Romans 2:1

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the judging party within the Roman assembly, most likely Jewish believers who measure Gentiles by the Law while failing to keep it themselves. This is the pivot from chapter 1's verdict on the Gentiles to chapter 2's verdict on the judge.

The words — ἀναπολογήτος (anapologētos), "inexcusable," literally "without a defense," is the same word Paul applied to the Gentiles in 1:20; the judge is placed in the identical position he assigns to others.

The thread — Luke 6:37 states the principle in reverse (do not judge, and you will not be judged); Romans 2:3 presses the question directly ("do you think you will escape?"); John 8:7 enacts the same logic in a single scene.

Why it lands — The verse does not ask whether the reader judges harshly or gently, but whether the reader judges at all while doing the same things. It removes the ground on which self-justification stands.

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

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Cross-references

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Romans 2:3 So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
Romans 2:21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you will be judged.
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
2 Samuel 12:5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
Psalms 50:16 To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
Matthew 23:29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.