The Meaning of Romans 3:9 Explained

Romans 3:9

KJV: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

YLT: What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

Darby: What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin:

ASV: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What  then?  are we better  [than they]? No,  in no wise:  for  we have before proved  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that they are  all  under  sin; 

What does Romans 3:9 Mean?

Study Notes

sin
Sin.
sinned
Sin, 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

The phrase "What then?" introduces a conclusion to the argument that all people are guilty before God. Paul identified himself with the Jews about whom he had recently been speaking. Jews are not better (more obedient) than Gentiles even though they received greater privileges from God. Being "under sin" means being under its domination and condemnation.
". . . the problem with people is not just that they commit sins; their problem is that they are enslaved to sin." [1]

Context Summary

Romans 3:9-20 - All Justly Under Judgment
A number of quotations are advanced-mostly from the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament-establishing the hopeless evil of man's condition. These apply, in the first place, to God's peculiar people, the Jews; but if true of them, how terrible must be the condition of the great heathen world! Every mouth will be stopped and all the world brought in guilty before God, Romans 3:19. Various organs of the body are enumerated, and in each ease some terrible affirmation is made of inbred depravity. What need for salvation! What can atone for such sin, or cleanse such hearts, save the redeeming grace of God?
Law here is obviously employed in the wide sense of conscience as well as Scripture. It is God's ideal held up before our faces, to show us from what we have fallen. The looking-glass is intended, not to wash the face, but to show how much it needs washing. You may commend your soap, and no one will use it; but if you reveal the discoloring filth, people will be only too glad to avail themselves of the cleansing power which otherwise they would neglect and despise. The way to fill the inquiry room is to hold up the divine standard before men's consciences. [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

Greek Commentary for Romans 3:9

What then? [τι ουν]
Paul‘s frequent query, to be taken with Romans 3:1, Romans 3:2. [source]
Are we in worse case than they? [προεχομετα]
The American Revisers render it: “Are we in better case than they?” There is still no fresh light on this difficult and common word though it occurs alone in the N.T. In the active it means to have before, to excel. But here it is either middle or passive. Thayer takes it to be middle and to mean to excel to one‘s advantage and argues that the context demands this. But no example of the middle in this sense has been found. If it is taken as passive, Lightfoot takes it to mean, “Are we excelled” and finds that sense in Plutarch. Vaughan takes it as passive but meaning, “Are we preferred?” This suits the context, but no other example has been found. So the point remains unsettled. The papyri throw no light on it. No, in no wise (ου παντως — ou pantōs). “Not at all.” See note on 1 Corinthians 5:10. We before laid to the charge First aorist middle indicative of προαιτιαομαι — proaitiaomai to make a prior accusation, a word not yet found anywhere else. Paul refers to Romans 1:18-32 for the Greeks and 2:1-29 for the Jews. The infinitive ειναι — einai with the accusative παντας — pantas is in indirect discourse. Under sin (υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian). See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
No, in no wise [ου παντως]
“Not at all.” See note on 1 Corinthians 5:10. [source]
We before laid to the charge [προηιτιασαμετα]
First aorist middle indicative of προαιτιαομαι — proaitiaomai to make a prior accusation, a word not yet found anywhere else. Paul refers to Romans 1:18-32 for the Greeks and 2:1-29 for the Jews. The infinitive ειναι — einai with the accusative παντας — pantas is in indirect discourse. Under sin (υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian). See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
Under sin [υπο αμαρτιαν]
See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
Are we better [προεχόμεθα]
Rev., are we in worse case than they? Render, with the American Revisers, are we in better case than they, i.e., have we any advantage? The Rev. takes the verb as passive - are we surpassed? which would require the succeeding verses to show that the Gentiles are not better than the Jews; whereas they show that the Jews are not better than the Gentiles. Besides, nothing in the context suggests such a question. Paul has been showing that the Old Testament privileges, though giving to the Jews a certain superiority to the Gentiles, did not give them any advantages in escaping the divine condemnation. After such showing it was natural that the question should be renewed: Do the Jews have any advantage? [source]
We have before proved [προῃτιασάμεθα]
The reference is not to logical proof, but to forensic accusation. The simple verb means to charge as being the cause ( αἰτία ) of some evil: hence to accuse, impeach. Rev., correctly, we before laid to the charge. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 3:9

