Bible Strands
Romans 9:31
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Apostle Paul addresses Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome, intervening in a structured argument about God's sovereign choice to contrast two competing methods of attaining righteousness.
The words — διώκων (diōkōn) translates literally as "pursuing," and νόμον (nomon) means "law." The text explicitly states that Israel pursued a law of righteousness but failed to attain it.
The thread — This failure to secure righteousness through legal pursuit aligns with the declaration in Romans 3:20 that no one is justified by works of the law, and mirrors the hardened condition noted in Romans 11:7 where Israel sought but did not obtain what the elect received.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that self-driven legal pursuit cannot produce righteousness. It demands a shift from relying on observance to depending on faith.
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 Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Cross-references
- Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
- Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
- James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
- Romans 10:2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
- Galatians 5:3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
- Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
- Romans 4:14 For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
- Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:21 Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
- Philippians 3:6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.