But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.
Parallel translations
- WEB but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.
- KJV But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
- BSB but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
- 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.
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? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
- Rom 3:20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
- Jas 2:10–11For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
- Gal 5:3–4Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
- Rom 10:2–4For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
- Rom 4:14–15For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
- Gal 3:10–11For 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.”
- Phil 3:6concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
- Isa 51:1“Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from.
- Rom 9:30–32What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.