But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Parallel translations
- WEB But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
- BSB But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
- NKJV But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
- NASB But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
- NLT In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Scripture says the word is near, in your mouth and heart, which Paul identifies as the word of faith they preach. Salvation is as accessible as the gospel message itself.
Overview
Citing Deuteronomy 30:14, Paul stresses that God's saving word is not distant but near, present in mouth and heart. He identifies this nearby word with the message of faith that he and the apostles proclaim, the gospel. Because Christ has already accomplished salvation, the only thing required is to receive and confess the word, which Paul spells out in the next verse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 30:14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
- Rom 1:16–17For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- 1 Tim 4:6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
- 1 Pet 1:25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
- Gal 3:2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- Rom 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- Acts 10:43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
- Gal 3:5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- Acts 13:38–39Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
- Mark 16:15–16And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- 1 Pet 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
- Isa 57:19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
- Acts 16:31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 10:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.