Romans 2:28 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 2:28

A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:

KJV

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

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Commentary

1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly,.... The apostle removes the plea in favour of the Jews, taken from their name and privilege, by distinguishing between a Jew and a Jew, and between circumcision and circumcision: "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly"; by mere name, nature, nation, religion, and profession: neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; which takes away the flesh of the foreskin, but not the carnality of the heart; leaves a mark upon the flesh, but no impression on the mind.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

God did not give the law nor appoint circumcision in vain. This must be referred to the state of the Jews before the ceremonial polity was abolished, otherwise circumcision to one that professed faith in Christ was forbidden, Gal. v. 1 .

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For he is not a Jew - A genuine member of the Church of God, who has only an outward profession. Neither is that circumcision - Circumcision is a rite which represents a spiritual thing, viz. the change and purification of the heart, as may be seen, Jer 4:4, Jer 4:6, Jer 4:10; Jer 9:26; Eze 44:7, Eze 44:9.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

For circumcision--that is, One's being within the covenant of which circumcision was the outward sign and seal. verily profiteth, if thou keep the law--if the inward reality correspond to the outward sign. but if, &c.--that is, "Otherwise, thou art no better than the uncircumcised heathen."

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

16 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οὐ	ou	Not	G3756 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὁ	ho	the [one]	G3588 →
ἐν	en	on	G1722 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
φανερῷ	phanerō	outward	G5318 →
Ἰουδαῖός	Ioudaios	a Jew	G2453 →
ἐστιν,	estin	is,	G1510 →
οὐδὲ	oude	neither	G3761 →
ἡ	hē	the [one]	G3588 →
ἐν	en	outwardly	G1722 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
φανερῷ	phanerō	outward	G5318 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
σαρκὶ	sarki	flesh	G4561 →
περιτομή,	peritomē	[is] circumcision,	G4061 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- Colossians 3:10–11
  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Through
Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
leads to
- Revelation 3:9
  Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know…
- James 2:5–6
  Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Through
Matthew 3:9
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
leads to
- Luke 3:8
  Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up…
- Romans 9:7–8
  Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- Galatians 3:27–29
  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 2 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans