Worsley New Testament
Thou then, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou, that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Jews and the Law
20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?…

Cross References
Matthew 23:3
So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Luke 6:42
How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? / How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? / You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Jeremiah 7:9-10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Malachi 2:7-8
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.


Treasury of Scripture

You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?

therefore.

Psalm 50:16-21
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? …

Matthew 23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

dost thou steal.

Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Ezekiel 22:12,13,27
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD…

Amos 8:4-6
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, …

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Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














you, then, who teach others,
This phrase addresses those in positions of authority or influence, particularly religious leaders and teachers. In the context of Romans, Paul is speaking to Jewish leaders who prided themselves on their knowledge of the Law. The role of a teacher in Jewish culture was highly esteemed, as seen in the respect given to rabbis. This phrase challenges the integrity and consistency of those who instruct others, emphasizing the importance of practicing what one preaches. James 3:1 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly, highlighting the responsibility that comes with teaching.

do you not teach yourself?
Here, Paul points out the hypocrisy of teaching others without applying the same lessons to oneself. This rhetorical question underscores the need for self-examination and personal application of the truths one teaches. The concept of self-teaching is rooted in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs, which emphasizes the importance of wisdom and understanding for oneself before imparting it to others. Jesus also addressed similar hypocrisy in Matthew 23:3, where He criticized the Pharisees for not practicing what they preached.

You who preach against stealing,
Stealing is explicitly condemned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15). In the Jewish context, the Law provided detailed instructions on property rights and restitution for theft (Exodus 22:1-4). Preaching against stealing would have been a common moral teaching among Jewish leaders. This phrase highlights the expectation that those who speak against such sins should themselves be free from them. The act of preaching implies a public declaration, suggesting that these leaders were vocal about their moral stances.

do you steal?
This direct question exposes the potential hypocrisy of the audience. It challenges the reader to consider whether their actions align with their teachings. In a broader biblical context, this question reflects the human tendency towards sin and the need for repentance and transformation through Christ. The accusation of stealing could be literal or metaphorical, suggesting any form of taking what is not rightfully one's own, including glory, honor, or even spiritual truths. This aligns with Jesus' teachings in Matthew 7:5 about removing the plank from one's own eye before addressing the speck in another's.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is addressing the Jewish believers in Rome, challenging them to live out the law they teach.

2. Jewish Believers in Rome
The primary audience of this letter, they are being reminded of the importance of practicing what they preach.

3. Rome
The city where the recipients of this letter reside, a place of significant cultural and religious diversity.

4. The Law
Refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Jewish believers were expected to uphold and teach.

5. The Early Church
The broader context in which this letter was written, a time of establishing Christian doctrine and practice.
Teaching Points
Integrity in Teaching
As believers, we must ensure that our lives reflect the teachings of Scripture. Hypocrisy undermines our witness and credibility.

Self-Examination
Regularly assess your own life and actions to ensure they align with the teachings you advocate to others.

The Danger of Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy can lead to a stumbling block for others and damage the reputation of the Gospel.

The Role of Accountability
Engage in community and accountability with other believers to help maintain integrity in your walk with Christ.

Living Out the Gospel
Our actions should consistently reflect the transformative power of the Gospel, serving as a testimony to others.(21) Therefore.--See above on Romans 2:17.

Verse 21. - Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? The οῦν here does not involve an anacoluthon after the reading εἴ δὲ in ver. 17, though St. Paul would not have much cared if it had been so. It serves only to sum up the lengthened protasis, and introduce the apodosis: "If... dost thou then," etc.? In what follows it is not, of course, implied that all Jews who relied on the Law were, in fact, thieves, adulterers, etc., but only that the Jews as a nation were no more exempt from such sins than others; and it may be that those specified were not selected by the apostle at random, but as being such as the Jews had a peculiar evil notoriety for at that time. Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{you,} then,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

who
(ho)
Article - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

teach
διδάσκων (didaskōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1321: To teach, direct, admonish. A prolonged form of a primary verb dao; to teach.

others,
ἕτερον (heteron)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2087: (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.

do you not teach
διδάσκεις (didaskeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1321: To teach, direct, admonish. A prolonged form of a primary verb dao; to teach.

yourself?
σεαυτὸν (seauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572: Of yourself.

You who
(ho)
Article - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

preach
κηρύσσων (kēryssōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2784: To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.

against
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

stealing,
κλέπτειν (kleptein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2813: To steal. A primary verb; to filch.

do you steal?
κλέπτεις (klepteis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2813: To steal. A primary verb; to filch.


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NT Letters: Romans 2:21 You therefore who teach another don't you (Rom. Ro)
Romans 2:20
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