But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Parallel translations
- WEB but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.
- BSB but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
- ESV but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
- NKJV but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
- NASB however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.
- NLT But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Israel, though pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain it. Their zealous effort to earn standing before God ended in failure.
Overview
In contrast to the believing Gentiles (v. 30), Israel pursued righteousness through the law yet failed to reach it. Their problem was not the law itself but their approach to it. By seeking acceptance through works rather than faith, they missed the very righteousness they sought, as Paul explains in the next verse. This sets up the contrast between law-keeping and faith that dominates the following chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Rom 11:7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
- Rom 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- Jas 2:10–11For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- Gal 5:3–4For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
- Rom 10:2–4For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
- Rom 4:14–15For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
- Gal 3:10–11For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
- Phil 3:6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
- Isa 51:1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
- Rom 9:30–32What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
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 9:31 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.