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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
- Gal 3:22–23But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
- Rom 3:9What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.
- Rom 2:12–18For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
- Ezek 16:63that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more, because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
- 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 1:29that no flesh should boast before God.
- Job 9:2–3“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
- Gal 4:5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
- Ps 107:42The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
- 1 Sam 2:9He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
- John 8:9They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
- Rom 1:20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
- Matt 22:12–13and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
- Rom 2:1–2Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
- Rom 3:4May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
- Job 5:16So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
- 1 Cor 9:20–21To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
- John 10:34–35Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’
- John 15:25But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
- Rom 3:2Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations 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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