Romans 9:32

Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

ASV

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

YLT

wherefore? because--not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,

DBT

Wherefore? Because [it was] not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumblingstone,

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Commentary voices

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Voices4

On this verse

And, of course, it had been meet that the mystery of the passion itself should be figuratively set forth in predictions; and the more incredible (that mystery), the more likely to be "a stumbling-stone," if it had been nakedly predicted; and the more magnificent, the more to be adumbrated, that the difficulty of its intelligence might seek (help from) the grace of God.

Tertullian· An Answer to the Jews, 220patristic

Related commentary

Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith,....

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

Wherefore? - And where lies their mistake? Being ignorant of Gods righteousness - of his method of saving sinners by faith in Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness - their own method of obtaining everlasting salvation. They attend not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands on the extensive principles of grace and faith; but they turn all their regards to the law of Moses. They imagine that their obedience to that law gives them a right to the blessings of the Messiahs kingdom.

Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical

There is nothing like this to be met with but agreeable to his argument the apostle gives us this good reason for it, Because they sought it not by faith - Whereby alone it could be attained. But as it were - In effect, if not professsedly, by works. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone - Christ crucified.

John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755evangelical

Voices on this verse

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Rabbinic commentary

How the Hebraic tradition has read this verse — and Marcus Brown’s own reading of it.

Cross-references

30 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

1 Peter 2:6
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
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.
Isaiah 8:14
And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.
Luke 7:23
Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
Romans 4:4
Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
Matthew 11:6
Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Psalms 119:116
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Romans 11:11
I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

18 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓

Cross-references

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The quotation web

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Original language

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Around this verse

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 Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans — Paul's gospel set out in order. Four great movements: sin, salvation, sanctification, sovereignty — closing with sustained calls to service and unity.

Canon: New Testament
Author: Paul the apostle, dictated to Tertius (Rom 16:22)
Date: c. AD 57, from Corinth before the Jerusalem offering

More cross-references18 further linked verses, grouped by book▾ open

Every other verse the study tradition links to this one, in the Bible’s own order. The first links in each book carry a line of their text; every reference opens its full verse page.

Proverbs1

Proverbs 4:12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will…

Isaiah1

Isaiah 8:15Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be…

Ezekiel1

Ezekiel 3:20Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I…

Hosea1

Hosea 14:9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know…

Matthew2

Luke1

Luke 2:34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is…

John1

John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal…

Acts1

Acts 16:30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be…

Romans5

Galatians2

1 John1

1 John 5:9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this…

Revelation1

Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to…

Cross-references are drawn from classic Bible study tools and open, shareable Bible data.

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
1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
leads to
- Isaiah 8:14
  And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- Romans 9:32–33
  Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23
  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
Through
1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
leads to
- Isaiah 8:14–15
  And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
  The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Peter 2:8
  and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
Through
Romans 4:16
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who…
leads to
- Romans 3:24–26
  and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 2:8
  For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

Where the connections lead

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Continue: Romans 9 →