Romans 3:26 Meaning and Explanation
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God did this to display His righteousness now, so that He might be both just Himself and the One who justifies everyone who trusts in Jesus.
What Does Romans 3:26 Mean?
Paul completes the thought begun in the previous verse. At this decisive moment in history, God reveals His righteousness with a purpose: that He might be at once perfectly just and the One who declares righteous all who believe in Jesus. The cross holds these together.
Here is the wonder the whole chapter has been building toward. How can a just God acquit the guilty without ceasing to be just? At the cross, where Christ bears sin, justice is satisfied and mercy is poured out in the same act. God remains entirely just and freely justifies the believer. The reader is left not with a puzzle but with a Savior, and the only fitting response is trust.
Romans 3:26 in the Original Language
dikaios (δίκαιος), 'just' -- here God Himself is shown to be in the right even as He justifies sinners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 3:26
What does Romans 3:26 mean?
God did this to display His righteousness now, so that He might be both just Himself and the One who justifies everyone who trusts in Jesus.