Romans 3:20 BSB — MannaFest

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

3 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (253)

But if to someone it should seem that this was said of human beings alone, both that he said the natural law is present in them and that he takes it as written of them alone, “That every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may become accountable to God,” such a one will take occasion from the words that follow, where he says: “Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” And this will certainly seem to have been said only of those who are placed in the flesh.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

And it is not without reason, that he so often mentions the works of the law, whether ceremonial or moral; for it was on these only the Jews relied, being wholly ignorant of those that spring from faith. For by the law is only the knowledge of sin - But no deliverance either from the guilt or power of it.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

9 , Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. Observe, (1.) No flesh shall be justified, no man, no corrupted man ( Gen. vi. 3 ), for that he also is flesh, sinful and depraved; therefore not justified, because we are flesh.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Therefore, by the deeds of the law - On the score of obedience to this moral law, there shall no flesh, ου πασα σαρξ, no human being, be justified; none can be accepted in the sight of God. And why? Because by the law is the knowledge of sin: it is that which ascertains what sin is; shows how men have deviated from its righteous demands; and sentences them to death because they have broken it.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Only when these humiliating conclusions are accepted and felt, are we in a condition to appreciate and embrace the grace of the Gospel, next to be opened up. GOD'S JUSTIFYING RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, ALIKE ADAPTED TO OUR NECESSITIES AND WORTHY OF HIMSELF.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
διότι	dioti	Therefore	G1360 →
ἐξ	ex	by	G1537 →
ἔργων	ergōn	works	G2041 →
νόμου	nomou	of [the] Law	G3551 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
δικαιωθήσεται	dikaiōthēsetai	will be justified	G1344 →
πᾶσα	pasa	any	G3956 →
σὰρξ	sarx	flesh	G4561 →
ἐνώπιον	enōpion	before	G1799 →
αὐτοῦ·	autou	Him;	G846 →
διὰ	dia	through	G1223 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
νόμου	nomou	[the] Law	G3551 →
ἐπίγνωσις	epignōsis	[is] knowledge	G1922 →
ἁμαρτίας.	hamartias	of sin.	G266 →

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
Acts 13:39
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
leads to
- 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…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Romans 10:4
  For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
Through
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…
leads to
- 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.
- Psalms 143:2
  Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
- Romans 3:19–28
  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- 1 Peter 1:18–21
  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
Through
Romans 4:15
because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
leads to
- Romans 5:13
  For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
- Galatians 3:10
  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.”

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Continue: Romans 3 →

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