The Meaning of Romans 8:34 Explained

Romans 8:34

KJV: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

YLT: who is he that is condemning? Christ is He that died, yea, rather also, was raised up; who is also on the right hand of God -- who also doth intercede for us.

Darby: who is he that condemns? It is Christ who has died, but rather has been also raised up; who is also at the right hand of God; who also intercedes for us.

ASV: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who  [is] he that condemneth  {5694}? [It is] Christ  that died,  yea  rather,  that is risen again,  who  is  even  at  the right hand  of God,  who  also  maketh intercession  for  us. 

What does Romans 8:34 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus Christ is God"s appointed judge who will condemn the unrighteous ( Acts 17:31), but He will not condemn the elect. Paul cited four reasons. First, He died for us and thereby removed our guilt. Second, He arose from the dead and is therefore able to give life to those who trust Him (cf. John 11:25; John 14:19). Third, He has ascended to the position of supreme authority in heaven where He represents us ( Romans 8:29). Fourth, He presently intercedes to the Father for our welfare ( Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; cf. Romans 8:26).
The fact that Jesus Christ now rules over the church does not mean that He is ruling on the throne of David over the kingdom of David. [1]

Context Summary

Romans 8:31-39 - No Separation From Christ's Love
This is the close of the Apostle's argument. He has shown that believers are dear to God because they are in Christ; that their every need has been anticipated and provided for; that their guilt has been canceled and provision made for their holy and victorious character; that the Holy Spirit is in them and with them forever; that sin is under their feet and heaven over their heads-what, then, have they to fear?
Paul then goes on to show that the love of God is unaffected by even the most extreme changes of our condition-neither death, nor life, Romans 8:38. That it is undiverted from us by any other order of beings, whether angels, principalities, or powers. That it is universally present throughout creation. And finally, that this love is in Christ Jesus our Lord. But in order to know and experience this love, we must be united to the Lord Jesus by a living faith. Then we shall be more than conquerors, that is, we shall not only be victorious, but shall get spoil out of the very things that have hurt us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 8

1  Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation
5  What harm comes of the flesh;
13  and what good of the Spirit
19  The glorious deliverance the creation longs for,
29  was beforehand decreed from God
38  Nothing can sever us from his love

Greek Commentary for Romans 8:34

Shall condemn [κατακρινων]
Can be either present active participle (condemns) or the future (shall condemn). It is a bold accuser who can face God with false charges or with true ones for that matter for we have an “Advocate” at God‘s Court (1 John 2:1), “who is at the right hand of God” Our Advocate paid the debt for our sins with his blood. The score is settled. We are free (Romans 8:1). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 8:34

