Romans 10:3

KJV

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} they being ignorant {G50} of God's {G2316} righteousness {G1343}, and {G2532} going about {G2212} to establish {G2476} their own {G2398} righteousness {G1343}, have {G5293} not {G3756} submitted themselves {G5293} unto the righteousness {G1343} of God {G2316}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for, since they are unaware of God’s way of making people righteous and instead seek to set up their own, they have not submitted themselves to God’s way of making people righteous.

Berean Standard Bible

Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

American Standard Version

For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 10:3 succinctly diagnoses the spiritual plight of Israel, revealing their profound misunderstanding of God's salvific plan. Despite their fervent zeal, they remained unaware of the divine standard of righteousness, which is a gift received by faith. Consequently, they pursued a path of self-effort, attempting to achieve a right standing with God through their own works and adherence to the law, thereby failing to humble themselves and embrace the righteousness that God freely provides.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 10:3 stands as a pivotal explanation following Paul's lament over Israel's spiritual condition in [Romans 9:1-5](/romans/9-1-5 "Paul's Sorrow for Israel"). Chapter 10 opens with Paul's heartfelt desire and prayer for Israel's salvation in [Romans 10:1](/romans/10-1 "Paul's Prayer for Israel"). [Romans 10:2](/romans/10-2 "Israel's Zeal Without Knowledge") directly precedes our verse, stating that Israel possessed "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." Romans 10:3 then elaborates on the precise nature of this lack of knowledge: an ignorance of God's righteousness and a misguided attempt to establish their own. This sets the stage for Paul's subsequent exposition on Christ as the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Christ, the End of the Law")) and the accessibility of salvation through faith in the confessed Lord Jesus ([Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Confession and Belief for Salvation")). The immediate flow emphasizes the contrast between human effort and divine provision.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judaism was deeply rooted in the Mosaic Law and the covenant relationship with God. For many, righteousness was intrinsically linked to meticulous adherence to the Torah, including ceremonial laws, dietary restrictions, and moral precepts. This system, while divinely ordained, had become distorted by a focus on human performance and merit. The Pharisees, for example, were exemplary in their devotion to the Law, believing their strict observance would secure their righteousness before God. This cultural emphasis on works-based righteousness led to a widespread rejection of the gospel message, which offered righteousness as a free gift through faith in Christ, apart from the Law. Paul, himself a former zealous Pharisee, understood this mindset intimately, making his critique particularly incisive.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes within Romans and Pauline theology. The primary theme is the **nature of righteousness** itself, contrasting God's righteousness, which is imputed by grace through faith, with human self-righteousness, which is earned by works. This directly relates to the broader argument in Romans concerning **justification by faith**, a concept Paul introduces early in the epistle ([Romans 1:17](/romans/1-17 "The Righteousness of God Revealed")). The verse also highlights the theme of **human ignorance and spiritual blindness**, where even sincere religious zeal can lead one astray if it lacks true understanding of God's character and plan. Furthermore, it touches upon the theme of **submission to divine authority**, emphasizing that true salvation requires a humble yielding to God's revealed way, rather than clinging to one's own perceived wisdom or efforts. These themes collectively underscore the radical difference between the Old Covenant's emphasis on law and the New Covenant's emphasis on grace, culminating in the universal offer of salvation in [Romans 10:11-13](/romans/10-11-13 "Salvation for All Who Call on the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ignorant (Greek, _agnoéō'_):** This term (G50) signifies "not to know through lack of information or intelligence; by implication, to ignore through disinclination." In the context of Romans 10:3, it's not merely a passive lack of information but an active failure to comprehend or acknowledge the true nature of God's righteousness. It suggests a spiritual blindness or a refusal to accept God's method of justification.
* **Righteousness (Greek, _dikaiosýnē'_):** This crucial word (G1343) refers to "equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification." In Pauline theology, "righteousness of God" (δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ) is multifaceted. It denotes God's own attribute of being just, but more significantly, His act of declaring humans righteous. It is a legal standing, a forensic declaration of "not guilty" and "right" in His sight, which is freely given to those who believe, rather than earned by human merit.
* **Submitted themselves (Greek, _hypotássō'_):** This verb (G5293) means "to subordinate; reflexively, to obey." The passive voice "have not submitted themselves" indicates a failure on their part to willingly place themselves under God's authority and His prescribed method of salvation. It implies a resistance to humble themselves before God's wisdom and grace, preferring their own understanding and efforts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,"**: The conjunction "For" (G1063, _gár_) introduces the reason for Israel's misguided zeal mentioned in [Romans 10:2](/romans/10-2 "Israel's Zeal Without Knowledge"). Their fundamental problem was a profound lack of understanding concerning God's unique and perfect standard of righteousness. This was not an ignorance of God's existence or power, but specifically of His method for making people right with Him. They failed to grasp that God's righteousness is not something earned by human performance, but a divine attribute and a gracious gift provided through Christ.
* **"and going about to establish their own righteousness,"**: This clause describes the active consequence of their ignorance. The phrase "going about to establish" (G2212 _zētéō_ and G2476 _hístēmi_) conveys a diligent, persistent effort to set up or validate their own system of righteousness. This refers to their reliance on adherence to the Mosaic Law, traditions, and good works as the means to achieve a right standing before God. It highlights the human tendency to self-sufficiency and the desire to earn salvation rather than receive it as a gift.
* **"have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."**: This is the climactic and damning conclusion. Because of their ignorance and their efforts at self-righteousness, they failed to "submit" (G5293 _hypotássō_) to God's way. Submission implies a humble yielding, an acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and wisdom in defining the path to salvation. Their inability or unwillingness to submit to God's righteousness—that which He provides through faith in Christ—was the ultimate barrier to their salvation, revealing a spiritual rebellion against divine grace.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 10:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its theological message. **Contrast** is central, setting up a clear dichotomy between "God's righteousness" and "their own righteousness." This antithesis highlights the irreconcilable difference between divine grace and human effort as paths to salvation. The repeated use of the word "**righteousness**" (Greek: _dikaiosýnē_) three times within the short verse functions as a form of **repetition** or **anaphora**, emphasizing the core concept at stake and underscoring its pivotal importance in Paul's argument. There is also an element of **irony** present when read in conjunction with [Romans 10:2](/romans/10-2 "Israel's Zeal Without Knowledge"): their fervent "zeal for God" paradoxically leads them away from God's true path to righteousness, demonstrating that sincerity alone is insufficient without true knowledge. Finally, the phrase "going about to **establish** their own righteousness" uses a subtle **metaphor** of construction or foundation-laying, implying a human attempt to build a secure standing with God on a faulty basis, rather than resting on the firm foundation God has already provided.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 10:3 is a profound theological statement on the nature of salvation, sharply contrasting human attempts at self-justification with God's divinely provided righteousness. It underscores the fundamental truth that humanity, marred by sin, cannot achieve a right standing with God through its own efforts, religious observance, or moral performance. God's righteousness is not merely an attribute of His character, but His gracious act of declaring sinners righteous through faith in Christ. The failure to submit to this divine provision reveals a deep-seated spiritual pride and a misunderstanding of God's grace, which is the sole basis for true reconciliation and acceptance.

