Romans 2:28
in Romans 2A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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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This verse in Romans 2
Commentary
16 notes on this verseFor 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.
This site's exposition
a Jew because he is one outwardly
on Romans 2:28-29
The chapter ends by settling what a Jew is. The mark that counts is inward, a circumcision of the heart worked by the Spirit. Paul plays on the name itself: Judah means praise, so the true Jew is the man whose praise comes from God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
On exactly the same principle, they consider the special soil of Judµa to be that very holy land, which ought rather to be interpreted of the Lord's flesh, which, in all those who put on Christ, is thenceforward the holy land; holy indeed by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, truly flowing with milk and honey by the sweetness of His assurance, truly Judµan by reason of the friendship of God. For "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but he who is one inwardly." In the same way it is that both God's temple and Jerusalem (must be understood) when it is said by Isaiah: "Awake, awake, O Jerusalem! put on the strength of thine arm; awake, as in thine earliest time," that is to say, in that innocence which preceded the fall into sin.
And so to the Law presently had to succeed the Word of God introducing the spiritual circumcision. Therefore, by means of the wide licence of those days, materials for subsequent emendations were furnished beforehand, of which materials the Lord by His Gospel, and then the apostle in the last days of the (Jewish) age, either cut off the redundancies or regulated the disorders.
"For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly." Here he attacks them as doing all things for show.
Since this is the circumcision recommended by Jeremiah: "Circumcise (yourselves to the Lord, and take away) the foreskins of your heart; " and even of Moses: "Circumcise, therefore, the hardness of your heart," -the Spirit which circumcises the heart will proceed from Him who prescribed the letter also which clips the flesh; and "the Jew which is one inwardly" will be a subject of the self-same God as he also is who is "a Jew outwardly; " because the apostle would have preferred not to have mentioned a Jew at all, unless he were a servant of the God of the Jews.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
Come now, following him who said "that the law is spiritual," and who says of the things related in the law that they were spoken by way of allegory, let us see also what is to be thought about circumcision according to the allegorical laws. I know that many have delivered sayings or writings on this subject; but we too shall add what the Lord may grant to those things which seem to have been fittingly composed by others.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says for he is not a Jew who is so outwardly, he assigns the reason for his statements. First, he gives the reason; second, he proves it, at whose praise. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he assigns …
Thus, he rebukes not circumcision (which he apparently respects), but the one who insults or transgresses it. Then, having proved this, he clearly defines who is a true Jew, and gives to understand that the Jews did everything out of vainglory. "For he is not …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
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 .
This is alike true of Christianity. He is not a Christian that is one outwardly, nor is that baptism which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Christian that is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:81%@v26-29
For he is not a Jew - In the most important sense, that is, one of God's beloved people. Who is one in outward show only; neither is that the true, acceptable circumcision, which is apparent in the flesh.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
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."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.--In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he is not a Jew ... - He who is merely descended from Abraham, and is circumcised, and externally conforms to the Law only, does not possess the true character, and manifest the true spirit, contemplated by the separation of the Jewish people. Their separation required much more. Neither is that circumcision ... - Neither does it meet the full design of the rite of circumcision, that it is externally performed. It contemplated much more; see Rom 2:29.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | on | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φανερῷ | phanero | outward | G5318 → | 18 times |
| Ἰουδαῖός | ioudaios | a Jew | G2453 → | 192 times |
| ἐστιν, | estin | is, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| οὐδὲ | oude | neither | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ἡ | he | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | outwardly | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φανερῷ | phanero | outward | G5318 → | 18 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| σαρκὶ | sarki | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| περιτομή, | peritome | [is] circumcision, | G4061 → | 36 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἐνon
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
φανερῷoutward
phaneroG5318 →18 times
Ἰουδαῖόςa Jew
ioudaiosG2453 →192 times
ἐστιν,is,
estinG1510 →2333 times
οὐδὲneither
oudeG3761 →141 times
ἡthe [one]
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐνoutwardly
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
φανερῷoutward
phaneroG5318 →18 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
σαρκὶflesh
sarkiG4561 →146 times
περιτομή,[is] circumcision,
peritomeG4061 →36 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
Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
it 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.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Through
Revelation 2:9I 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.
it 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.
- Revelation 3:9
Through
Matthew 3:9And 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.
it 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.
- Luke 3:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
On this verse
About Romans
This page draws on 15 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); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh; Tertullian, To His Wife Book I; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.