Romans 3:19-21
New King James Version
19 Now we know that whatever (A)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that (B)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [a]guilty before God. 20 Therefore (C)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God’s Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now (D)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, (E)being witnessed by the Law (F)and the Prophets,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Romans 3:19 accountable
Romans 3:19-21
English Standard Version
19 Now we know that whatever (A)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (B)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (C)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (D)by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since (E)through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now (F)the righteousness of God (G)has been manifested apart from the law, although (H)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
Romans 3:19-21
The Voice
Sin is more than just wrong choices, bad decisions, and willful acts of disobedience that violate God’s Word and are contrary to His will. It is that and much more. Paul knows sin is missing the mark or deliberately stepping over the line, but he also knows that sin is a power at work in him and every child of Adam. As strange as it may sound, sin seems to have a will of its own. Like an addiction, sin takes hold of us and causes us to act in ways we never wanted. For Paul the cross of Jesus deals finally and definitively with the dual reality of sin. Not only are we forgiven of our sins—our willful acts of disobedience—but we are also liberated from the power of sin.
19 We want to be clear that whatever the law says, it says to everyone who is under its authority. Its purpose is to muzzle every mouth, to silence idle talk, and to bring the whole world under the standard of God’s justice. 20 Therefore, doing what the law prescribes will not make anyone right in the eyes of God—that’s not its purpose—but the law is capable of exposing the true nature of sin.
21 But now for the good news: God’s restorative justice has entered the world, independent of the law. Both the law and the prophets told us this day would come.
Read full chapterScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

