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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
- KJV Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- NKJV Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- NASB Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
- NLT Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.
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
The law's testimony silences every excuse and holds the whole world accountable to God. No one can plead innocence.
Overview
Paul explains the purpose of his Old Testament citations: the law speaks to those under it so that every mouth is stopped and all stand guilty before God. The law functions to expose sin and remove self-justification. This universal accountability prepares the way for the righteousness God provides apart from the law in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Gal 3:10All 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.”
- Gal 3:22–23But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
- Rom 3:9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
- Rom 2:12–18All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
- Ezek 16:63so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Gal 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Rom 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- 1 Cor 1:29so that no one may boast in His presence.
- Job 9:2–3“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
- Gal 4:5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
- Ps 107:42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.
- 1 Sam 2:9He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
- John 8:9When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
- Rom 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
- Matt 22:12–13‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
- Rom 2:1–2You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
- Rom 3:4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
- Job 5:16So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
- 1 Cor 9:20–21To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
- John 10:34–35Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
- John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- Rom 3:2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
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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 3:19 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
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