Romans 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

◄ Romans 3:27 ►

New International Version
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

New Living Translation
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.

English Standard Version
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Berean Standard Bible
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

Berean Literal Bible
Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. Through what principle? That of works? No, but through the principle of faith.

King James Bible
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

New King James Version
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

New American Standard Bible
Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

NASB 1995
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

NASB 1977
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Legacy Standard Bible
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Amplified Bible
Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith.

Christian Standard Bible
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.

American Standard Version
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

Contemporary English Version
What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith.

English Revised Version
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith.

Good News Translation
What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe.

International Standard Version
What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of actions? No, but on the principle of faith.

Majority Standard Bible
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

NET Bible
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!

New Heart English Bible
Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Webster's Bible Translation
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No; but by the law of faith.

Weymouth New Testament
Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.

World English Bible
Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Where then [is] the boasting? It was excluded; by what law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith:

Berean Literal Bible
Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. Through what principle? That of works? No, but through the principle of faith.

Young's Literal Translation
Where then is the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:

Smith's Literal Translation
Where then boasting? It was excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith.

New American Bible
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the principle of faith.

New Revised Standard Version
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Where is boasting then? It is worthless. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Where is pride, therefore? It has been eliminated with him. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith.

Godbey New Testament
Then where is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No; but by the law of faith.

Haweis New Testament
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

Mace New Testament
what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded, what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith.

Weymouth New Testament
Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.

Worrell New Testament
Where, then, is the boasting? It was excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? Nay; but by a law of faith.

Worsley New Testament
Where then is boasting? it is excluded: by what law? of works? no: but by the law of faith.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Righteousness through Faith
…26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast.

Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

James 2:24
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31
so that no one may boast in His presence. / It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. / Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Galatians 3:10-11
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.” / Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 4:2
If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

Romans 9:30-32
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. / Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 18:9-14
To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: / “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. / The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ...

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Treasury of Scripture

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

Where.

Romans 3:19
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 2:17,23
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, …

Romans 4:2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

of works.

Romans 9:11,32
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) …

Romans 10:5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

but by.

Romans 7:21,23,25
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me…

Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

Where, then, is boasting?
The word "boasting" in Greek is "καύχησις" (kauchēsis), which refers to pride or glorying in one's own achievements or status. In the context of Romans, Paul addresses the Jewish tendency to boast in the law and their heritage. Historically, the Jews took pride in their covenant relationship with God, marked by the law given through Moses. However, Paul challenges this notion by pointing out that boasting is irrelevant in the context of salvation, which is not achieved through human effort or adherence to the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. This rhetorical question sets the stage for understanding that human pride has no place in the divine plan of salvation.

It is excluded
The Greek word for "excluded" is "ἐκκλείω" (ekkleiō), meaning to shut out or eliminate. Paul emphatically states that boasting is completely shut out from the equation of salvation. This exclusion is not partial or conditional; it is absolute. The historical context of the early church, where Jewish and Gentile believers were learning to coexist, underscores the importance of this statement. By excluding boasting, Paul levels the playing field, emphasizing that all are equal before God, and salvation is a gift that cannot be earned or claimed as a personal achievement.

On what principle?
The term "principle" translates from the Greek "νόμος" (nomos), which can mean law, principle, or system. Paul is asking on what basis or system boasting is excluded. This question invites the reader to consider the underlying foundation of their faith and practice. In the Jewish tradition, the law was the guiding principle, but Paul is about to contrast this with a new principle that governs the life of believers in Christ.

On that of works?
"Works" in Greek is "ἔργον" (ergon), referring to deeds or actions, particularly those prescribed by the Mosaic Law. The historical Jewish understanding was that righteousness could be attained through adherence to the law. However, Paul argues that if salvation were based on works, boasting would be justified. This reflects a significant theological shift from a works-based righteousness to a faith-based righteousness, which Paul elaborates on throughout his epistles.

No, but on that of faith
The Greek word for "faith" is "πίστις" (pistis), which denotes trust, belief, or confidence in God. Paul concludes that the principle on which boasting is excluded is not works but faith. This faith is not a mere intellectual assent but a deep, personal trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Historically, this was a radical departure from the Jewish reliance on the law and opened the door for Gentiles to enter into the covenant community without the burden of the law. Theologically, this underscores the core of the gospel message: that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, and not a result of human effort. This principle of faith reorients the believer's life, focusing on a relationship with God rather than ritualistic observance.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27-31) A review of the consequences of this process of justification. How does it affect the pretensions of the Jew? It shuts them out by laying stress no longer on works, which were the proper fulfilment of the first law as it stood, but upon faith. Faith is the true medium of justification. And faith belongs as much to Gentile as to Jew. For faith is the appointed means by which all mankind will be justified; and they will all be justified before the same tribunal, whether they be circumcised or not. Still this involves no abrogation of the Law, but rather a confirmation of it.

(27) It is excluded.--Strictly, It was excluded--at the moment when the law of faith--i.e., the gospel--was brought in.

By what law?--Properly, By what kind of law? Is this law which gets rid of boasting one which calls for works; or is it one that calls for faith?

The law of faith.--Another name for the gospel.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - Where then is the boasting? (that of the Jew, referred to in ch. 2, of his superiority to the Gentile with regard to justification). It is excluded. By what manner of (ποίου) law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Is it, then, here implied that the law of works would allow of boasting? Not so practically. But its theory would leave room for it, on the supposition of its conditions being fulfilled; it is a kind of law (observe ποίου νόμου;) which does not exclude it; for if a man could say, "I have fulfilled all the righteousness of the Law," he would have something wherein to glory. But the principle of the law of faith, which has been shown to be the only one available for the justification of either Jew or Gentile, in itself excludes it. It will be observed that the strict sense of the word νόμος, hitherto preserved, is extended in νόμος πίστεως. (For the various applications of which the word is capable, see especially ch. 7.)

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Where,
Ποῦ (Pou)
Adverb
Strong's 4226: Genitive case of an interrogative pronoun pos otherwise obsolete; as adverb of place; at what locality.

then, [is]
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

boasting?
καύχησις (kauchēsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2746: The act of boasting, glorying, exultation. From kauchaomai; boasting, in a good or a bad sense.

It is excluded.
ἐξεκλείσθη (exekleisthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1576: To shut out, exclude, separate. From ek and kleio; to shut out.

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

what
ποίου (poiou)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4169: Of what sort. From the base of pou and hoios; individualizing interrogative what sort of, or which one.

principle?
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.

[On] that
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

of works?
ἔργων (ergōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

No,
οὐχί (ouchi)
Adverb
Strong's 3780: By no means, not at all. Intensive of ou; not indeed.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

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

[that]
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.

of faith.
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

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NT Letters: Romans 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It (Rom. Ro)