Romans 2:3 kjv
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Romans 2:3 nkjv
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Romans 2:3 niv
So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?
Romans 2:3 esv
Do you suppose, O man ? you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself ? that you will escape the judgment of God?
Romans 2:3 nlt
Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?
Romans 2 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 7:1-2 | "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged..." | Warning against hypocritical judgment |
| Lk 6:37 | "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;" | Christ's teaching on avoiding judgment |
| Rom 2:1 | "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges..." | Paul's direct address to the judging person |
| Rom 2:4-5 | "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience... by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath..." | Danger of presuming on God's patience |
| Rom 1:32 | "Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those..." | Knowing God's law increases culpability |
| Rom 3:19-20 | "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law... no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law" | Universal guilt and futility of self-justification |
| Jas 4:12 | "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" | God is the sole ultimate Judge |
| 1 Sam 2:3 | "for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." | God's omniscience and impartial weighing of deeds |
| Psa 9:16 | "The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; by the work of his own hands the wicked are snared." | God reveals himself through judgment |
| Ecc 8:11 | "Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the hearts of the children of man are fully set to do evil." | God's delayed judgment does not imply avoidance |
| Isa 5:20 | "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness..." | Condemnation of moral distortion and hypocrisy |
| Isa 30:13-14 | "therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach ready to fall, bulging out in a high wall..." | Consequences of ignoring God's warnings |
| Heb 9:27 | "and just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," | Inevitable judgment after life |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel?" | Judgment begins with believers, and extends to all |
| Deut 32:39 | "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver..." | God's absolute power to deliver judgment |
| Job 22:29-30 | "For when others are cast down, you say, 'There is hope!' He saves the lowly. He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who is delivered through the cleanness of your hands." | Early testament hint at one not escaping consequences if sinful while judging others' wrong |
| Jer 17:10 | "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." | God's comprehensive and just judgment |
| Nah 1:3 | "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty." | God's justice guarantees no one guilty escapes |
| Prov 11:21 | "Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." | Unpunished evil is not God's ultimate plan |
| Mt 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." | Fear God's judgment over human fear |
| Rev 20:12 | "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." | Universal judgment based on deeds |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." | All will face judgment for their earthly actions |
| Hos 4:1 | "for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land..." | God has a charge against all who sin |
Romans 2 verses
Romans 2 3 Meaning
Romans 2:3 declares that any person who presumes to judge others for their sins while simultaneously committing those same sins will not escape God's righteous judgment. It confronts the delusion that external adherence to standards or merely condemning others grants immunity from divine accountability, especially when one's own actions betray their pronouncements.
Romans 2 3 Context
Romans chapter 2 forms a crucial part of Paul's comprehensive argument regarding universal human sinfulness and the necessity of God's righteousness revealed through Christ. Following his indictment of the pagan world for suppressing the truth and worshipping creation (Rom 1:18-32), Paul turns his focus in chapter 2 to those who stand in judgment of others, specifically addressing the moralist, or likely the self-righteous Jew.
Romans 2:1-5 directly targets those who perceive themselves as morally superior, condemning the very sins they themselves commit. Verse 3 is a direct consequence of this hypocrisy, stating the impossibility of escaping divine judgment. Paul subtly, yet firmly, undermines any claim of exemption based on national identity, possession of the Law, or moralizing without inner transformation. The historical context for Paul's audience included many Jews who proudly clung to the Law as their privilege and basis for righteousness, often looking down upon Gentiles. Paul challenges this perspective by asserting that knowing God's standard (whether through creation or written Law) without upholding it internally only amplifies guilt when one commits the same sins. This sets the stage for Paul's grand reveal that neither Gentiles nor Jews are righteous on their own merits, paving the way for justification by faith alone.
