Romans 2 25

Romans 2:25 kjv

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Romans 2:25 nkjv

For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

Romans 2:25 niv

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

Romans 2:25 esv

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

Romans 2:25 nlt

The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

Romans 2 verses

Romans 2 25 Meaning

Romans 2:25 asserts that the physical act of circumcision, an outward sign of the Abrahamic covenant, yields true spiritual benefit only if one genuinely observes the Law. Conversely, if an individual who is circumcised transgresses the Law, their circumcision becomes spiritually nullified, rendering them in a state equivalent to being uncircumcised in God's eyes. The verse profoundly teaches that external religious rites or marks are valueless without corresponding internal righteousness and obedience to divine commands.

Romans 2 25 Context

Romans chapter 2 serves as Paul's indictment of the self-righteous individual, specifically targeting the Jew who boasts in their unique covenantal privileges yet fails to live according to God's revealed will. Following his condemnation of Gentile idolatry and immorality in Chapter 1, Paul asserts God's impartiality in judgment, declaring that both Jews and Gentiles are accountable based on their deeds, not their ethnic identity or possession of the Law. Verses 17-24 expose the hypocrisy of those who profess knowledge of God's Law but dishonor Him by breaking it. Verse 25 then specifically zeroes in on circumcision, a key identifier for the Jewish people, setting up Paul's foundational argument that true relationship with God hinges on internal spiritual reality, not mere external observance, thereby paving the way for the doctrine of justification by faith for all humanity.

Romans 2 25 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction acts as a logical connector, introducing the reason or explanation for Paul's previous statements about the Jewish failure to honor God despite their boasting in the Law and circumcision (Rom 2:17-24). It signifies "because" or "indeed."

• circumcision (περιτομή - peritomē): This term refers to the surgical removal of the foreskin, commanded by God to Abraham as a sign of the covenant (Gen 17). It was the physical mark that identified a male as belonging to the covenant community of Israel. Paul here acknowledges its legitimate, divine origin and potential "profit" when observed faithfully.

• indeed profits (ὠφελεῖ - ōphelei): Translates to "is advantageous," "is useful," or "benefits." Paul readily admits that circumcision, as a God-given sign, inherently has a spiritual purpose and value, but immediately qualifies this profit by stating a crucial condition for its efficacy.

• if you keep the law (πράσσῃς νόμον - prassēs nomon): The Greek verb "prassō" emphasizes the habitual practice, performance, or doing of the Law, rather than merely having intellectual knowledge of it. It signifies actively living in obedience to God's commandments in one's daily conduct. This is the crucial condition for the "profit" of circumcision.

• but (δὲ - de): A contrasting particle that introduces the alternative condition which negates the profit mentioned in the first clause. It sets up the immediate counter-argument.

• if you break the law (παραβάτης νόμου - parabates nomou): "Parabatēs" means a "transgressor" or one who "steps over" a boundary or rule. This phrase describes active, deliberate disobedience to the Law. It refers to someone who not only fails to keep the Law but actively violates its precepts.

• your circumcision (σου ἡ περιτομὴ - sou hē peritomē): Emphasizes the personal nature of the physical sign for the individual Jew addressed.

• has become (γέγονεν - gegonen): This verb is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with a lasting result. It implies that the transition from a state of profit to being worthless is a definitive and irreversible spiritual reality due to continued law-breaking.

• uncircumcision (ἀκροβυστία - akrobystia): Literally meaning "foreskin," this term is used metaphorically in the New Testament to denote the state of being a Gentile—one not under the Mosaic covenant or distinguished by circumcision. Here, Paul declares that a circumcised Jew who disobeys the Law effectively renders their physical mark meaningless in God's eyes, thus placing them in the same spiritual position as one who is literally "uncircumcised," i.e., spiritually estranged from the covenant's blessing.

• "For circumcision indeed profits if you keep the law": This phrase acknowledges the divine institution of circumcision and its potential value, immediately tethering that value to a crucial condition: active obedience to God's commandments. It suggests that the outward sign is significant only as an emblem of an inner reality.

• "but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision": This forceful antithesis underscores the profound principle that outward religious performance is rendered spiritually void by consistent disobedience. Breaking God's Law spiritually negates the privilege signified by physical circumcision, stripping away any supposed advantage and spiritually aligning the disobedient circumcised individual with those who are physically uncircumcised and outside the covenant. This highlights God's demand for internal conformity to His will, not merely external ritual.

Romans 2 25 Bonus section

This verse sets the stage for Paul's profound theological argument about the "circumcision of the heart" (Rom 2:29). By asserting that external circumcision is nullified by disobedience, Paul dismantles the basis for Jewish self-righteousness and perceived superiority over Gentiles. It highlights God's consistent demand throughout Scripture for internal, spiritual commitment over mere external ritualism (e.g., Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4). The statement "your circumcision has become uncircumcision" implies not only a loss of benefit but a reversal of status in God's eyes—a transformation from one considered "in" to one considered "out," from privileged to profane. This underscores the crucial understanding that being physically circumcised without obeying the Law could, in effect, lead to a greater condemnation for those who possessed divine revelation but failed to live by it, further justifying the necessity of justification by faith alone for both Jew and Gentile, as presented later in Romans.

Romans 2 25 Commentary

Romans 2:25 directly challenges the presumption that a physical covenant sign or religious ritual automatically confers divine favor or righteousness. Paul dissects the Jewish reliance on physical circumcision, revealing its profit to be entirely contingent on actual adherence to the Law it represented. Without such obedience, the sign loses its spiritual efficacy and becomes nothing more than flesh, bearing no true distinction before God. This powerful declaration underscores that God's assessment is based on one's deeds and heart, not merely outward markers. It warns against hypocrisy where an external badge of faith or membership replaces genuine, transforming submission to God's will. True righteousness is rooted in living out the divine commands, not in the mere possession of religious privileges. This principle is universally applicable: any outward religious profession—be it baptism, church attendance, or creeds—becomes meaningless if unaccompanied by a life lived in accordance with Christ's teachings and God's holiness. For example, regularly attending a faith community or wearing religious symbols without genuinely striving to live by God's Word yields no spiritual "profit."