Romans 3 19

Romans 3:19 kjv

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:19 nkjv

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:19 niv

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Romans 3:19 esv

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Romans 3:19 nlt

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

Romans 3 verses

Romans 3 19 Meaning

This verse declares that the purpose and effect of God's Law are to speak directly to those who possess and are bound by it, primarily the Jews. Its ultimate outcome is to silence all human boasts and justifications, revealing universal sinfulness, and rendering all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles, unequivocally guilty and accountable before God. It strips away all claims to self-righteousness, leaving everyone dependent on divine mercy.

Romans 3 19 Context

Romans 3:19 concludes Paul’s extensive argument, beginning in Romans 1:18, that all humanity—both Gentiles (without the Law, Romans 1:18-32) and Jews (who have the Law, Romans 2:1-3:8)—are under the pervasive power of sin and justly condemned by God. Paul has cited Old Testament scriptures (Romans 3:10-18) to provide prophetic confirmation of humanity's universal sinfulness, effectively leaving no one, particularly the Jews who prided themselves on possessing the Law, without an excuse. This verse serves as the final, summary declaration before Paul transitions to God's solution: righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, offered in Romans 3:21 onwards. It establishes the urgent need for divine intervention, as no human being can achieve righteousness through obedience to the Law.

Romans 3 19 Word analysis

• Now we know (οἴδαμεν δέ, oidamen de): Signifies a conclusion based on previously established facts or generally accepted understanding. It’s an authoritative assertion derived from the preceding arguments in Romans.
• whatever the law says (ὅσα ὁ νόμος λέγει, hosa ho nomos legei): "Law" (ὁ νόμος, ho nomos) refers primarily to the Mosaic Law given to Israel, encompassing the Torah and its principles. It represents God's revealed will and moral standard. "Whatever it says" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of its declarations, particularly its condemnatory power against sin.
• it says to those who are under the law (τοῖς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, tois en tō nomō): Literally, "to those in the law" or "in the sphere of the law." This primarily identifies the Jews who were given, understood, and lived by the Mosaic Law. It underscores that the Law's requirements and judgments were specifically addressed to them. This phrase highlights their direct responsibility and implies their particular culpability for failing to uphold it.
• so that (ἵνα, hina): Indicates the purpose or result of the Law's declarations. This clarifies the Law's divine intention.
• every mouth may be stopped (πᾶν στόμα φραγῇ, pan stoma phragē): "Stopped" (phragē) means "to be muzzled," "to be bridled," or "to be shut up." It signifies silencing all excuses, defenses, self-justifications, or boasts of human righteousness. The courtroom imagery is strong here: no more arguments can be made. This refers to the end of any human attempt to plead innocent before God or to justify oneself through performance or ethnicity.
• and all the world (πᾶς ὁ κόσμος, pas ho kosmos): This is a crucial universalizing phrase. Although the Law was given to Jews, its pronouncements about sin and human failure apply not only to the Jews ("those under the law") but extend to all humanity—both Jews and Gentiles. It signifies that the Law reveals a universal state of sin and brokenness inherent in human nature, regardless of ethnic background or access to specific written codes.
• may become accountable to God (ὑπόδικος τῷ θεῷ, hupodikos tō theō): "Accountable" (hupodikos) literally means "under judgment," "liable to a penalty," or "guilty before a judge." It means to be in a position where one must answer for their deeds and stand condemned, awaiting a verdict from the supreme Judge. It underscores that the Law serves to justly indict all humanity, demonstrating their inability to meet God’s perfect standard and rendering them guilty before Him, making them ripe for judgment without an external solution.

Romans 3 19 Bonus section

The concept of the Law "stopping every mouth" is not merely about verbal silence, but about the termination of all arguments, excuses, and self-justifications before God. This creates an existential crisis for humanity, forcing a recognition of complete helplessness. The Law's function here is often termed "pedagogical" or a "schoolmaster" (as in Gal 3:24) not in the sense of teaching morality for salvation, but of bringing a conviction of sin that leads one to Christ. The "Law" in this passage, while centered on Mosaic Law, functions as a representative of any form of ethical or moral standard that might be used to claim righteousness. Paul demonstrates that even God's own perfect standard condemns rather than justifies fallen humanity, illustrating that human effort cannot bridge the gap to God's holiness. This absolute universal guilt sets the stage for the equally universal and freely given grace of God in Christ.

Romans 3 19 Commentary

Romans 3:19 encapsulates the bleak verdict that closes Paul's rigorous argument on universal human sinfulness. The Law, while holy and good, was never intended to justify humanity; instead, its divine purpose is to expose sin and demonstrate our utter inability to meet God’s righteous standards. By revealing sin, the Law addresses itself primarily to the Jews who possessed it, making clear their condemnation. However, this condemnation extends its reach universally: by proving even the "righteous" Jews to be sinners, the Law inherently reveals that all of humanity ("all the world"), both Jew and Gentile, stands equally guilty before God. Every attempt at self-justification, every boast of moral superiority or religious privilege, is definitively silenced. This judicial decree leaves humanity defenseless and "accountable," or "guilty before God," highlighting the desperate need for a righteousness that comes not from human effort, but solely from divine grace through faith. It is the final preparation for Paul's grand reveal of the Gospel in the subsequent verses.