Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

◄ Romans 3:20 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

English Standard Version
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

New American Standard Bible
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

King James Bible
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

International Standard Version
Therefore, God will not justify any human being by means of the actions prescribed by the Law, for through the Law comes the full knowledge of sin.

American Standard Version
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before him. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Darby Bible Translation
Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law is knowledge of sin.

Young's Literal Translation
wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

Cross References

Psalm 143:2
And enter not into judgment with your servant: for in your sight shall no man living be justified.

Acts 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:15
Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Romans 5:13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet.

Romans 7:8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, worked in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Romans 7:11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:19,20 It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. Therefore by the deeds of—obedience to

the law there shall no flesh be justified—that is, be held and treated as righteous; as is plain from the whole scope and strain of the argument.

in his sight—at His bar (Ps 143:2).

for by the law is the knowledge of sin—(See on [2186]Ro 4:15; [2187]Ro 7:7; and [2188]1Jo 3:4).

Note, How broad and deep does the apostle in this section lay the foundations of his great doctrine of Justification by free grace—in the disorder of man's whole nature, the consequent universality of human guilt, the condemnation, by reason of the breach of divine law, of the whole world, and the impossibility of justification before God by obedience to that violated law! Only when these humiliating conclusions are accepted and felt, are we in a condition to appreciate and embrace the grace of the Gospel, next to be opened up.