The Meaning of Romans 3:23 Explained
Romans 3:23
KJV: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
YLT: for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God --
Darby: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
ASV: for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Discover Romans 3:23
What is the context of Romans 3:23?
- God’s Righteousness Through Faith (Romans 3:21-26)
- Righteousness through Faith Revealed (Romans 3:21-31)
- Righteousness Through Faith (Romans 3:21-31)
- Justification by Faith (Romans 3:21-31)
- The Righteousness of God Through Faith (Romans 3:21-31)
- God Gives Us Righteousness through Faith (Romans 3:21-31)
- Christ Took Our Punishment (Romans 3:21-31)
What does Romans 3:23 Mean?
Study Notes
sinnedSin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 . Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.
Verse Meaning
All must come to God by faith in Jesus Christ because all have sinned and fallen short of (i.e, lack) God"s glory (cf. Mark 10:21). The glory of God refers to the outward manifestation of what God is. It includes especially the majesty of His powerful person and the sublimity of His supremely elevated position. [1] Sin separates people from fellowship with a holy God. We lack both the character of God and the fellowship of God because of sin.Context Summary
Romans 3:21-31 - All Freely Justified By Grace
From the universal need the Apostle turns to the all-sufficient remedy. The Law and the Prophets hinted dimly at justification by faith, but did not unveil it. God's way of justification is to impute righteousness to the believer. He places us in that position in law, before proceeding by the Holy Spirit to bring us into the condition of holiness. The perfect day is imputed to the dawn, the perfect flower to the seed, the finished picture to the crude sketch. As soon as we trust in Jesus we are viewed as standing in Him and justified before the Law; but before us lies the great work of assimilation to His perfect likeness by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is sin to come short, Romans 3:23; and who among us has fulfilled his possibilities of godlikeness? Romans 3:24; Genesis 1:26-27. Though justification costs us nothing but the sacrifice of our pride, it has cost Christ His own blood, Romans 3:25. The propitiatory, or mercy seat, was the golden lid of the Ark which the high priest sprinkled with blood. See Hebrews 9:5. Faith has no room in her household for vaunting and boasting, Romans 3:27. The Law is best honored when the Lawgiver, dwelling within us, fulfills it through us. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 3
1 The Jews prerogative;3 which they have not lost;
9 howbeit the law convinces them also of sin;
20 therefore no one is justified by the law;
28 but all, without difference, by faith, only;
31 and yet the law is not abolished
What do the individual words in Romans 3:23 mean?
All for have sinned and fall short of the glory - of God
πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶ ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ
| ἥμαρτον | have sinned |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἁμαρτάνω Sense: to be without a share in. |
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| ὑστεροῦνται | fall short |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural Root: ὑστερέω Sense: behind. |
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| τῆς | of the |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| δόξης | glory |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: δόξα Sense: opinion, judgment, view. |
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| τοῦ | - |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Θεοῦ | of God |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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What are the major concepts related to Romans 3:23?
