Romans 10 5

Romans 10:5 kjv

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Romans 10:5 nkjv

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

Romans 10:5 niv

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them."

Romans 10:5 esv

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

Romans 10:5 nlt

For Moses writes that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.

Romans 10 verses

Romans 10 5 Meaning

Romans 10:5 declares that Moses' writing sets forth a specific type of righteousness: one that is contingent upon perfect obedience to the Law. It posits that a person achieves life, in a salvific sense, only by fully performing all the commandments. This verse acts as an introduction, clarifying the legal path to righteousness before Paul introduces the contrasting path of faith. It accurately reflects the Mosaic covenant's condition for attaining life and blessings through obedience.

Romans 10 5 Context

Romans 10:5 is embedded within Paul's fervent discourse concerning Israel's unique place in God's plan and their present rejection of Christ. Chapters 9-11 collectively address the theological problem of Israel's disbelief and Gentile inclusion in salvation. Specifically, Romans 10 delves into Israel's failure to grasp the true nature of God's righteousness, despite their "zeal for God" (Rom 10:2). This verse serves as Paul's accurate portrayal of the standard by which a person could be justified under the Old Covenant—by flawless adherence to the Law, resulting in life. By articulating this demanding condition, Paul prepares the ground for demonstrating humanity's universal inability to meet it, thus highlighting the absolute necessity and accessibility of God's alternative: righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 10:6-10). Culturally, this resonates with the contemporary Jewish understanding that righteousness was attained through diligent observance of Torah and its precepts, an understanding that Paul, himself a Pharisee, was intimately familiar with and here acknowledges.

Romans 10 5 Word analysis

• For Moses writes (Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει - Moysēs gar graphē): "For" (γὰρ - gar) indicates a continuation or explanation of the preceding thought, providing evidence for the truth of what he just said about Israel's zeal without knowledge (Rom 10:2-3). "Moses writes" establishes the undeniable authority of the Lawgiver himself. Paul is not misrepresenting the Law but appealing directly to its foundational statements.
• about the righteousness that is based on the law (τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ νόμου - tēn dikaiosynēn tēn ek nomou): "Righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη - dikaiosynē) refers to a state of being right with God, moral uprightness, or justification. "That is based on" or "out of" (ἐκ - ek) clearly indicates the source or origin of this particular righteousness—it stems directly from the law. This emphasizes human effort and compliance as the basis.
• that the person who does the commandments (ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ - ho poiēsas auta): "The person who does" (ὁ ποιήσας - ho poiēsas) highlights the active and continuous performance, stressing action and adherence to all the requirements. The word poiēsas (aorist participle) emphasizes the decisive and complete action of doing. "The commandments" (αὐτὰ - auta, "them") implicitly refers to the whole body of the Law.
• shall live by them (ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς - zēsetai en autois): "Shall live" (ζήσεται - zēsetai) refers to life in a holistic sense—blessed, vital, spiritual, and potentially eternal existence in covenant with God. This "life" is the promise held out by the Mosaic Covenant. "By them" (ἐν αὐτοῖς - en autois) reinforces that life is achieved through or in the sphere of diligent and perfect obedience to the commandments themselves, acting as the very condition and means for receiving that promised life.

Romans 10 5 Bonus section

The concept of "life" in "shall live by them" (ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς) under the Law often carries multiple layers of meaning within Old Testament thought: not just physical longevity and prosperity in the land of Israel, but also a spiritual vitality, communion with God, and even implicitly, eternal well-being. It signifies flourishing in every dimension according to God's covenantal promises. Paul does not negate the Law's inherent goodness or its revelatory function; rather, he argues against its efficacy for justification in the post-Fall world where sin incapacitates human beings from perfectly meeting its demands. Therefore, Romans 10:5 doesn't criticize the Law, but establishes its high, unachievable standard for sinful humanity, thereby illuminating the profound grace of the Gospel as the only viable path to righteousness.

Romans 10 5 Commentary

In Romans 10:5, Paul succinctly captures the essence of the Mosaic Law as a path to righteousness and life. He acknowledges, and does not dispute, that the Law itself genuinely offered life to those who perfectly observed its precepts. This is not Paul’s innovation but a restatement of ancient biblical truth, echoing Leviticus 18:5 and Ezekiel 20:11. The core demand is absolute "doing"—complete and flawless obedience to all commandments. However, this verse serves as a critical setup for Paul's larger argument: while the Law's demands are clear, humanity's inability to perfectly fulfill them means this path to righteousness is closed off by human sinfulness. Thus, Paul validates the Law's own standard to show that it leaves no room for partial compliance and ultimately underscores the urgent need for a different path—the righteousness offered through faith in Christ. For instance, consider someone attempting to enter a perfectly kept garden where one small weed makes entry impossible; Rom 10:5 describes the requirement for that "perfectly kept" garden, emphasizing the absolute standard.