Romans 2:29

No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul concludes his argument against a Jewish interlocutor in Rome (Romans 2:17–29), stripping away the assumption that ethnic identity and physical circumcision secure standing before God. This verse is the verdict of that extended exchange.

The words — κρυπτῷ (kruptō), from κρύπτω "to hide," renders "inward" as something concealed rather than displayed; περιτομὴ (peritomē), the standard term for circumcision, is redefined here as a matter of the heart.

The thread — Deuteronomy 10:16 commands "circumcise your hearts," and Deuteronomy 30:6 promises God will do it for His people; Philippians 3:3 echoes the same redefinition, claiming true circumcision is by the Spirit.

Why it lands — It removes ethnic heritage and ritual compliance as sufficient grounds for standing before God. The reader must determine whether their faith is possessed inwardly or merely performed outwardly.

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

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
2 Corinthians 10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
1 Peter 3:4 but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
Romans 7:6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.