Romans 2:23
New International Version
You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

New Living Translation
You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.

English Standard Version
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

Berean Standard Bible
You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Berean Literal Bible
You who boast in Law, do you dishonor God through the transgression of the Law?

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

New King James Version
You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

New American Standard Bible
You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

NASB 1995
You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

NASB 1977
You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

Legacy Standard Bible
You who boast in the Law, through your transgression of the Law, do you dishonor God?

Amplified Bible
You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by breaking the Law?

Christian Standard Bible
You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

American Standard Version
thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?

Contemporary English Version
You take pride in the Law, but you disobey the Law and bring shame to God.

English Revised Version
thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonourest thou God?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As you brag about the laws in Moses' Teachings, are you dishonoring God by ignoring Moses' Teachings?

Good News Translation
You boast about having God's law--but do you bring shame on God by breaking his law?

International Standard Version
As you boast about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law?

Majority Standard Bible
You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

NET Bible
You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law!

New Heart English Bible
You who boast in the law, do you, by disobeying the law, dishonor God?

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?

Weymouth New Testament
You who make your boast in the Law, do you offend against its commands and so dishonour God?

World English Bible
You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You who boast in the Law, through the transgression of the Law do you dishonor God?

Berean Literal Bible
You who boast in Law, do you dishonor God through the transgression of the Law?

Young's Literal Translation
thou who in the law dost boast, through the transgression of the law God dost thou dishonour?

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou who boastest in the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest thou God?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You would glory in the law, but through a betrayal of the law you dishonor God.

New American Bible
You who boast of the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

New Revised Standard Version
You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You are proud of the law but you dishonor God by breaking the law.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And you who are boasting in The Written Law, you violate The Written Law, and you insult God himself!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
You who make your boast in the law, do you, by transgressing the law, dishonor God?

Godbey New Testament
do you, who boast in the law, through the transgression of the law dishonor God?

Haweis New Testament
thou who gloriest in the law, dishonourest thou God by the transgression of the law?

Mace New Testament
and you, who glory in the law, do you dishonour God by the violation of the law?

Weymouth New Testament
You who make your boast in the Law, do you offend against its commands and so dishonour God?

Worrell New Testament
You who boast in law, do you dishonor God through your transgression of the law?

Worsley New Testament
Thou, that boastest in the law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Jews and the Law
22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”…

Cross References
James 2:10-11
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. / For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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.

Galatians 6:13
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

1 John 2:4
If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Matthew 15:3-6
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? / For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ / But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ ...

Luke 11:46
“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.

1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

Galatians 5:3
Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

John 7:19
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”

Matthew 5:19-20
So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. / For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 33:31
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.

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.”


Treasury of Scripture

You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonor you God?

that makest.

Romans 2:17
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

Romans 3:2
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Romans 9:4
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Jump to Previous
Behaviour Boast Boastest Brag Breaking Commands Dishonor Dishonour Disobedience Gloriest Glory Honour Law Makest Offend Pride Transgression Wrong
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Behaviour Boast Boastest Brag Breaking Commands Dishonor Dishonour Disobedience Gloriest Glory Honour Law Makest Offend Pride Transgression Wrong
Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














You who boast in the law
This phrase addresses those who take pride in their knowledge and possession of the Mosaic Law. The Greek word for "boast" is "καυχάομαι" (kauchaomai), which implies a sense of pride or glorying in something. Historically, the Jewish people were given the Law as a covenant with God, setting them apart as His chosen people. However, Paul challenges the notion that mere possession or knowledge of the Law is sufficient for righteousness. The Law was meant to guide and instruct, not to be a source of pride. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder that our relationship with God should be based on humility and obedience, not on self-righteousness or legalism.

do you dishonor God
The Greek word for "dishonor" is "ἀτιμάζω" (atimazō), which means to treat with contempt or to bring shame upon. This phrase suggests that failing to live according to the Law brings dishonor to God, who is the Lawgiver. In the historical context, the Jewish people were meant to be a light to the nations, demonstrating God's holiness and righteousness. When they failed to uphold the Law, it not only affected their relationship with God but also their witness to the surrounding nations. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this serves as a caution that our actions and obedience to God's Word reflect on His character and reputation.

by breaking the law
The Greek word for "breaking" is "παραβαίνω" (parabainō), which means to transgress or violate. This phrase highlights the inconsistency between claiming to uphold the Law and actually living in accordance with it. Historically, the Law was given to reveal sin and point to the need for a Savior. Paul emphasizes that breaking the Law, despite boasting in it, reveals the hypocrisy and the need for genuine transformation through Christ. In a conservative Christian context, this underscores the importance of not just hearing the Word but being doers of the Word (James 1:22). It calls believers to a life of integrity, where their actions align with their professed beliefs, thus honoring God and His commandments.

(23) Dishonourest thou God?--This verse has been regarded, not as a question, but as a summary answer to the previous questions, "You, who make all this boast in the Law, by breaking the Law, dishonour God." There is a certain force in this view, but the structure of the clause is so similar to those that have gone before that it seems best, perhaps, upon the whole, to take it in the ordinary way.

Verses 23, 24. - Thou that makest thy boast in law, through thy transgression of the Law dishonourest thou God? (or, thou dishonourest God). For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. The reference is to Isaiah 52:5, where the LXX. has Δἰ ὑμᾶς διαπαντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι. The passage is not quoted as a prophecy now fulfilled, or as in its original reference exactly applicable, but only as serving to express well how the character of the Jews had brought their very religion into disrepute (el. Tacitus, 'Hist..' 5:4, etc.). The remainder of the chapter is devoted to a clear and final exposition of the principle, involved throughout all the previous verses, that Jewish privileges were of no profit in themselves, or without their meaning and purpose being understood and acted on. The thought now passes exclusively to circumcision, as being the original token of the covenant, and the Jew's rite of initiation into his whole privileged position (Genesis 17.). When Jew had come to be the peculiar designation of the children of the covenant, persons were said to become Jews by circumcision. Thus Esther 8:17, "And many of the people of the land became Jews," where the LXX. has, Καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν περιετέμνοντο καὶ Ἰουδάιζον. It may be here observed that the known fact of other races as well as the Jews having practised, and still practising, circumcision is not subversive of the scriptural view of its being a peculiarly Jewish rite. For to the Jew alone it had a peculiar significance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
You who
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

boast
καυχᾶσαι (kauchasai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2744: To boast; I glory (exult) proudly. From some base akin to that of aucheo and euchomai; to vaunt.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] Law,
νόμῳ (nomō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

do you dishonor
ἀτιμάζεις (atimazeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 818: To disgrace, treat disgracefully, dishonor, insult; I despise. From atimos; to render infamous, i.e. contemn or maltreat.

God
Θεὸν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

by
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

breaking
παραβάσεως (parabaseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3847: A transgression, overstepping, deviation. From parabaino; violation.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive 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.

Law?
νόμου (nomou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.


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NT Letters: Romans 2:23 You who glory in the law through (Rom. Ro)
Romans 2:22
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