Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Parallel translations
- WEB Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;
- KJV Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
- BSB Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
- NKJV Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
- NLT Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.
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 failed because they pursued righteousness by works rather than by faith, stumbling over the stumbling stone. They tripped over Christ instead of trusting him.
Overview
Paul explains Israel's failure (v. 31): they sought righteousness by works of the law instead of by faith, and so stumbled over the stumbling stone, which is Christ. The Messiah, who should have been their salvation, became an obstacle because they would not believe. This exposes the fundamental error of seeking to earn what God gives freely in his Son and prepares for the Scripture citation in v. 33.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Cor 1:23but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,
- Luke 7:23Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
- Rom 11:11I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
- 1 Pet 2:8and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
- Rom 4:16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
- Luke 2:34and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
- Acts 16:30–34brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- John 6:27–29Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”
- Rom 10:3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
- Matt 13:57They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.”
- Matt 19:16–20Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
- 1 Jn 5:9–12If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son.
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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 9:32 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.