Romans 9:30-33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith,(A) 31 but Israel, who did strive for the law of righteousness, did not attain that law.(B) 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,(C) 33 as it is written,
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall,
and whoever trusts in him[a] will not be put to shame.”(D)
Footnotes
- 9.33 Or it
Romans 9:30-33
New English Translation
Israel’s Rejection Culpable
30 What shall we say then?—that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith, 31 but Israel even though pursuing[a] a law of righteousness[b] did not attain it.[c] 32 Why not? Because they pursued[d] it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works.[e] They stumbled over the stumbling stone,[f] 33 just as it is written,
“Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble
and a rock that will make them fall,[g]
yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”[h]
Footnotes
- Romans 9:31 tn Or “who pursued.” The participle could be taken adverbially or adjectivally.
- Romans 9:31 tn Or “a legal righteousness,” that is, a righteousness based on law. This translation would treat the genitive δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosunēs) as an attributed genitive (see ExSyn 89-91).
- Romans 9:31 tn Grk “has not attained unto the law.”
- Romans 9:32 tn Grk “Why? Because not by faith but as though by works.” The verb (“they pursued [it]”) is to be supplied from the preceding verse for the sake of English style; yet a certain literary power is seen in Paul’s laconic style.
- Romans 9:32 tc Most mss, especially the later ones (א2 D Ψ 33 1175 1241 1505 2464 M sy), read νόμου (nomou, “of the law”) here, echoing Paul’s usage in Rom 3:20, 28 and elsewhere. The qualifying phrase is lacking in א* A B F G 6 629 630 1739 1881 lat co. The longer reading thus is weaker externally and internally, apparently being motivated by a need to clarify.tn Grk “but as by works.”
- Romans 9:32 tn Grk “the stone of stumbling.”
- Romans 9:33 tn Grk “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
- Romans 9:33 sn A quotation from Isa 28:16; 8:14.
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