Romans 2:21
New International Version
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Living Translation
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?

English Standard Version
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Berean Standard Bible
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

Berean Literal Bible
then you teaching another, do you do not teach yourself? You preaching not to steal, do you steal?

King James Bible
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

New King James Version
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

New American Standard Bible
you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal?

NASB 1995
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

NASB 1977
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?

Legacy Standard Bible
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

Amplified Bible
well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]?

Christian Standard Bible
you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal"—do you steal?

American Standard Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Contemporary English Version
But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You preach it is wrong to steal. But do you steal?

English Revised Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As you teach others, are you failing to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, are you stealing?

Good News Translation
You teach others--why don't you teach yourself? You preach, "Do not steal"--but do you yourself steal?

International Standard Version
as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Majority Standard Bible
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

NET Bible
therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Heart English Bible
You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Weymouth New Testament
you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?

World English Bible
You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You, then, who are teaching another, do you not teach yourself?

Berean Literal Bible
then you teaching another, do you do not teach yourself? You preaching not to steal, do you steal?

Young's Literal Translation
Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore teaching another, teachest thou not thyself proclaiming not to steal, stealest thou?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest:

Catholic Public Domain Version
As a result, you teach others, but you do not teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, but you yourself steal.

New American Bible
then you who teach another, are you failing to teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

New Revised Standard Version
you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now, therefore, you teach others but fail to teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, yet you steal.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
You therefore who are teaching others, you do not teach yourself. You who are preaching that people should not steal, you are stealing!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
you, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

Godbey New Testament
therefore do not you who teach another teach yourself? do you, who preach not to steal, steal?

Haweis New Testament
Thou therefore who teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that proclaimest aloud that a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Mace New Testament
you therefore who instruct others don't you instruct yourself?

Weymouth New Testament
you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?

Worrell New Testament
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that men should not steal, do you steal?

Worsley New Testament
Thou then, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou, that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Jews and the Law
20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?…

Cross References
Matthew 23:3
So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Luke 6:42
How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? / How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? / You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Jeremiah 7:9-10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Malachi 2:7-8
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.


Treasury of Scripture

You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?

therefore.

Psalm 50:16-21
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? …

Matthew 23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

dost thou steal.

Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Ezekiel 22:12,13,27
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD…

Amos 8:4-6
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, …

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Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














You, then, who teach others
This phrase addresses those who assume the role of a teacher or leader within the community. The Greek word for "teach" is "διδάσκω" (didaskō), which implies not just imparting knowledge but also guiding and shaping the moral and spiritual lives of others. Historically, teachers in the Jewish tradition, such as rabbis, were held in high esteem and were expected to live exemplary lives. This phrase challenges the reader to reflect on the integrity and authenticity of their teaching, emphasizing that teaching is not merely about words but also about living out the principles one espouses.

do you not teach yourself?
Here, Paul uses a rhetorical question to provoke self-examination. The Greek word "σεαυτόν" (seauton) for "yourself" underscores the personal responsibility of the teacher to apply the teachings to their own life. This phrase suggests a universal principle: before one can effectively teach others, they must first internalize and practice the teachings themselves. It echoes the wisdom found in other scriptural contexts, such as Jesus' teaching about removing the plank from one's own eye before addressing the speck in another's (Matthew 7:5).

You who preach against stealing
The word "preach" comes from the Greek "κηρύσσω" (kērussō), meaning to proclaim or herald a message. This phrase specifically addresses those who publicly denounce stealing, a sin explicitly forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15). In the historical context of the early church, preaching was a primary means of spreading the Gospel and moral teachings. This phrase calls into question the consistency between one's public declarations and private actions.

do you steal?
This direct question challenges the reader to consider their own actions in light of their teachings. The Greek word for "steal" is "κλέπτω" (kleptō), which encompasses not only the act of taking what is not rightfully yours but also the broader concept of dishonesty and deceit. In a historical context, theft was not only a legal issue but a moral one, reflecting a breach of trust and community standards. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity and the danger of hypocrisy, urging believers to align their actions with their professed beliefs.

(21) Therefore.--See above on Romans 2:17.

Verse 21. - Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? The οῦν here does not involve an anacoluthon after the reading εἴ δὲ in ver. 17, though St. Paul would not have much cared if it had been so. It serves only to sum up the lengthened protasis, and introduce the apodosis: "If... dost thou then," etc.? In what follows it is not, of course, implied that all Jews who relied on the Law were, in fact, thieves, adulterers, etc., but only that the Jews as a nation were no more exempt from such sins than others; and it may be that those specified were not selected by the apostle at random, but as being such as the Jews had a peculiar evil notoriety for at that time. Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{you,} then,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

who
(ho)
Article - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

teach
διδάσκων (didaskōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1321: To teach, direct, admonish. A prolonged form of a primary verb dao; to teach.

others,
ἕτερον (heteron)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2087: (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.

do you not teach
διδάσκεις (didaskeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1321: To teach, direct, admonish. A prolonged form of a primary verb dao; to teach.

yourself?
σεαυτὸν (seauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572: Of yourself.

You who
(ho)
Article - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

preach
κηρύσσων (kēryssōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2784: To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.

against
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

stealing,
κλέπτειν (kleptein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2813: To steal. A primary verb; to filch.

do you steal?
κλέπτεις (klepteis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2813: To steal. A primary verb; to filch.


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NT Letters: Romans 2:21 You therefore who teach another don't you (Rom. Ro)
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