Bible Strands
Romans 10:5
For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church, explaining that Christ terminates the law’s role in justification as he contrasts two opposing paths to righteousness.
The words — γράφει (graphei) translates literally as “writes,” and δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosunēn) means “righteousness,” highlighting Moses’ recorded instruction on legal righteousness.
The thread — Paul quotes the same principle found in Leviticus 18:5 and Ezekiel 20:11, while Nehemiah 9:29 records Israel’s failure to maintain it.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader to recognize that legal obedience cannot produce righteousness, requiring a shift to the faith-based righteousness Paul introduces in Romans 10:4 and 10:6.
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 Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 18:5 Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.
- Nehemiah 9:29 You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.
- Ezekiel 20:11 And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
- Ezekiel 20:13 Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.
- Ezekiel 20:21 But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.
- Galatians 3:12 The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
- Luke 10:27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Romans 7:10 So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.