John 5:45 I will accuse [κατηγορήσω]
From κατά , against, and ἀγορεύω , to speak in the assembly ( ἀγορά ). Hence, properly, to bring an accusation in court. John uses no other verb for accuse, and this only here, John 8:6, and Revelation 12:10. Once in the New Testament διαβάλλω occurs (Luke 16:1, on which see note), signifying malicious accusation, and secret, as distinguished from public, accusation ( κατηγορία ). Αἰτιάομαι occurs once in the compound προῃτιασάμεθα , we before laid to the charge (Romans 3:9). This has reference especially to the ground of accusation ( αἰτία ). Ἑγκαλέω occurs only in Acts, with the exception of Romans 8:33. It means to accuse publicly, but not necessarily before a tribunal. See Acts 23:28, Acts 23:29; Acts 26:2, Acts 26:7. [source]
John 5:45 Think not [μη δοκειτε]
Prohibition with μη — mē and the present imperative. See on John 5:39 for δοκεω — dokeō for mistaken opinions in John. I will accuse you Emphasis on εγω — egō (I). Future active indicative of κατηγορεω — katēgoreō See Romans 3:9 for προαιτιαομαι — proaitiaomai for making previous charge and Luke 16:1 for διαβαλλω — diaballō a secret malicious accusation, and Romans 8:33 for εγκαλεω — egkaleō for public charge, not necessarily before tribunal. Even Moses No “even” in the Greek. On whom ye have set your hope Perfect active indicative of ελπιζω — elpizō state of repose in Moses. Only example of ελπιζω — elpizō in John. See 2 Corinthians 1:10 for use of εις — eis with ελπιζω — elpizō instead of the usual επι — epi (1 Timothy 4:10). [source]
Romans 3:10 As it is written [κατως γεγραπται οτι]
Usual formula of quotation as in Romans 3:4 with recitative οτι — hoti added as in Romans 3:8. Paul here uses a catena or chain of quotations to prove his point in Romans 3:9 that Jews are in no better fix than the Greeks for all are under sin. Dr. J. Rendel Harris has shown that the Jews and early Christians had Testimonia (quotations from the Old Testament) strung together for certain purposes as proof-texts. Paul may have used one of them or he may have put these passages together himself. Romans 3:10-12 come from Psalm 14:1-3; first half of Romans 3:13 as far as εδολιουσαν — edoliousan from Psalms 4:9, the second half from Psalm 140:3; Romans 3:14 from Psalm 10:7; Romans 3:15-17 from an abridgment of Isaiah 59:7.; Romans 3:18 from Psalm 35:1. Paul has given compounded quotations elsewhere (2 Corinthians 6:16; Romans 9:25.,27f; Romans 11:26.,34f.; Romans 12:19.). Curiously enough this compounded quotation was imported bodily into the text (lxx) of Psalms 14 after Romans 3:4 in Aleph B, etc. [source]
Galatians 3:10 Under the curse [ὑπὸ κατάραν]
Better, under curse. There is no article. The phrase is general = accursed. Comp. ὑφ ' ἁμαρτίαν undersin, Romans 3:9. The specific character of the curse is not stated. It is not merely the wrath of God as it issues in final destruction (Meyer); but it represents a condition of alienation from God, caused by violation of his law, with all the penalty which accrues from it, either in this life or the next. [source]
Galatians 3:10 Under a curse [υπο καταραν]
Picture of the curse hanging over them like a Damocles‘ blade. Cf. Romans 3:9 “under sin” The word for “curse” The curse becomes effective only when the law is violated. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks [εὐχαριστοῦμεν]
According to Paul's habit, a thanksgiving follows the salutation, commonly with the verb ἐυχαριστεῖν as here; but in 2nd Corinthians and Ephesians, εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεός blessedbe God. The thanksgiving is omitted only in Galatians. The verb εὐχαριστεῖν occurs only in later Greek, and there but rarely. In lxx only in Apocr. See Judith 8:25; 2 Maccabees 1:11; 10:7; 3 Maccabees 7:16. In the N.T. Epistles, PoOriginally to do a good turn; hence, to return a favor. The meaning to give thanks is late. The kindred noun εὐχαριστία givingof thanks, is found often in Paul. As a designation of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist ) it is not found in the N.T. Perhaps the earliest instance of its use in that sense is in Ignatius. See Philad. iv.; Smyrn. iv., viii.; Eph. viii., Comp. Just. Mart. Apol. i., 64,65. In we give thanks, it is not easy to decide whether Paul uses we as plural, or in the sense of I. Romans 3:9seems to be a clear case of the latter usage. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, ηὐδοκήσαμεν wethought it good, and ἐπέμψαμεν wesent, can, apparently, refer only to Paul; and similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 3:6, πρὸς ἡμᾶς untous, can hardly include Silvanus who came with Timothy (comp. 1 Thessalonians 3:5). But it is significant that, in the Epistles which are written in Paul's name alone (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians), only I is used, unless we except Galatians 1:8, which is doubtful. Paul and Timothy appear jointly as correspondents in Philippians, but the first person predominates throughout the letter. The same is true of 1st Corinthians, where Paul and Sosthenes are associated in the address, but the singular pronoun is used almost throughout. (See 1 Corinthians 4:10-13; 1 Corinthians 9:4, 1 Corinthians 9:5, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 9:26). In Colossians Paul and Timothy appear in the address. The plural prevails to Colossians 1:23, and alternates with the singular throughout the remainder. The alternations in 2nd Corinthians are very bewildering. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
On the whole, I think that occasional instances of the epistolary plural must be granted. It is not, however, Paul's habitual usage. We is often employed as in ordinary correspondence or argument, where the writer or speaker associates himself with his readers or hearers. Abundant illustrations of this may be seen in Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+1:9&sr=1">Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philemon 1:4. Always in connection with prayer. In the sense of remember it appears in lxx, Job 14:13. In Psalm 111:4, to make a memorial. See further, on without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. [source]

