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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Romans 3:1–8

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
WHAT advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

40 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. Genesis 25:32Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

  2. Romans 2:25–29Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

    26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

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

    28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

    29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

  3. Ecclesiastes 6:11Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    11¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

  4. Ecclesiastes 6:8Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

  5. Hebrews 13:9Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

From verse 2

  1. Acts 7:38Rank 1 from verse 2
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    38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

  2. Romans 9:4Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

  3. Nehemiah 9:13–14Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    13Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

    14And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

  4. Psalms 147:19–20Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

    20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.

  5. 1 Corinthians 9:17Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

From verse 3

  1. 2 Timothy 2:13Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

  2. Hebrews 4:2Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

  3. Romans 9:6Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

  4. Isaiah 55:11Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

  5. Titus 1:1–2Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    1PAUL, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

    2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

From verse 4

  1. Psalms 51:4Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

  2. Psalms 116:11Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    11I said in my haste, All men are liars.

  3. Galatians 2:17Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

  4. Hebrews 6:18Rank 4 from verse 4
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    18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  5. Deuteronomy 32:4Rank 5 from verse 4
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    4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

From verse 5

  1. Romans 6:19Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

  2. Galatians 3:15Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

  3. 1 Corinthians 9:8Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

  4. Romans 2:5Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  5. Romans 9:18–20Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

    19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

    20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

From verse 6

  1. Genesis 18:25Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

  2. Acts 17:31Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

  3. Job 8:3Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

  4. Job 34:17–19Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

    18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

    19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

  5. Psalms 50:6Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

From verse 7

  1. Romans 3:4Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

  2. Romans 9:19–20Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

    20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

  3. Acts 13:27–29Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

    28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

    29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

  4. 2 Kings 8:10–15Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    10And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

    11And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

    12And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

    13And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

    14So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

    15And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

  5. Isaiah 10:6–7Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    6I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

    7Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

From verse 8

  1. Romans 6:1Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    1WHAT shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

  2. Romans 6:15Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

  3. Romans 5:20Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

  4. Romans 7:7Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

  5. 1 Peter 3:16–17Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

    17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:1

COMBINED MEANING

advantage

↗

Sense 1: Benefit, profit, or a favourable superiority or opportunity by which one may gain. Sense 2: To benefit or profit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

profit

↗

Sense 1: Benefit or advantage. Sense 2: To benefit, improve, or advance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

circumcision

↗

Sense 1: The cutting off of the foreskin. Sense 2: Persons identified with that bodily sign.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:2

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

committed

↗

1. Performed or did an act, offence, trespass, or sin. 2. Entrusted, delivered, or placed a person or thing in another’s charge, custody, care, or keeping, or gave it over to a place or course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:3

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

believe

↗

Sense 1: To accept as true on testimony or evidence; to be persuaded. Sense 2: To trust or place confidence in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

make

↗

To form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

faith

↗

Sense 1: The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen; trust, confidence, belief, persuasion, or reliance. Sense 2: Faithfulness, fidelity, or trustworthiness. Sense 3: The revealed truth or gospel believed and kept.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

without

↗

Outside or on the exterior; beyond a boundary; lacking, absent, free from, not accompanied by, or apart from the person, thing, condition, means, or relation named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

effect

↗

Sense 1: A result, force, or accomplished outcome. Sense 2: To bring something to pass.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

God forbid

↗

An emphatic expression of rejection, abhorrence, or denial: let it not be; certainly not.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yea

↗

1. Indeed, marking confirmation, emphasis, addition, continuation, or heightening of what is said; it may also emphasize a question. 2. Yes, expressing an affirmative answer or declaration.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

true

↗

Conforming to fact, reality, or a right standard; faithful, genuine, correct, or dependable.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

written

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of write (to set down, record, or communicate in letters or writing).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

justified

↗

1. Declared righteous or acquitted. 2. Shown or proved to be right. 3. Comparatively shown to be more righteous.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

art

↗

1. The second-person singular present form of be: are, when one person is addressed. 2. Skill, craft, or skilled workmanship used to make or prepare something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

judged

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of judge, meaning to examine, distinguish, determine, form a verdict, rule, govern, condemn, punish, vindicate, or call to account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:5

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

unrighteousness

↗

Injustice, wickedness, or violation of divine law and the principles of justice and equity.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

commend

↗

Sense 1: To entrust to another's care. Sense 2: To praise or recommend.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

unrighteous

↗

Sense 1: Not righteous, just, upright, lawful, fair, or morally right; wicked, dishonest, sinful, or opposed to God’s standard. Sense 2: Persons so characterized.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

taketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of take: receives, seizes, carries, accepts, chooses, or lays hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

speak

↗

Sense 1: To utter words or articulate sounds, or to use a language. Sense 2: To address or converse with someone. Sense 3: To state, declare, make mention of, or otherwise make a matter known.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:6

COMBINED MEANING

God forbid

↗

An emphatic expression of rejection, abhorrence, or denial: let it not be; certainly not.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

judge

↗

Sense 1: A person or authority who hears, discerns, decides, governs, vindicates, condemns, or administers justice. Sense 2: To examine, distinguish, determine, form a verdict, rule, govern, condemn, punish, vindicate, or call to account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:7

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

truth

↗

1. That which is true; conformity to fact or reality. 2. Faithfulness. 3. God's revealed word.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

abounded

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of abound (to have or possess in great quantity; to be copiously supplied; followed by with or in).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

lie

↗

Sense 1: To recline, rest, remain, or be situated. Sense 2: In ‘lie with,’ to have sexual intercourse. Sense 3: To speak falsely. Sense 4: A false statement or deception.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

glory

↗

Sense 1: Splendour, honour, praise, majesty, or a ground of rejoicing or boasting. Sense 2: To boast, exult, take pride, or rejoice in a person or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

judged

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of judge, meaning to examine, distinguish, determine, form a verdict, rule, govern, condemn, punish, vindicate, or call to account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Romans 3:8

COMBINED MEANING

reported

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of report, meaning to tell, relate, or make known.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

damnation

↗

Sense 1: Condemnation; an adverse judgment or sentence. Sense 2: The punishment or destruction resulting from such judgment.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1WHAT advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

Selected passage

2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Selected passage

3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Selected passage

4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Selected passage

5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

Selected passage

6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Selected passage

7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

Selected passage

8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

Selected passage

9What 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;

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