Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Romans 3:9 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ro 3:9 |
Strong Concordance |
What [5101] then [3767]? are we better [4284] than they? No [3756], in no wise [3843]: for [1063] we have before proved [4256] both [5037] Jews [2453] and [2532] Gentiles [1672], that they are [1511] all [3956] under [5259] sin [266]; |
| |
King James |
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
THAT THE JEW IS SHUT UP UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE IS PROVED BY HIS OWN SCRIPTURE. (Rom 3:9-20)
are we better than they?--"do we excel them?"
No, in no wise--Better off the Jews certainly were, for having the oracles of God to teach them better; but as they were no better, that only aggravated their guilt. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
What then? - This is another remark supposed to be made by a Jewish objector. "What follows? or are we to infer that we are better than others?
Are we better than they? - Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? Or rather, have we any preference, or advantage as to character and prospects, over the Gentiles? These questions refer only to the great point in debate, to wit, about justification before God. The apostle had admitted Rom 3:2 that the Jews had important advantages in some respects, but he now affirms that those advantages did not make a difference between them and the Gentiles about justification.
No, in no wise - Not at all. That is, the Jews have no preference or advantage over the Gentiles in regard to the subject of justification before God. They have failed to keep the Law; they are sinners; and if they are justified, it must be in the same way as the rest of the world.
We have before proved ... - Rom 1:21-32; 2.
Under sin - Sinners. Under the power and dominion of sin. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
sin
Sin
(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Are we better (προεχόμεθα)
Rev., are we in worse case than they? Render, with the American Revisers, are we in better case than they, i.e., have we any advantage? The Rev. takes the verb as passive - are we surpassed? which would require the succeeding verses to show that the Gentiles are not better than the Jews; whereas they show that the Jews are not better than the Gentiles. Besides, nothing in the context suggests such a question. Paul has been showing that the Old Testament privileges, though giving to the Jews a certain superiority to the Gentiles, did not give them any advantages in escaping the divine condemnation. After such showing it was natural that the question should be renewed: Do the Jews have any advantage?
We have before proved (προῃτιασάμεθα)
The reference is not to logical proof, but to forensic accusation. The simple verb means to charge as being the cause (αἰτία) of some evil: hence to accuse, impeach. Rev., correctly, we before laid to the charge. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| What then - Here he resumes what he said, Rom 3:1. Under sin - Under the guilt and power of it: the Jews, by transgressing the written law; the gentiles, by transgressing the law of nature. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Jew. What then? - After all, have not we Jews a better claim to the privileges of the kingdom of God than the Gentiles have?
Apostle. No, in no wise - For I have already proved that both Jews and Gentiles are under the guilt of sin; that they are equally unworthy of the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom; and that they must both, equally, owe their salvation to the mere mercy of God. From this, to the end of the 26th verse, the apostle proceeds to prove his assertion, that both Jews and Gentiles were all under sin; and, that he might enforce the conviction upon the heart of the Jew, he quotes his own Scriptures, which he acknowledged had been given by the inspiration of God, and consequently true. |
9 What [5101] then [3767]? are we better [4284] than they? No [3756], in no wise [3843]: for [1063] we have before proved [4256] both [5037] Jews [2453] and [2532] Gentiles [1672], that they are [1511] all [3956] under [5259] sin [266];
10 As [2531] it is written [1125], [3754] There is [2076] none [3756] righteous [1342], no, not [3761] one [1520]:
11 There is [2076] none [3756] that understandeth [4920], there is [2076] none [3756] that seeketh after [1567] God [2316].
12 They are [1578] all [3956] gone out of the way [1578], they are [889] together [260] become unprofitable [889]; there is [2076] none [3756] that doeth [4160] good [5544], no, not [3756] one [2076] [2193] [1520].
