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Selected Verse: Romans 10:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 10:5	Strong Concordance	For [1063] Moses [3475] describeth [1125] the righteousness [1343] which [3588] is of [1537] the law [3551], That [3754] the man [444] which doeth [4160] those things [846] shall live [2198] by [1722] them [846].
	King James	For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man that doeth--"hath done" those things--which it commands. shall live in them-- (Lev 18:5). This is the one way of justification and life--by "the righteousness which is of (or, by our own obedience to) the law."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man that doeth--"hath done"

those things--which it commands.

shall live in them-- (Lev 18:5). This is the one way of justification and life--by "the righteousness which is of (or, by our own obedience to) the law."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For Moses describeth ... - This is found in Lev 18:5, "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them." This appeal is made to Moses, both in regard to the righteousness of the Law and that of faith, in accordance with the usual manner of Paul to sustain all his positions by the Old Testament, and to show that he was introducing no new doctrine. He was only affirming that which had been long before taught in the writings of the Jews themselves. The word "describeth" is literally writes γράφει graphei, a word often used in this sense. The righteousness ... - The righteousness which a perfect obedience to the Law of God would produce. That consisted in perfectly doing all that the Law required. The man which doeth these things - The man who shall perform or obey what was declared in the previous statutes. Moses here had reference to all the commandments which God had given, moral and ceremonial. And the doctrine of Moses is what pertains to all laws, that he who shall render perfect and continued compliance with all the statutes made known, shall receive the reward which the Law promises. This is a first principle of all law; for all law holds a man to be innocent, and, of course, entitled to whatever immunities and rewards it has to confer, until he is proved to be guilty. In this case, however, Moses did not affirm that in fact any one either had yielded or would yield perfect obedience to the Law of God. The Scriptures abundantly teach elsewhere that it never has been done. Doeth - Obeys, or yields obedience. So also Mat 5:19, "Shall do and teach them." Mat 7:24, Mat 7:26, "whosoever heareth these sayings ...and doeth them." Mat 23:3; Mar 3:35; Mar 6:20; Luk 6:46-47, Luk 6:49. Shall live - Shall obtain felicity. Obedience shall render him happy, and entitled to the rewards of the obedient. Moses doubtless referred here to all the results which would follow obedience. The effect would be to produce happiness in this life and in the life to come. The principle on which happiness would be conferred, would be the same whether in this world or the next. The tendency and result of obedience would be to promote order, health, purity, benevolence; to advance the welfare of man, and the honor of God, and thus must confer happiness. The idea of happiness is often in the Scriptures represented by the word "life"; see the note at Joh 5:24. It is evident moreover that the Jews understood Moses here as referring to more than temporal blessings. The ancient Targum of Onkelos renders the passage in Leviticus thus: "The man who does these things shall live in them to eternal life." So the Arabic version is, "The retribution of him who works these things is that he shall live an eternal life." By them - ἐν αὐτοῖς en autois. In them. In their observance he shall find happiness. Not simply as a result, or reward, but the very act of obeying shall carry its own reward. This is the case with all true religion. This declaration of Moses is still true. If perfect obedience were rendered, it would, from the nature of the case, confer happiness and life as long as the obedience was rendered. God would not punish the innocent. But in this world it never has been rendered, except in the case of the Lord Jesus; and the consequence is, that the course of man has been attended with pain, sorrow, and death.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For Moses describeth ... - This is found in Lev 18:5, "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them." This appeal is made to Moses, both in regard to the righteousness of the Law and that of faith, in accordance with the usual manner of Paul to sustain all his positions by the Old Testament, and to show that he was introducing no new doctrine. He was only affirming that which had been long before taught in the writings of the Jews themselves. The word "describeth" is literally writes γράφει graphei, a word often used in this sense.

The righteousness ... - The righteousness which a perfect obedience to the Law of God would produce. That consisted in perfectly doing all that the Law required.