* [Romans 3:21-22](/romans/3-21-22 "God's Righteousness Through Faith")
* [Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Not My Own Righteousness")
* [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Justification by Faith in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 10:3 serves as a timeless warning and a profound invitation for all people. It challenges us to examine the foundation of our hope and assurance before God. Are we, like the Israelites of Paul's day, unknowingly or knowingly attempting to "establish our own righteousness" through good deeds, religious rituals, moral uprightness, or even intellectual assent, rather than humbly submitting to God's perfect provision? The human heart's natural inclination is towards self-sufficiency, believing that we can earn God's favor or somehow contribute to our salvation. This verse powerfully reminds us that such efforts are not only futile but also constitute a rejection of God's grace. True peace and right standing with God come only when we lay aside our own works and pride, acknowledging our utter inability to save ourselves, and fully embrace the righteousness that God freely imputes to us through faith in Jesus Christ. This requires a posture of humility and surrender, trusting entirely in His finished work on the cross.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own efforts or perceived goodness rather than God's grace?**
* **How does my understanding of "righteousness" align with or differ from Paul's definition of "God's righteousness" in this verse?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to "submit myself unto the righteousness of God" in practical terms today?**

### FAQ
**What does "ignorant of God's righteousness" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Romans 10:3, "ignorant of God's righteousness" (Greek: _agnoéō_ G50, _dikaiosýnē_ G1343) does not imply a complete lack of knowledge about God, but rather a fundamental misunderstanding of His method for declaring people righteous. The Israelites, despite their zeal and access to the Law, failed to grasp that God's righteousness is a divine gift, freely imputed through faith in Christ, rather than something earned through human works or strict adherence to the Law. Their ignorance was a spiritual blindness to the true nature of God's saving grace, leading them to pursue a path of self-justification. This concept is further elaborated in [Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Righteousness Through Faith in Jesus Christ").

**How does "establishing their own righteousness" contrast with "the righteousness of God"?**

Answer: This phrase highlights the core theological tension in Romans. "Establishing their own righteousness" (Greek: _zētéō_ G2212, _hístēmi_ G2476, _ídios_ G2398, _dikaiosýnē_ G1343) refers to the human attempt to achieve a right standing with God through personal merit, good deeds, law-keeping, or religious performance. It is a self-generated righteousness based on human effort. In stark contrast, "the righteousness of God" (Greek: _dikaiosýnē_ G1343, _theós_ G2316) refers to God's own perfect righteousness, which He graciously provides and imputes to believers. It is a forensic declaration of "not guilty" and "right" in His sight, received solely by faith in Jesus Christ, as detailed in [Romans 1:17](/romans/1-17 "God's Righteousness Revealed in the Gospel") and [Romans 3:21-22](/romans/3-21-22 "God's Righteousness Apart from the Law"). The former is human-centered and futile; the latter is God-centered and salvific.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 10:3 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment and source of God's righteousness. The Israelites' tragic error was their failure to recognize that the Law, which they diligently sought to fulfill for righteousness, ultimately pointed to Christ. Paul declares in [Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Christ, the End of the Law") that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Jesus perfectly fulfilled the demands of the Law, not for Himself, but on behalf of humanity, thereby providing the perfect righteousness that no human could ever achieve through their own efforts ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Through His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection, Christ became the means by which God's righteousness is revealed and imputed to all who believe ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). The "righteousness of God" that the Israelites failed to submit to is precisely the righteousness that is freely given in Christ, allowing believers to be declared just in God's sight, not by their own merit, but by faith in Him ([Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Righteousness Through Faith in Christ")). Thus, Jesus is the divine answer to humanity's inability to establish its own righteousness, offering a perfect and complete salvation that demands humble submission to His saving work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 16:15

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Philippians 3:9

¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 5:19

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Luke 18:9

¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.