Hebrews 1:1 Spake [λαλήσας]
See on Matthew 28:18. Often in the Epistle of the announcement of the divine will by men, as Hebrews 7:14; Hebrews 9:19; by angels, as Hebrews 2:2; by God himself or Christ, as Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 5:5; Hebrews 12:25. In Paul, almost always of men: once of Christ, 2 Corinthians 13:3; once of the Law, personified, Romans 3:9. [source]
1 Peter 4:3 May suffice [αρκετος]
No copula in the Greek, probably εστιν — estin (is) rather than δυναται — dunatai (can). Late and rare verbal adjective from αρκεω — arkeō to suffice, in the papyri several times, in N.T. only here and Matthew 6:34; Matthew 10:25, apparently referring to Christ‘s words in Matthew 6:34 (possibly an axiom or proverb).To have wrought (κατειργασται — kateirgasthai). Perfect middle infinitive of κατεργαζομαι — katergazomai common compound (κατα εργον — kataτο βουλημα — ergon work) as in 1 Corinthians 5:3.The desire Correct text, not πεπορευμενους — thelēma Either means the thing desired, willed. Jews sometimes fell in with the ways of Gentiles (Romans 2:21-24; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3) as today some Christians copy the ways of the world.And to have walked (πορευομαι — peporeumenous). Perfect middle participle of κατειργασται — poreuomai in the accusative plural of general reference with the infinitive εν ασελγειαις — kateirgasthai Literally, “having walked or gone.”In lasciviousness All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]
1 Peter 4:3 The desire [τελημα]
Correct text, not πεπορευμενους — thelēma Either means the thing desired, willed. Jews sometimes fell in with the ways of Gentiles (Romans 2:21-24; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3) as today some Christians copy the ways of the world.And to have walked (πορευομαι — peporeumenous). Perfect middle participle of κατειργασται — poreuomai in the accusative plural of general reference with the infinitive εν ασελγειαις — kateirgasthai Literally, “having walked or gone.”In lasciviousness All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 3:9 mean?

What then Are we better Not at all We have already charged for Jews both and Greeks all under sin to be
Τί οὖν προεχόμεθα οὐ πάντως προῃτιασάμεθα γὰρ Ἰουδαίους τε καὶ Ἕλληνας πάντας ὑφ’ ἁμαρτίαν εἶναι

προεχόμεθα  Are  we  better 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: προέχω 
Sense: to have before or in advance of another, to have pre-eminence over another, to excel, surpass.
πάντως  at  all 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάντως  
Sense: altogether.
προῃτιασάμεθα  We  have  already  charged 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 1st Person Plural
Root: αἰτιάομαι 
Sense: to bring a charge against previously (i.
Ἰουδαίους  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.
τε  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: τέ  
Sense: not only … but also.
Ἕλληνας  Greeks 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἕλλην  
Sense: a Greek either by nationality, whether a native of the main land or of the Greek islands or colonies.
ὑφ’  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπό  
Sense: by, under.
ἁμαρτίαν  sin 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.
εἶναι  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.