The man which doeth these things - The man who shall perform or obey what was declared in the previous statutes. Moses here had reference to all the commandments which God had given, moral and ceremonial. And the doctrine of Moses is what pertains to all laws, that he who shall render perfect and continued compliance with all the statutes made known, shall receive the reward which the Law promises. This is a first principle of all law; for all law holds a man to be innocent, and, of course, entitled to whatever immunities and rewards it has to confer, until he is proved to be guilty. In this case, however, Moses did not affirm that in fact any one either had yielded or would yield perfect obedience to the Law of God. The Scriptures abundantly teach elsewhere that it never has been done.

Doeth - Obeys, or yields obedience. So also Mat 5:19, "Shall do and teach them." Mat 7:24, Mat 7:26, "whosoever heareth these sayings ...and doeth them." Mat 23:3; Mar 3:35; Mar 6:20; Luk 6:46-47, Luk 6:49.

Shall live - Shall obtain felicity. Obedience shall render him happy, and entitled to the rewards of the obedient. Moses doubtless referred here to all the results which would follow obedience. The effect would be to produce happiness in this life and in the life to come. The principle on which happiness would be conferred, would be the same whether in this world or the next. The tendency and result of obedience would be to promote order, health, purity, benevolence; to advance the welfare of man, and the honor of God, and thus must confer happiness. The idea of happiness is often in the Scriptures represented by the word "life"; see the note at Joh 5:24. It is evident moreover that the Jews understood Moses here as referring to more than temporal blessings. The ancient Targum of Onkelos renders the passage in Leviticus thus: "The man who does these things shall live in them to eternal life." So the Arabic version is, "The retribution of him who works these things is that he shall live an eternal life."

By them - ἐν αὐτοῖς en autois. In them. In their observance he shall find happiness. Not simply as a result, or reward, but the very act of obeying shall carry its own reward. This is the case with all true religion. This declaration of Moses is still true. If perfect obedience were rendered, it would, from the nature of the case, confer happiness and life as long as the obedience was rendered. God would not punish the innocent. But in this world it never has been rendered, except in the case of the Lord Jesus; and the consequence is, that the course of man has been attended with pain, sorrow, and death.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Describeth the righteousness - that (γράφει τὴν δικαιοσύνην - ὅτι) The best texts transfer ὅτι that, and read γράφει ὅτι, etc. Moses writeth that the man, etc. See Lev 18:5. Those things - by them (αὐτὰ - ἐν αὐτοῖς) Omit those things, and read for ἐν αὐτοῖς by them, ἐν αὐτῇ by it, i.e., the righteousness which is of the law. The whole, as Rev., Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For Moses describeth the only righteousness which is attainable by the law, when he saith, The man who doeth these things shall live by them - that is, he that perfectly keeps all these precepts in every point, he alone may claim life and salvation by them. But this way of justification is impossible to any who have ever transgressed any one law in any point. Lev 18:5

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law - The place to which the apostle refers, seems to be Lev 18:5 : Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them. These words seem to be spoken in answer to an objection which might be made by a Jew: "Did not Moses give us a law, the observance of which should secure our salvation?" Such a law Moses undoubtedly gave, and that law promises life to those who perform its precepts: but who can plead for life on this ground, who rejects that Christ who is the end of the law? No man ever did, nor ever can, fulfill that law, so as to merit salvation by the performance of it: for, as all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, they are all under the curse of the law, which says: Cursed is every one who continueth not in all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them, Deu 27:26; Gal 3:10; therefore by the deeds of this law none can be justified, because all are in a state of condemnation for transgressions already committed against it. If, therefore, there were not such a provision as is made by the death of Christ, no soul could be saved.

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⁵ Ye shall therefore keep [08104] my statutes [02708], and my judgments [04941]: which [0834] if a man [0120] do [06213], he shall live [02425] in them: I am the LORD [03068].

