Bible Strands
Romans 10:2
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, mid-argument on Israel's failure to attain righteousness (Rom 9:30–10:4). He testifies as an apostle about his fellow Israelites, not as a detached observer.
The words — ζῆλον (zēlon) carries the sense of a burning, consuming passion; it is the LXX's standard term for the jealous zeal of God Himself. The adversative ἀλλ᾽ (all') is a hard pivot: what follows cancels the value of what precedes.
The thread — Proverbs 19:2 states the same principle as a general maxim ("zeal is no good without knowledge"). Acts 21:20 shows the same zeal alive in Jerusalem's thousands of Jews, and Romans 9:31 records the outcome: pursuit without attainment.
Why it lands — The verse forces a question back on the reader: is your religious intensity aimed at God's actual righteousness, or at a version you have constructed and then defended?
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Cross-references
- Acts 21:20 When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
- Romans 9:31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
- Proverbs 19:2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
- Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- Philippians 3:6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
- Romans 10:3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
- Galatians 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- 2 Kings 10:16 saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.
- Psalms 14:4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.