Romans 3:17

17 and the way of peace they do not know.”^[a]

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Romans 3:17 in Other Translations

KJV

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

ESV

17 and the way of peace they have not known."

NLT

17 They don’t know where to find peace.”

MSG

17 Don't know the first thing about living with others.

CSB

17 and the path of peace they have not known.

Romans 3:17 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 3:17

And the way of peace have they not known.
] This is a citation front ( Isaiah 59:8 ) , and expresses the ignorance of mankind, with regard to true peace, and the way unto it: men are naturally ignorant of the way of peace with God; of the first step which God took towards it; of the council and covenant of peace, in which the scheme of it was drawn, and the method fixed; of Christ the peacemaker, and of the way in which he has made it; and of the Gospel, which reveals and publishes it. They are ignorant of the true way of enjoying peace of conscience; they have no true peace of mind, their consciences are often tortured; and though they may have a stupid and secure peace, yet nothing that is true, real, and solid; for they are without the Spirit, whose fruit is peace; and without faith in Christ, by which true peace only is enjoyed; nor are they spiritually minded, which is life and peace; nor have they any knowledge of the way to have it; they are ready to think it must be had by doing something of their own, and not that it is to be had only in Christ, in his blood and righteousness. They are ignorant of the paths of wisdom, which are peace; peace is enjoyed in them, they lead unto it, and issue in it: they know not the way to eternal peace; they imagine something done by the creature is the way; and are ignorant that Christ is the only way of salvation, the true way to eternal life, everlasting peace and happiness: yea, they know not the way of peace among men, and one another; nor will they do that which is just and right, in order to support and maintain it, but are unjust, deceitful, and quarrelsome; they do not study peace, but rather contention, which they like and approve of. The Jews talk ^F24 much of their good nature, affability, and condescension, and of their doing this and that, and the other thing, (Mwlv ykrd ynpm) , "because of the ways of peace".

FOOTNOTES:

F24 Misn. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 8, 9. T. Hieros. Demai, fol. 24. 1. Maimon. Obede Cochabim, c. 10. sect. 5.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Romans 3:17 In-Context

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 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.