Romans 3:9 Meaning and Explanation
“What 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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul draws the threads together: no one has the higher ground, for he has already shown that Jew and Gentile alike are all under the power of sin.
What Does Romans 3:9 Mean?
This verse is the hinge of the chapter. After weighing the advantages of the covenant people, Paul asks plainly whether they are therefore better off in the matter of guilt, and answers no. He has built his case across the previous chapters: every person, whatever their heritage, stands "under sin."
To be under sin is to be held in its grip, not merely to have stumbled now and then. This is the great leveling truth of the gospel: the ground is flat at the foot of mercy. None can look down on another, for all share the same need. And precisely because all are in the same condition, the same Savior is offered to all, which is exactly where Paul is leading.
Romans 3:9 in the Original Language
hamartia (ἁμαρτία), 'sin' -- literally a missing of the mark, here pictured as a power that holds people captive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 3:9
What does Romans 3:9 mean?
Paul draws the threads together: no one has the higher ground, for he has already shown that Jew and Gentile alike are all under the power of sin.