Bible Strands

Romans 2:14

Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses Jewish readers in Rome, arguing that moral accountability does not depend on possessing the Mosaic code. He speaks at the moment of defining how those without the written law are still judged by God.

The words — ἔθνη (ethnē) means Gentiles, and φύσει (phusei) means by nature or innate disposition. The text states that these groups perform the law's requirements through their own inherent moral sense rather than through revealed statutes.

The thread — This pattern of innate moral knowledge appears in Romans 1:19, where God’s plain knowledge is made known to all, and in Romans 2:15, where the law’s work is written on their hearts. It also connects to Romans 2:27, where uncircumcised keepers of the law condemn those who possess the written code.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to recognize that moral action stems from internal conviction rather than external compliance alone. It demands an honest assessment of one’s own conscience and deeds before God’s standard.

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

ὅτανhotanWhenγὰρgarforἔθνηethnēGentilesτὰta<the>μὴmēnotνόμονnomonthe lawἔχονταechontahavingφύσειphuseiby natureτὰtathe [things]τοῦtouof theνόμουnomoulawποιῶσιν,poiōsinthey may do,οὗτοιhoutoitheseνόμονnomon[the] Lawμὴmēnotἔχοντεςechonteshavingἑαυτοῖςhe'autoisto themselvesεἰσινeisinareνόμος,nomosa law,

King James Version

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Cross-references