Romans 2:26

Romans 2:26 Meaning and Explanation

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

King James Version (KJV)

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If an uncircumcised person keeps the law's righteous requirements, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision.

What Does Romans 2:26 Mean?

Paul completes the reversal he began. If one who lacks the covenant sign nonetheless keeps the righteousness of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? The one without the mark, yet living the reality, is reckoned as truly belonging.

God looks past the outward sign to the heart that keeps His ways. What He honors is the obedience the sign was meant to represent, wherever He finds it. This unsettles every confidence built on externals and lifts up the humble obedience God prizes. The reality can be present without the mark, and where the reality lives, God counts it as the true thing.

Romans 2:26 in the Original Language

dikaioma (δικαίωμα), 'righteousness' -- the just requirement or righteous decree of the law, the conduct it calls for.

Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 2:26

What does Romans 2:26 mean?

If an uncircumcised person keeps the law's righteous requirements, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision.

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