Romans 3:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →No one will be justified before God by the works of the law, for the law's office is to give the knowledge of sin.
What Does Romans 3:20 Mean?
Paul states the conclusion plainly. Keeping the law's requirements cannot, by itself, win a verdict of "righteous" before God, because no one keeps it fully. Rather, the law functions like a mirror or a measuring line: it shows us our sin, making us aware of how far we fall short.
This is a turning point in the argument. The law is good and holy, yet it was never meant to be the ground of our standing before God; it diagnoses the disease it cannot cure. By exposing sin, it drives us to seek a righteousness we cannot manufacture. The verse clears the way for the great "but now" of the next verse, where God's own provision is unveiled.
Romans 3:20 in the Original Language
epignosis (ἐπίγνωσις), 'knowledge' -- a full recognition; the law brings clear awareness of sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 3:20
What does Romans 3:20 mean?
No one will be justified before God by the works of the law, for the law's office is to give the knowledge of sin.