Romans 2:1
in Romans 2You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.
KJV
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
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This verse in Romans 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThat we must not rashly judge of another. In the Gospel according to Luke: "Judge not, that ye be not judged: condemn not, that ye be not condemned." Of this same subject to the Romans: "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. But he shall stand; for God is able to make him stand." And again: "Wherefore thou art without excuse, O every man that judgest: for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou doest the same things which thou judgest.
This site's exposition
you who pass judgment on another
on Romans 2:1-2
Chapter 1 left the nations under charge, and chapter 2 turns it on the reader who was agreeing. The man who passes judgment on another condemns himself, for he does the same things. Verse 2 gives the standard: God judges such men on the truth.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man; whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself." These things he says, with an aim at the rulers, inasmuch as that city then had the rule of the world put into its hands. He anticipated them therefore by saying, Thou art depriving thyself of defence, whoever thou mayest be; for when thou condemnest an adulterer, and thyself committest adultery, although no man condemneth thee, in thy judgment upon the guilty person thou hast also passed sentence against thyself.
Paul is speaking here of sins already committed. And when he says "O man, whoever you are," he includes not only the Gentile but also the Jew who wanted to judge the Gentiles according to the law.
Paul shows that the man who does evil and consents to others who do it is deserving of death, lest perhaps the one who does it and pretends not to approve of others who do it … might think he can be excused, because he …
The Medieval Church2 voices
After showing that the gentiles did not become just from the knowledge of the truth they had, the Apostle now shows that neither were the Jews made just by the things in which they gloried. Consequently, both of them need the power of the Gospel's …
We are all people of unequal disposition: sometimes we patronize evil, sometimes we become judges of others' evils, condemning those like ourselves. So, having spoken before about those who approved of the wicked, he now speaks about condemnation and says: "therefore you are inexcusable." That …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,.... Some think, from the connection of these words with the preceding chapter, that the Gentiles are here meant; and particularly those among them who seemed to be virtuous, and took upon them to be the reprovers of others, and yet did the same things themselves, as Socrates, Cato, Seneca, and others; and therefore must be inexcusable, because they knew better, and would be thought to have been so; wherefore such could never be justified before God by their works, but might be justly condemned by him, nor shall they escape his righteous judgment.
): Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. As he expresses himself in general terms, the admonition may reach those many masters ( Jam. iii. 1 ), of whatever nation or profession they are, that assume to themselves a power to censure, control, and condemn others.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
This was a string they loved to be harping upon, heaping up titles of honour upon themselves. The best work, when it is prided in, is unacceptable to God.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Therefore - Διὸ Dio. The force of this word here has been the subject of much discussion. The design of this and the following chapter is to show that the Jews were no less guilty that the Gentiles, and that they needed the benefit of the same salvation. This the apostle does by showing that they had greater light than the Gentiles; and yet that they did the same things.
That judgest - Ὁ κρινων, the judger; thou assumest the character of a judge, and in that character condemnest others who are less guilty than thyself.
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διὸ | dio | Therefore | G1352 → | 53 times |
| ἀναπολόγητος | anapologetos | inexcusable | G379 → | |
| εἶ, | ei | you are, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὦ | o | O | G5599 → | 17 times |
| ἄνθρωπε | anthrope | man | G444 → | 549 times |
| πᾶς | pas | everyone | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὁ | ho | you who [are] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κρίνων· | krinon | judging; | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἐν | en | In | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | that which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| κρίνεις | krineis | you judge | G2919 → | 114 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἕτερον, | heteron | other, | G2087 → | 97 times |
| σεαυτὸν | seauton | yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κατακρίνεις· | katakrineis | you are condemning; | G2632 → | 15 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| αὐτὰ | auta | the same things | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πράσσεις | prasseis | you do | G4238 → | 39 times |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κρίνων. | krinon | are judging. | G2919 → | 114 times |
ΔιὸTherefore
dioG1352 →53 times
ἀναπολόγητοςinexcusable
anapologetosG379 →
εἶ,you are,
eiG1510 →2333 times
ὦO
oG5599 →17 times
ἄνθρωπεman
anthropeG444 →549 times
πᾶςeveryone
pasG3956 →1235 times
ὁyou who [are]
hoG3588 →19766 times
κρίνων·judging;
krinonG2919 →114 times
ἐνIn
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧthat which
hoG3739 →1405 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
κρίνειςyou judge
krineisG2919 →114 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἕτερον,other,
heteronG2087 →97 times
σεαυτὸνyourself
seautonG4771 →2973 times
κατακρίνεις·you are condemning;
katakrineisG2632 →15 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
αὐτὰthe same things
autaG846 →5565 times
πράσσειςyou do
prasseisG4238 →39 times
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
κρίνων.are judging.
krinonG2919 →114 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 6:37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- James 5:9
Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
- Matthew 7:1–5
“Do not judge, or you will be judged.
- Mark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Ephesians 4:32
Through
Romans 2:3So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:5
Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
- Luke 12:14
But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
- Romans 1:32
Although 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.
- Proverbs 16:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
On this verse
About Romans
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 7-8; Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.