For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Parallel translations
- WEB For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
- BSB As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
- NKJV For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
- NASB For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
- NLT No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
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
As Scripture says, God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of such hypocrisy. Inconsistent lives cause others to disrespect God.
Overview
Paul quotes Isaiah 52:5 (and echoes Ezekiel 36) to show that Israel's sin caused God's name to be dishonored among the nations. Rather than being a light to the Gentiles, the disobedient become a reason for the nations to blaspheme God. This drives home that privilege misused brings reproach on God Himself, intensifying the indictment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 36:20–23And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
- Isa 52:5Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
- 2 Pet 2:2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
- Lam 2:15–16All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
- 2 Sam 12:14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
- Titus 2:8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
- Titus 2:5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
- 1 Tim 6:1Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
- Matt 18:7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
- 1 Tim 5:14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
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 2:24 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.