Bible Strands
Romans 3:11
There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman congregation in chapter 3 to establish universal human guilt before God. He follows his claim in Romans 3:10 that no one is righteous by declaring absolute spiritual blindness and indifference.
The words — The Greek text uses οὐκ ἔστιν (ouk estin) to assert "there is none," paired with συνιῶν (syniōn) for "understanding" and ἐκζητῶν (ekzētōn) for "seeking after." These terms form a dual negative absolute that leaves no exception for human spiritual capacity.
The thread — This declaration echoes the diagnostic language of Psalms 14:2 and Psalms 53:2, where God observes humanity to see if anyone understands or seeks Him. Paul adapts this Old Testament observation into a definitive statement of human inability in Romans 3:11.
Why it lands — The text states a complete lack of human understanding and active pursuit of God, which precedes the conclusion in Romans 3:12 that all have turned away. It demands recognition of total spiritual incapacity before any appeal for divine intervention.
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
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Cross-references
- Psalms 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
- Psalms 53:2 God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
- Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
- Hosea 7:10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.
- Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.
- Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
- Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”