Romans 2:27

27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the^[a] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

Romans 2:27 in Other Translations

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.

27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

27 in fact, better. Better to keep God's law uncircumcised than break it circumcised.

27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter [of the law] and circumcision.

Romans 2:27 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 2:27

And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature
That is, the Gentiles, who are by nature uncircumcised; for as circumcision was by the command of God, and performed by the art of men, uncircumcision is by nature, and what men naturally have. Now

if it,
such persons,

fulfil the law
in Christ, they will

judge thee,
the circumcision: and condemn, as Noah condemned the old world, ( Hebrews 11:7 ) , and the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south will condemn the men of that generation, in which Christ lived, ( Matthew 12:41 Matthew 12:42 ) ( Luke 11:31 Luke 11:32 ) .

Who by the letter and circumcision transgress the law;
that is, either by the law, which is "the letter", and "by circumcision", or "by circumcision which is in the letter", ( Romans 2:29 ) , sin being increased by the prohibitions of the moral law, and the rituals of the ceremonial law, and the more so by a dependence upon an obedience to either of them, or both, for justification.

Romans 2:27 In-Context

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 12:41,42

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "who, by means of a"