Romans 2:12
New International Version
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

New Living Translation
When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.

English Standard Version
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

Berean Standard Bible
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Berean Literal Bible
For as many as have sinned without the Law also will perish without the Law; and as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law,

King James Bible
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

New King James Version
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

New American Standard Bible
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;

NASB 1995
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;

NASB 1977
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;

Legacy Standard Bible
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.

Amplified Bible
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without [regard to] the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by the Law.

Christian Standard Bible
For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

American Standard Version
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;

Contemporary English Version
Those people who don't know about God's Law will still be punished for what they do wrong. And the Law will be used to judge everyone who knows what it says.

English Revised Version
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Here's the reason: Whoever sins without having laws from God will still be condemned to destruction. And whoever has laws from God and sins will still be judged by them.

Good News Translation
The Gentiles do not have the Law of Moses; they sin and are lost apart from the Law. The Jews have the Law; they sin and are judged by the Law.

International Standard Version
For all who have sinned apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.

Majority Standard Bible
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

NET Bible
For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

New Heart English Bible
For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

Webster's Bible Translation
For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law,

Weymouth New Testament
For all who have sinned apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who have sinned whilst living under the Law, will be judged by the Law.

World English Bible
For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for as many as sinned without law, will also perish without law, and as many as sinned in law, through law will be judged,

Berean Literal Bible
For as many as have sinned without the Law also will perish without the Law; and as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law,

Young's Literal Translation
for as many as without law did sin, without law also shall perish, and as many as did sin in law, through law shall be judged,

Smith's Literal Translation
For as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For whosoever have sinned without the law, shall perish without the law; and whosoever have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For whoever had sinned without the law, will perish without the law. And whoever had sinned in the law, will be judged by the law.

New American Bible
All who sin outside the law will also perish without reference to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance with it.

New Revised Standard Version
All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For those who have sinned without law, shall also perish without law: and those who have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For those who have sinned without The Written Law are also destroyed without The Written Law, and those who sinned with The Written Law will be judged by The Written Law.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned under law, shall be judged by law,

Godbey New Testament
For so many as sinned without law will also perish without law; and so many as sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;

Haweis New Testament
For as many as have sinned without the law, shall perish also without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;

Mace New Testament
For as many as have sinned without the law, shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law, shall be condemned by the law,

Weymouth New Testament
For all who have sinned apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who have sinned whilst living under the Law, will be judged by the Law.

Worrell New Testament
for as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as sinned under law shall be judged by law;

Worsley New Testament
For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law; and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Righteous Judgment
11For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.…

Cross References
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

Galatians 3:10
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

1 Corinthians 9:21
To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.

Luke 12:47-48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. / But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Matthew 11:21-24
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ...

2 Corinthians 3:7-9
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? / For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!

Hebrews 10:28-29
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. / How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

John 9:41
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Matthew 5:19
So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Deuteronomy 27:26
‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Leviticus 5:17
If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.


Treasury of Scripture

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

For.

Romans 2:14,15
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: …

Romans 1:18-21,32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; …

Ezekiel 16:49,50
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy…

in the law.

Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 3:19,20
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God…

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

Jump to Previous
Apart Destruction Judged Law Perish Punishment Sin Sinned Whilst Wrong
Jump to Next
Apart Destruction Judged Law Perish Punishment Sin Sinned Whilst Wrong
Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














All who sin apart from the law
This phrase addresses the Gentiles, who were not given the Mosaic Law. The Greek word for "sin" here is "hamartanō," which means to miss the mark or err. Historically, Gentiles were seen as outside the covenant community of Israel, yet Paul emphasizes that they are still accountable for their actions. The absence of the law does not exempt them from moral responsibility, as God's moral order is evident in creation itself (Romans 1:20).

will also perish apart from the law
The term "perish" in Greek is "apollymi," which implies destruction or ruin. This is not merely physical death but a spiritual separation from God. The phrase underscores the universal nature of sin's consequences. Even without the law, there is an inherent understanding of right and wrong, and those who sin without the law face judgment based on this intrinsic moral compass.