13 Their [846] throat [2995] is an open [455] sepulchre [5028]; with their [846] tongues [1100] they have used deceit [1387]; the poison [2447] of asps [785] is under [5259] their [846] lips [5491]:
14 Whose [3739] mouth [4750] is full [1073] of cursing [685] and [2532] bitterness [4088]:
15 Their [846] feet [4228] are swift [3691] to shed [1632] blood [129]:
16 Destruction [4938] and [2532] misery [5004] are in [1722] their [846] ways [3598]:
17 And [2532] the way [3598] of peace [1515] have [1097] they not [3756] known [1097]:
18 There is [2076] no [3756] fear [5401] of God [2316] before [561] their [846] eyes [3788].
19 Now [1161] we know [1492] that [3754] what things soever [3745] the law [3551] saith [3004], it saith [2980] to them who are under [1722] the law [3551]: that [2443] every [3956] mouth [4750] may be stopped [5420], and [2532] all [3956] the world [2889] may become [1096] guilty [5267] before God [2316].
20 Therefore [1360] by [1537] the deeds [2041] of the law [3551] there shall [1344] no [3956] [3756] flesh [4561] be justified [1344] in his [846] sight [1799]: for [1063] by [1223] the law [3551] is the knowledge [1922] of sin [266].
21 Because [1360] that, when they knew [1097] God [2316], they glorified [1392] him not [3756] as [5613] God [2316], neither [2228] were thankful [2168]; but [235] became vain [3154] in [1722] their [846] imaginations [1261], and [2532] their [846] foolish [801] heart [2588] was darkened [4654].
22 Professing themselves [5335] to be [1511] wise [4680], they became fools [3471],
23 And [2532] changed [236] the glory [1391] of the uncorruptible [862] God [2316] into [1722] an image [1504] made like [3667] to corruptible [5349] man [444], and [2532] to birds [4071], and [2532] fourfooted beasts [5074], and [2532] creeping things [2062].
24 Wherefore [1352] God [2316] also [2532] gave [3860] them [846] up [3860] to [1519] uncleanness [167] through [1722] the lusts [1939] of their own [846] hearts [2588], to dishonour [818] their own [846] bodies [4983] between [1722] themselves [1438]:
25 Who [3748] changed [3337] the truth [225] of God [2316] into [1722] a lie [5579], and [2532] worshipped [4573] and [2532] served [3000] the creature [2937] more than [3844] the Creator [2936], who [3739] is [2076] blessed [2128] for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].
26 For [1223] this [5124] cause God [2316] gave [3860] them [846] up [3860] unto [1519] vile [819] affections [3806]: for [1063] even [5037] their [846] women [2338] did change [3337] the natural [5446] use [5540] into [1519] that which is against [3844] nature [5449]:
27 And [5037] likewise [3668] also [2532] the men [730], leaving [863] the natural [5446] use [5540] of the woman [2338], burned [1572] in [1722] their [846] lust [3715] one toward another [1519] [240]; men [730] with [1722] men [730] working [2716] that which is unseemly [808], and [2532] receiving [618] in [1722] themselves [1438] that recompence [489] of their [846] error [4106] which [3739] was meet [1163].
28 And [2532] even as [2531] they did [1381] not [3756] like [1381] to retain [2192] God [2316] in [1722] their knowledge [1922], God [2316] gave [3860] them [846] over [3860] to [1519] a reprobate [96] mind [3563], to do [4160] those things which are [2520] not [3361] convenient [2520];
29 Being filled with [4137] all [3956] unrighteousness [93], fornication [4202], wickedness [4189], covetousness [4124], maliciousness [2549]; full [3324] of envy [5355], murder [5408], debate [2054], deceit [1388], malignity [2550]; whisperers [5588],
30 Backbiters [2637], haters of God [2319], despiteful [5197], proud [5244], boasters [213], inventors [2182] of evil things [2556], disobedient [545] to parents [1118],
31 Without understanding [801], covenantbreakers [802], without natural affection [794], implacable [786], unmerciful [415]:
32 Who [3748] knowing [1921] the judgment [1345] of God [2316], that [3754] they which commit [4238] such things [5108] are [1526] worthy [514] of death [2288], not [3756] only [3440] do [4160] the same [846], but [235] [2532] have pleasure [4909] in them that do [4238] them.
2 Much [4183] every [2596] [3956] way [5158]: chiefly [4412], because [3303] [1063] that [3754] unto them were committed [4100] the oracles [3051] of God [2316].
23 For [1063] all [3956] have sinned [264], and [2532] come short [5302] of the glory [1391] of God [2316];
1 What [5101] advantage [4053] then [3767] hath the Jew [2453]? or [2228] what [5101] profit [5622] is there of circumcision [4061]?