Romans 9:31
New International Version
but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.

New Living Translation
But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.

English Standard Version
but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.

Berean Standard Bible
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

Berean Literal Bible
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to that law.

King James Bible
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

New King James Version
but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

New American Standard Bible
however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

NASB 1995
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

NASB 1977
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

Legacy Standard Bible
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain that law.

Amplified Bible
whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law.

Christian Standard Bible
But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.

American Standard Version
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

English Revised Version
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people of Israel tried to gain God's approval by obeying Moses' Teachings, but they did not reach their goal.

Good News Translation
while God's people, who were seeking a law that would put them right with God, did not find it.

International Standard Version
But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law.

Majority Standard Bible
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

NET Bible
but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.

New Heart English Bible
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Weymouth New Testament
while the descendants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a Law that could give righteousness, have not arrived at one.

World English Bible
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at a law of righteousness;

Berean Literal Bible
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to that law.

Young's Literal Translation
and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Israel following the law of justice, reached not the law of justice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, Israel, though following the law of justice, has not arrived at the law of justice.

New American Bible
but that Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness, did not attain to that law?

New Revised Standard Version
but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But Israel that had run after The Written Law of righteousness did not obtain the Law of righteousness?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
but Israel, who sought after a law of justification, has not attained to a law of justification.

Godbey New Testament
but Israel, following after the law, did not attain unto the law of righteousness.

Haweis New Testament
But Israel, pursuing after the law of righteousness, hath not come up to the law of righteousness.

Mace New Testament
but Israel, who followed the law of justice, hath not attained to the law of justice.

Weymouth New Testament
while the descendants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a Law that could give righteousness, have not arrived at one.

Worrell New Testament
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not attain to such a law.

Worsley New Testament
but Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness: why?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Unbelief
30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,…

Cross References
Galatians 5:4
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 3:10-12
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” / Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” / The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Hebrews 4:2
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Romans 10:3
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Romans 7:10
So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.

Romans 11:7
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 18:9-14
To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: / “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. / The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ...

John 5:39-40
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Isaiah 65:2-3
All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, / to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,


Treasury of Scripture

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

followed.

Romans 9:30-32
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith…

Romans 10:2-4
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge…

Galatians 3:21
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

hath.

Romans 3:20
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.

Romans 4:14,15
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: …

Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

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Romans 9
1. Paul is sorry for the Jews.
7. All of Abraham not of the promise.
18. God's sovereignty.
25. The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews, foretold.
32. The cause of their stumbling.














but Israel
The term "Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as the Jewish people. Historically, Israel is the nation chosen by God to be His people, as seen in the Old Testament. This choice is rooted in the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the context of Romans, Paul is addressing the Jewish people who have been given the Law and the prophets. Theologically, Israel represents those who have been given the privilege of knowing God's will and His righteous standards.

who pursued
The Greek word for "pursued" is "diōkō," which implies an active, earnest, and sometimes even aggressive pursuit. This word choice suggests that Israel was not passive in their approach to righteousness; they were actively seeking it. Historically, this pursuit can be seen in the meticulous observance of the Law and the traditions that developed around it. However, Paul implies that this pursuit was misdirected because it was based on human effort rather than faith.

a law of righteousness
The phrase "a law of righteousness" refers to the Mosaic Law, which was given to Israel as a guide to living a life pleasing to God. The Law was intended to lead people to righteousness, but it was also meant to show the impossibility of achieving righteousness through human effort alone. Theologically, the Law points to the need for a Savior, as it reveals human sinfulness and the inability to attain God's standard of holiness through works.

has not attained it
The Greek word for "attained" is "phthanō," which means to reach or arrive at a goal. Despite their zealous pursuit, Israel did not achieve the righteousness they sought. This failure is not due to the inadequacy of the Law but rather the reliance on the Law as a means of self-justification. Paul emphasizes that righteousness cannot be attained through the Law but only through faith in Jesus Christ. This highlights the central Christian doctrine that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

(31) Israel, on the other hand, though ostensibly pursuing a law the object of which was righteousness, did not reach such a law. They tried to keep the Law, but failed to keep it, and to bring themselves under its protection. The second "righteousness" is omitted in the best MSS.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Israel,
Ἰσραὴλ (Israēl)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2474: Of Hebrew origin; Israel, the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants.

who pursued
διώκων (diōkōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

a law
νόμον (nomon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

of righteousness,
δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosynēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.

has not attained
ἔφθασεν (ephthasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5348: Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, i.e. Anticipate or precede; by extension, to have arrived at.

[it].
νόμον (nomon)
Noun - Accusative 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 9:31 But Israel following after a law (Rom. Ro)
Romans 9:30
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