Mark 16:19 Sat down at the right hand of God [εκατισεν εκ δεχιων του τεου]
Swete notes that the author “passes beyond the field of history into that of theology,” an early and most cherished belief (Acts 7:55.; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 3:21). [source]
John 17:9 I pray [εγω ερωτω]
Request, not question, as in John 16:23. Not for the world Now at this point in the prayer Christ means. In John 17:19 Jesus does pray for the world (for future believers) that it may believe (John 17:21). God loves the whole world (John 3:16). Christ died for sinners (Romans 5:8) and prayed for sinners (Luke 23:34) and intercedes for sinners (1 John 2:1.; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). For those whom A condensed and common Greek idiom for περι τουτων ους — peri toutōn hous with τουτων — toutōn (the demonstrative antecedent) omitted and the relative ους — hous attracted from the accusative ους — hous (object of δεδωκας — dedōkas) to the case (genitive) of the omitted antecedent. [source]
Acts 25:24 Made suit to me [ενετυχον μοι]
Second aorist active indicative of εντυγχανω — entugchanō old verb to fall in with a person, to go to meet for consultation or supplication as here. Common in old Greek and Koiné{[28928]}š Cf. Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34. See εντευχις — enteuxis (petition) 1 Timothy 2:1. Papyri give many examples of the technical sense of εντευχις — enteuxis as petition (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 121). Some MSS. have plural here ενετυχον — enetuchon rather than the singular ενετυχεν — enetuchen Crying (βοωντες — boōntes). Yelling and demanding with loud voices. That he ought not to live any longer Indirect command (demand) with the infinitive δειν — dein for δει — dei (it is necessary). The double negative (μημηκετι — mē̇̇mēketi) with ζηιν — zēin intensifies the demand. [source]
Romans 11:2 Wot ye not? [ουκ οιδατε]
“Know ye not?” Why keep the old English “wot”? Of Elijah (εν Ελειαι — en Eleiāi). “In the case of Elijah.” Cf. “in the bush” (Mark 12:26). He pleadeth See Romans 8:27. Εντυγχανω — Entugchanō means to happen on one and so to converse with (Acts 25:24), to plead for (Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34), to plead against as here with κατα — kata but the “against” is in κατα — kata f0). [source]
Romans 11:2 He pleadeth [εντυγχανει]
See Romans 8:27. Εντυγχανω — Entugchanō means to happen on one and so to converse with (Acts 25:24), to plead for (Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34), to plead against as here with κατα — kata but the “against” is in κατα — kata f0). [source]
1 Timothy 2:1 Intercessions [ἐυντεύξεις]
Only here and 1 Timothy 4:5. lxx, Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+8:27&sr=1">Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2; and ὑπερεντυγχάνειν tointercede in behalf of, Romans 8:26. The verb signifies to fall in with a person; to draw near so as to converse familiarly. Hence, ἔντευξις is not properly intercession in the accepted sense of that term, but rather approach to God in free and familiar prayer. Ἑντυγχάνειν in the passages cited is not to make intercession, but to intervene, interfere. Thus in Romans 8:26, it is not that the Spirit pleads in our behalf, but that he throws himself into our case; takes part in it. So Hebrews 7:25: not that Jesus is ever interceding for us, but that he is eternally meeting us at every point, and intervening in al our affairs for our benefit. In ἐντεύξεις here the idea of interposition is prominent: making prayers a factor in relations with secular rulers. [source]
1 Timothy 2:1 Intercessions [εντευχεις]
Late word (Polybius, Plutarch, etc.), only here in N.T. and 1 Timothy 4:5, though the verb εντυγχανω — entugchanō in Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34; Romans 11:2, Romans 11:25. The other three words for prayer are common (Philemon 4:6). For all men (υπερ παντων αντρωπων — huper pantōn anthrōpōn). The scope of prayer is universal including all kinds of sinners (and saints). [source]
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore [οτεν]
Since he alone holds this priesthood. To the uttermost Old idiom, in N.T. only here and Luke 13:10. Vulgate renders it in perpetuum (temporal idea) or like παντοτε — pantote This is possible, but the common meaning is completely, utterly. Draw near Present middle participle of προσερχομαι — proserchomai the verb used in Hebrews 4:16 which see. To make intercession Purpose clause with εις — eis and the articular present active infinitive of εντυγχανω — entugchanō for which verb see Romans 8:34. “His intercession has red blood in it, unlike Philo‘s conception” (Moffatt). [source]
Hebrews 9:24 Made with hands [χειροποιητα]
See Hebrews 9:11 for this word. Like in pattern to the true Late compound word, only twice in N.T. (here, 1 Peter 3:21). Polybius uses αντιτυπος — antitupos for infantry “opposite” to the cavalry. In modern Greek it means a copy of a book. Here it is the “counterpart of reality” (Moffatt). Moses was shown a τυπος — tupos (model) of the heavenly realities and he made an αντιτυπον — antitupon on that model, “answering to the type” (Dods) or model. In 1 Peter 3:21 αντιτυπος — antitupos has the converse sense, “the reality of baptism which corresponds to or is the antitype of the deluge” (Dods). Now to appear Purpose clause by the first aorist passive infinitive of εμπανιζω — emphanizō (Matthew 27:53; John 14:21.). For the phrase see Psalm 42:3. For this work of Christ as our High Priest and Paraclete in heaven see Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 8:34 mean?

Who [is] the [one] condemning [For it is] Christ Jesus having died rather now having been raised up from [the] dead who also is at [the] right hand - of God who and is interceding for us
τίς κατακρινῶν Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἀποθανών μᾶλλον δὲ ἐγερθείς (ἐκ νεκρῶν) ὅς ‹καί› ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὃς καὶ ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν

τίς  Who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κατακρινῶν  condemning 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κατακρίνω  
Sense: to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment.
Χριστὸς  [For  it  is]  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ἀποθανών  having  died 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
μᾶλλον  rather 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μᾶλλον  
Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐγερθείς  having  been  raised  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
νεκρῶν)  [the]  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
‹καί›  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐν  at  [the] 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
δεξιᾷ  right  hand 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: δεξιός  
Sense: the right, the right hand.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἐντυγχάνει  is  interceding 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐντυγχάνω  
Sense: to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.