Romans 2 3 Word analysis
do you suppose: The Greek here, "λογίζῃ" (logizē), implies a reasoned calculation or a mental estimation. Paul highlights a flawed, mistaken presumption, a dangerous self-deception in thinking one has an exemption. It questions the faulty logic of such a person.
you, O man: The Greek "ὦ ἄνθρωπε" (ō anthrōpe) is a general address to humanity but pointedly singles out the individual who judges. It makes the application personal and unavoidable, irrespective of background or perceived status. It’s a direct rhetorical address, often used to rebuke or expose flawed reasoning.
who judge: From Greek "κρίνων" (krinōn), meaning "to discern, separate, or pass judgment." It refers to the active ongoing act of condemning or evaluating others, specifically for the very "things" that follow.
those who practice such things: This refers to the wicked practices just detailed in Romans 1:18-32—immorality, unrighteousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, etc. It connects the judging party's sins directly to those they condemn. The Greek for "practice" is "πράσσοντας" (prassontas), implying habitually doing, not just once, but as a way of life.
and yet do them yourself: The essence of hypocrisy. The phrase "καὶ σὺ αὐτὰ ποιῶν" (kai sy auta poiōn) emphasizes the direct, self-incriminating parallel. It highlights the internal contradiction of their actions versus their words/judgments. "Doing" (ποιῶν - poiōn) signifies performing actions.
that you will escape the judgment of God: This is the crucial negative consequence that the judging person mistakenly believes they can avoid. The Greek "ἔκφεύξῃ" (ekpheuxē) means "to flee out of," "to escape completely." The judgment (κρίμα - krima) of God ("τοῦ θεοῦ" - tou theou) refers to a decisive, just, and inescapable sentence or condemnation originating from the sovereign, holy God. It signifies the ultimate, divine verdict, not just human opinion.
you, O man, who judge... and yet do them yourself: This phrase groups together the target and their central error. It underscores the profound spiritual blindness and self-deception that allows one to see fault in others while being equally, if not more, implicated. It sets up the inescapable logical conclusion of the verse.
escape the judgment of God: This forms the consequence of the prior actions and attitudes. It reveals the futility of such a self-serving double standard. There is no special status, ethnicity, or moral pretense that allows one to evade the divine justice applied to all human beings who transgress.
Romans 2 3 Bonus section
The condemnation in Romans 2:3 is not merely about hypocrisy but also about a deeper issue of spiritual arrogance and presumption. The self-righteous judge operates under a false security, perhaps assuming that God will overlook their sins because they are "on His side" or belong to a chosen people. This verse exposes the error of relying on anything other than true repentance and God's grace for salvation. The judgment (κρίμα) mentioned implies an active judicial sentence, indicating that God is not passively observing but will decisively act upon the moral inconsistencies of humanity. It also implicitly highlights that internal attitudes (such as the intent to judge) are equally weighed by God alongside external actions.
Romans 2 3 Commentary
Romans 2:3 dismantles the human tendency toward self-righteousness and external religiosity. Paul confronts the delusion that observing others' failures, or even condemning them, somehow grants personal immunity from divine accountability. The core message is that God's judgment is impartial and penetrates beyond outward appearance or intellectual assent to His law.
The person addressed in this verse might have been a moralist proud of their ethical standards, or more likely a Jew relying on their privileged covenant status and possession of the Law. Such an individual, while quick to condemn pagan immorality (Rom 1), was in reality guilty of the same transgressions, perhaps under a different guise or with different motivations, yet still offending a holy God. Their actions invalidated their pronouncements, transforming their judgment into self-condemnation (Rom 2:1).
The term "judgment of God" (κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ) emphasizes the divine, ultimate, and unavoidable nature of this reckoning. It is not human opinion but God's righteous decree that cannot be circumvented by hypocrisy. This verse powerfully conveys that moral superiority or privileged knowledge of God's will carries a greater, not lesser, responsibility. Knowing God's standards and violating them brings a heavier judgment than ignorance (though ignorance is no ultimate excuse). Paul here highlights God's justice, underscoring that His holiness demands consistency; what He condemns in one, He condemns in all who practice it. This universal condemnation lays the groundwork for the radical nature of salvation through faith in Christ.
- Examples: A person who publicly campaigns against a certain sin but secretly practices it; a religious leader who preaches integrity but lives deceptively; someone quick to criticize a politician's ethical failures while engaging in similar dishonesty in their personal life. These exemplify the delusion addressed in the verse.