Romans 2:23

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Thou {G3739} that makest thy boast {G2744} of {G1722} the law {G3551}, through {G1223} breaking {G3847} the law {G3551} dishonourest thou {G818} God {G2316}?

You who take such pride in Torah, do you, by disobeying the Torah, dishonor God? —

You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?

Commentary

Romans 2:23 KJV: "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?"

Context

In Romans chapter 2, the Apostle Paul methodically dismantles the idea that anyone, Jew or Gentile, is inherently righteous before God. After addressing the Gentiles who suppress the truth, he turns his attention to the Jewish people who relied on their possession of the Mosaic Law and circumcision as a basis for their standing with God. This verse is a direct challenge to those who felt secure in their knowledge of the law, highlighting the critical disconnect between knowing God's commands and actually living by them. Paul argues that the true measure is not possession of the law, but obedience to it.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy: The stark contrast between claiming to honor God through the law and dishonoring Him through disobedience.
  • Obedience vs. Knowledge: Emphasizing that merely knowing or boasting about the law is insufficient; righteous living is required.
  • Dishonoring God: Showing how breaking God's law, especially by those who claim to uphold it, brings shame upon God Himself.
  • The Purpose of the Law: The law reveals sin and points to God's standard, but it requires internal transformation, not just external adherence or boasting.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "boast" (Greek: kauchaomai) means to glory, to vaunt oneself, or to take pride in something. Here, it refers to the Jewish confidence or pride in having the divine law. The word "dishonourest" (Greek: atimazo) means to dishonor, treat with contempt, or put to shame. The verse creates a powerful juxtaposition: boasting in the law while simultaneously treating the Lawgiver with contempt through disobedience.

Commentary

Paul poses a rhetorical question to the person who takes pride in possessing the divine law and claims to be guided by it. He asks if, by the very act of breaking that law, they are not in fact dishonoring God Himself. The implication is clear: outward adherence or knowledge of the law, coupled with inward disobedience, is a profound form of spiritual hypocrisy. Such behavior not only fails to honor God but actively brings shame upon His name among others, particularly the Gentiles mentioned in the following verse (Romans 2:24). True honor comes from living according to the standards one claims to uphold.

Reflection

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that genuine faith is demonstrated not just by our knowledge of scripture or our affiliation with a religious group, but by the consistency of our lives. Do our actions align with the truth we claim to believe? Do we unintentionally honor God with our lips but dishonor Him with our lives? Romans 2:23 calls us to honest self-examination and a commitment to allowing God's word to transform our hearts and actions, not merely serve as a source of pride.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 2:17

    ¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

  • Romans 9:4

    Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

  • James 4:16

    But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

  • James 4:17

    Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

  • Romans 3:2

    Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

  • John 5:45

    Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.

  • James 1:22

    But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
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