Bible Strands
Romans 3:6
Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul addresses his Roman readers, responding directly to the rhetorical question in Romans 3:5 about whether God is unjust to inflict wrath. He speaks at a moment of theological clarification regarding the relationship between human sin and divine assessment.
The words — The Greek γένοιτο (genoito) literally means "would it be," functioning as an emphatic negation. The verb κρινεῖ (krinei) translates to "will judge," anchoring the rhetorical question about divine assessment.
The thread — The theme of God's impartial judgment appears in Genesis 18:25, where God refuses to destroy the righteous with the wicked. It reappears in Acts 17:31, which states God will judge the world with justice, and echoes Job 8:3's assertion that God does not pervert justice.
Why it lands — The text asserts that God's capacity to judge the world remains intact despite human unrighteousness. It requires the reader to reject the logical conclusion that divine justice is compromised by human sin.
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
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
- Acts 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
- Job 8:3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
- Job 34:17 Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
- Psalms 9:8 He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.
- Psalms 50:6 And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah
- Psalms 96:13 before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
- Psalms 98:9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
- Romans 2:16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- Psalms 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.