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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, addressing the failure of Israel (his fellow Jews) as a case study within his larger argument that no one is justified by works of the law. He has just affirmed their zeal (v. 2) and is about to name Christ as the goal of the law (v. 4).

The words — ἀγνοοῦντες (agnoountes) is a present participle: "being ignorant," an ongoing condition rather than a single lapse. δικαιοσὺνην (dikaiosunēn) appears twice, setting up the contrast between "their own" and "God's" righteousness.

The thread — Philippians 3:9 is the personal equivalent: Paul renouncing "my own righteousness from the law" for "that which is through faith in Christ." Luke 16:15 captures the same posture of self-justification before men.

Why it lands — The verse isolates one specific error: treating religious effort as the goal rather than the means to receive God's righteousness. It forces the reader to ask whether their own righteousness is something they are building or something they are receiving.

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

ἀγνοοῦντεςagnoountesBeing ignorant of γὰρgarfor τὴνtēnthe τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouof God δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousness καὶkaiand τὴνtēnthe ἰδίανidian[their] own δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousness ζητοῦντεςzētountesseeking στῆσαιstēsaito establish τῇtēato the δικαιοσύνῃdikaiosunērighteousness τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouof God οὐχouchnot ὑπετάγησαν.¶hupetagēsanthey submitted.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Luke 16:15 So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 18:9 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Romans 1:17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Isaiah 51:8 For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.”
Isaiah 57:12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you.
Romans 3:22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,