Romans 9 31

Romans 9:31 kjv

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:31 nkjv

but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:31 niv

but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.

Romans 9:31 esv

but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.

Romans 9:31 nlt

But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.

Romans 9 verses

Romans 9 31 Meaning

Romans 9:31 means that despite Israel's fervent and diligent pursuit of righteousness through adherence to the Law, they failed to achieve it because their method was based on works rather than faith. Their error was in seeking righteousness from the Law as a system of earning salvation, instead of understanding that true righteousness is by God's grace through faith in Christ, to which the Law pointed.

Romans 9 31 Context

Romans chapter 9 forms a crucial part of Paul's sustained argument concerning God's justice and faithfulness despite the majority of Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Paul wrestles with the perceived failure of God's promises to His chosen people. The chapter establishes God's sovereign prerogative in election (drawing on examples like Jacob and Esau, and Pharaoh), emphasizing that God's plan is not thwarted by human unbelief. It clarifies that "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (Rom 9:6), meaning true spiritual Israel consists of those chosen by God, whether Jew or Gentile, through faith. Verse 31 specifically comes at the conclusion of this discussion, providing a stark summary of Israel's collective spiritual misstep, contrasted with the surprising inclusion of Gentiles (Rom 9:30). This sets the stage for Paul's appeal and deeper explanation in Romans 10.

Romans 9 31 Word analysis

• but Israel (Ἰσραὴλ δὲ - Israēl de):

  • Word: "Israel" refers to the ethnic nation of Israel, particularly the majority who did not accept Christ.
  • Significance: The conjunction "but" (de) contrasts their outcome with that of the Gentiles mentioned in the preceding verse (Rom 9:30), who attained righteousness. It highlights a painful paradox: those most expected to achieve righteousness did not.

• pursuing (διώκων - diōkōn):

  • Meaning: "eagerly following," "to run after," "to chase," "strive earnestly for." It can also mean "to persecute" when directed at people, but here it denotes intense effort in seeking something.
  • Significance: Implies zeal, vigor, and great exertion. Israel was not idle; they genuinely and strenuously sought something they believed was righteous, but their pursuit was fundamentally flawed in its object or method.

• the law of righteousness (νόμον δικαιοσύνης - nomon dikaiosynēs):

  • Meaning: This is a key phrase. It does not refer to the Mosaic Law itself as intrinsically unrighteous. Rather, it speaks of the principle or system through which Israel sought to achieve righteousness. They were pursuing a law that produces or prescribes righteousness by works. It signifies a misunderstanding of the Law's true purpose.
  • Significance: It highlights Israel's mistaken assumption that righteousness could be achieved by scrupulous adherence to legal statutes, making their justification contingent on their performance, rather than on God's grace and their faith. They confused moral and ceremonial laws with a means of achieving justifying righteousness before God.

• did not arrive (οὐκ ἔφθασεν - ouk ephthasen):

  • Meaning: "did not reach," "did not attain," "did not catch up to." The Greek verb indicates a failure to attain something despite moving toward it.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the ultimate failure and futility of their diligent efforts based on a works-oriented approach. Despite their passionate pursuit, they fell short of God's true righteousness, which is found through faith.

• at that law (εἰς νόμον - eis nomon):

  • Meaning: This repeats "law" but often interpreted as "at the standard of righteousness that God approves" or "the law as it truly functions as a guide for faith." The initial pursuit was "a law of righteousness" (their distorted concept); the object they "did not arrive at" was God's actual way of righteousness, consistent with true law or the intended destination.
  • Significance: It underlines their ultimate inability to meet God's standard of righteousness through their chosen method, reinforcing the tragic outcome of their misplaced zeal.

Romans 9 31 Bonus section

The phrase "the law of righteousness" is critical because it highlights a subjective interpretation of "law." It wasn't the Law of Moses itself that was flawed (Rom 7:12), but Israel's application of it as a means to achieve personal justification. They imposed a works-based system on what God intended to reveal sin and point to a Savior. The tension established in this verse flows into Romans 10:1-4, where Paul states their "zeal for God, but not according to knowledge," explaining their ignorance of "God's righteousness" and attempt to establish their own. Their failure to attain righteousness stands in stark contrast to the Gentiles, who achieved it simply "by faith" without pursuing it in the same strenuous, misguided manner. This passage deeply underlines that God's covenant promises are fulfilled through a remnant chosen by grace through faith, encompassing both Jew and Gentile, not by ethnic descent or human performance.

Romans 9 31 Commentary

Romans 9:31 incisively diagnoses Israel's central spiritual misstep. Their passionate "pursuit" (diōkōn) for "righteousness" was misdirected because they sought it through "the law" as a system of earned merit. Paul clarifies that it wasn't a lack of effort but a fundamental misunderstanding of the Law's purpose and God's pathway to righteousness. They established "their own righteousness" based on legal observance (Rom 10:3), rather than submitting to God's provided righteousness through faith in Christ. Consequently, despite their earnest zeal, they "did not arrive" at true righteousness, having stumbled over the "stumbling stone" of Christ's cross and the Gospel message of grace. This verse underscores that salvation is always by grace through faith, never by works, and serves as a perennial warning against self-righteousness, however religiously motivated.