and all who sin under the law
This refers to the Jews, who were given the Mosaic Law. The phrase "under the law" indicates those who are within the covenant community and have received God's revealed commandments. The Greek word for "under" is "en," suggesting a position of being within or under the authority of the law. This highlights the responsibility of those who have received God's direct revelation.

will be judged by the law
The Greek word for "judged" is "krinō," meaning to separate, distinguish, or decide. This judgment is based on the law itself, which serves as the standard for those who are under it. The law reveals God's holiness and the standard by which His people are to live. For the Jews, having the law means they are held to its standards, and their judgment will be according to their adherence to it.

(12) Jew and Gentile alike will be judged, each by the method proper to his case; the Jew by the written Law against which he has sinned, the Gentile by the unwritten law of conscience against which he too has sinned. The mere hearing of the Law will bring no exemption to the Jew; and, on the other hand, the Gentile, who, at the dictates of conscience, acts as if he were subject to law, shall have the full benefit that law can give him. In fact, his conscience is to him a law. He undergoes precisely the same conflict of self- condemnation and self-acquittal as one who has a written law to refer to. All this will be done, this strict measure of justice will be applied, at the last great day of judgment.

In the law.--Rather, in law. Here, as in the phrases which follow, "by law," "the hearers of law," "the doers of law," "the Gentiles which have not law," &c., the article is wrongly inserted by the Authorised version. Its absence shows that the Apostle Lad in mind, not the particular Mosaic law, but the abstraction of law. "Behind the concrete representation--the Mosaic law itself--St. Paul sees an imperious principle, an overwhelming presence, antagonistic to grace, to liberty, to spirit, and (in some aspects) even to life--abstract law, which, though the Mosaic ordinances are its most signal and complete embodiment, nevertheless is not exhausted therein, but exerts its crushing power over the conscience in diverse manifestations. The one, the concrete and special, is ? ?????; the other, the abstract and universal, is ?????" (Lightfoot).

Verse 12. - For as many as have sinned without Law (ἀνόμως) shall also perish without Law (ἀνόμως). Their perdition, if it ensues, will not be due to transgression of a code they had not, but to sin against such light as they had; if without knowledge of Law they sinned, without reference to Law their doom will he, And as many as have sinned in Law (or, under Law. Ἐν νόμῳ denotes the condition in which they were; cf. ἐν περιτομῇ and ἐν ὀκροβυστίᾳ, Romans 4:10) shall be judged by Law. The requirements of the Law which they knew they will be held accountable for transgressing - κριθήσονται here, instead of ἀπολοῦνται, because a definite standard of judgment is supposed (cf. Psalm 1.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
All who
Ὅσοι (Hosoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3745: How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As.

sin
ἥμαρτον (hēmarton)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 264: Perhaps from a and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark, i.e. to err, especially to sin.

apart from the Law
ἀνόμως (anomōs)
Adverb
Strong's 460: Without law, lawlessly. Adverb from anomos; lawlessly, i.e. not amenable to law.

will also perish
ἀπολοῦνται (apolountai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.

apart from the Law,
ἀνόμως (anomōs)
Adverb
Strong's 460: Without law, lawlessly. Adverb from anomos; lawlessly, i.e. not amenable to law.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

all who
ὅσοι (hosoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3745: How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As.

sin
ἥμαρτον (hēmarton)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 264: Perhaps from a and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark, i.e. to err, especially to sin.

under
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] Law
νόμῳ (nomō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

will be judged
κριθήσονται (krithēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

by
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[the] Law.
νόμου (nomou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.


Links
Romans 2:12 NIV
Romans 2:12 NLT
Romans 2:12 ESV
Romans 2:12 NASB
Romans 2:12 KJV

Romans 2:12 BibleApps.com
Romans 2:12 Biblia Paralela
Romans 2:12 Chinese Bible
Romans 2:12 French Bible
Romans 2:12 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without (Rom. Ro)
Romans 2:11
Top of Page
Top of Page