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Greek Commentary for Romans 3:23
Constative second aorist active indicative of αμαρτανω hamartanō as in Romans 5:12. This tense gathers up the whole race into one statement (a timeless aorist). [source]
Present middle indicative of υστερεω hustereō to be υστερος husteros (comparative) too late, continued action, still fall short. It is followed by the ablative case as here, the case of separation. [source]
Aorist tense: sinned, looking back to a thing definitely past - the historic occurrence of sin. [source]
Interpretations vary greatly. The glory of personal righteousness; that righteousness which God judges to be glory; the image of God in man; the glorying or boasting of righteousness before God; the approbation of God; the state of future glory. The dominant meanings of δόξα in classical Greek are notion, opinion, conjecture, repute. See on Revelation 1:6. In biblical usage: 1. Recognition, honor, Philemon 1:11; 1 Peter 1:7. It is joined with τιμή honor 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 1:17. Opposed to ἀτιμὶα dishonor 1 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Corinthians 11:15; 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 6:8. With ζητέω toseek, 1 Thessalonians 2:6; John 5:44; John 7:18. With λαμβάνω toreceive, John 5:41, John 5:44. With δίδωμι togive, Luke 17:18; John 9:24. In the ascriptive phrase glory be to, Luke 2:14, and ascriptions in the Epistles. Compare Luke 14:10. 2. The glorious appearance which attracts the eye, Matthew 4:8; Luke 4:6; Luke 12:27. Hence parallel with εἰκών image μορφή form ὁμοίωμα likeness εἶδος appearancefigure, Romans 1:23; Psalm 17:15; Numbers 12:8. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- The glory of God is used of the aggregate of the divine attributes and coincides with His self-revelation, Exodus 33:22; compare πρόσωπον face Exodus 33:23. Hence the idea is prominent in the redemptive revelation (Isaiah 60:3; Romans 6:4; Romans 5:2). It expresses the form in which God reveals Himself in the economy of salvation (Romans 9:23; 1 Timothy 1:11; Ephesians 1:12). It is the means by which the redemptive work is carried on; for instance, in calling, 2 Peter 1:3; in raising up Christ and believers with Him to newness of life, Romans 6:4; in imparting strength to believers, Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11; as the goal of Christian hope, Romans 5:2; Romans 8:18, Romans 8:21; Titus 2:13. It appears prominently in the work of Christ - the outraying of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3), especially in John. See John 1:14; John 2:11, etc. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- The sense of the phrase here is: they are coming short of the honor or approbation which God bestows. The point under discussion is the want of righteousness. Unbelievers, or mere legalists, do not approve themselves before God by the righteousness which is of the law. They come short of the approbation which is extended only to those who are justified by faith. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Rev., fall short: The present tense. The A.V. leaves it uncertain whether the present or the perfect have come is intended. They sinned, and therefore they are lacking. See on Luke 15:14. The word is not merely equivalent to they are wanting in, but implies want under the aspect of shortcoming. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 3:23
The glorious collective perfection of God. See on Romans 3:23. Here the element of power is emphasized, which is closely related to the idea of divine glory. See Colossians 1:11. All the perfections of God contribute to the resurrection of Christ - righteousness, mercy, wisdom, holiness. [source]
Covenant name of the chosen people. Whose (ων hōn). Predicate genitive of the relative, used also again with οι πατερες hoi pateres For “the adoption” (η υιοτεσια hē huiothesia) see note on Romans 8:15. The glory The Shekinah Glory of God (Romans 3:23) and used of Jesus in James 2:1. The covenants (αι διατηκαι hai diathēkai). Plural because renewed often (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:2, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:9; Exodus 2:24). The giving of the law Old word, here only in N.T., from νομος nomos and τιτημι tithēmi The service (η λατρεια hē latreia). The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). The fathers The patriarchs (Acts 3:13; Acts 7:32). [source]
The Shekinah Glory of God (Romans 3:23) and used of Jesus in James 2:1. The covenants (αι διατηκαι hai diathēkai). Plural because renewed often (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:2, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:9; Exodus 2:24). The giving of the law Old word, here only in N.T., from νομος nomos and τιτημι tithēmi The service (η λατρεια hē latreia). The temple service (Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6). The fathers The patriarchs (Acts 3:13; Acts 7:32). [source]
See on Romans 3:23. Godet thinks the phrase was suggested by Moses' request, “Show me thy glory,” Exodus 33:18. [source]
See on Luke 15:14, and compare Romans 3:23. Contrast with were enriched. [source]
For glory of God, see on Romans 3:23. That God's glory may be both manifested and recognized. Compare Ephesians 1:6. [source]
See on Romans 3:23. [source]
According to this rendering, the meaning is that one must avoid the appearance of having failed to enter into the rest; the perfect tense ( ὑστερηκέναι ) placing the reader at the parousia, when judgment will be pronounced. This is forced, tame, and irrelevant to the previous discussion. Rend. lest any one of you think he has come too late for it. This accords with the previous admonitions against unbelief. For one to think that he has come too late to inherit the promise is to disbelieve an immutable promise of God. Hence the writer may well say, “Since this promise remains, let us fear to distrust it.” Ὑστερεῖν is to be behind; to come late; to come short; hence, to suffer need, as Philemon 4:12; of material deficiency, Luke 15:14; John 2:3; of moral and spiritual shortcoming, Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 12:15. [source]