²⁴ Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] He that heareth [191] my [3450] word [3056], and [2532] believeth [4100] on him that sent [3992] me [3165], hath [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222], and [2532] shall [2064] not [3756] come [2064] into [1519] condemnation [2920]; but [235] is passed [3327] from [1537] death [2288] unto [1519] life [2222].

⁴⁹ But [1161] he that heareth [191], and [2532] doeth [4160] not [3361], is [2076] like [3664] a man [444] that without [5565] a foundation [2310] built [3618] an house [3614] upon [1909] the earth [1093]; against [4366] which [3739] the stream [4215] did beat vehemently [4366], and [2532] immediately [2112] it fell [4098]; and [2532] the ruin [4485] of that [1565] house [3614] was [1096] great [3173].

⁴⁶ And [1161] why [5101] call ye [2564] me [3165], Lord [2962], Lord [2962], and [2532] do [4160] not [3756] the things which [3739] I say [3004]?
⁴⁷ Whosoever [3956] cometh [2064] to [4314] me [3165], and [2532] heareth [191] my [3450] sayings [3056], and [2532] doeth [4160] them [846], I will shew [5263] you [5213] to whom [5101] he is [2076] like [3664]:

²⁰ For [1063] Herod [2264] feared [5399] John [2491], knowing [1492] that he [846] was a just [1342] man [435] and [2532] an holy [40], and [2532] observed [4933] him [846]; and [2532] when he heard [191] him [846], he did [4160] many things [4183], and [2532] heard [191] him [846] gladly [2234].

³⁵ For [1063] whosoever [3739] [302] shall do [4160] the will [2307] of God [2316], the same [3778] is [2076] my [3450] brother [80], and [2532] my [3450] sister [79], and [2532] mother [3384].

³ All [3956] therefore [3767] whatsoever [302] [3745] they bid [2036] you [5213] observe [5083], that observe [5083] and [2532] do [4160]; but [1161] do [4160] not [3361] ye after [2596] their [846] works [2041]: for [1063] they say [3004], and [2532] do [4160] not [3756].

²⁶ And [2532] every one [3956] that heareth [191] these [5128] sayings [3056] of mine [3450], and [2532] doeth [4160] them [846] not [3361], shall be likened [3666] unto a foolish [3474] man [435], which [3748] built [3618] his [846] house [3614] upon [1909] the sand [285]:

²⁴ Therefore [3767] whosoever [3956] [3748] heareth [191] these [5128] sayings [3056] of mine [3450], and [2532] doeth [4160] them [846], I will liken [3666] him [846] unto a wise [5429] man [435], which [3748] built [3618] his [846] house [3614] upon [1909] a rock [4073]:

¹⁹ Whosoever [3739] [1437] therefore [3767] shall break [3089] one [3391] of these [5130] least [1646] commandments [1785], and [2532] shall teach [1321] men [444] so [3779], he shall be called [2564] the least [1646] in [1722] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772]: but [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] shall do [4160] and [2532] teach [1321] them, the same [3778] shall be called [2564] great [3173] in [1722] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772].

⁵ Ye shall therefore keep [08104] my statutes [02708], and my judgments [04941]: which [0834] if a man [0120] do [06213], he shall live [02425] in them: I am the LORD [03068].

¹⁰ For [1063] as many as [3745] are [1526] of [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551] are [1526] under [5259] the curse [2671]: for [1063] it is written [1125], Cursed [1944] is every one [3956] that [3739] continueth [1696] not [3756] in [1722] all things [3956] which [3588] are written [1125] in [1722] the book [975] of the law [3551] to do [4160] them [846].

²⁶ Cursed [0779] be he that confirmeth [06965] not all the words [01697] of this law [08451] to do [06213] them. And all the people [05971] shall say [0559], Amen [0543].

⁵ Ye shall therefore keep [08104] my statutes [02708], and my judgments [04941]: which [0834] if a man [0120] do [06213], he shall live [02425] in them: I am the LORD [03068].