Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

◄ Romans 3:5 ►

New International Version
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)

New Living Translation
“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)

English Standard Version
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Berean Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

Berean Literal Bible
But if our unrighteousness shows God's righteousness, what shall we say? God, inflicting the wrath, is unrighteous? I speak according to man.

King James Bible
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

New King James Version
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)

New American Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)

NASB 1995
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)

NASB 1977
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)

Legacy Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? (I am speaking in human terms.)

Amplified Bible
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.)

Christian Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I use a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

American Standard Version
But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

Contemporary English Version
If our evil deeds show how right God is, then what can we say? Is it wrong for God to become angry and punish us? What a foolish thing to ask.

English Revised Version
But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if what we do wrong shows that God is fair, what should we say? Is God unfair when he vents his anger on us? (I'm arguing the way humans would.)

Good News Translation
But what if our doing wrong serves to show up more clearly God's doing right? Can we say that God does wrong when he punishes us? (This would be the natural question to ask.)

International Standard Version
But if our unrighteousness serves to confirm God's righteousness, what can we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his wrath on us, is he? (I am talking in human terms.)

Majority Standard Bible
But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

NET Bible
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)

New Heart English Bible
But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? (I am speaking in human terms).

Webster's Bible Translation
But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man.)

Weymouth New Testament
But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?

World English Bible
But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And if our unrighteousness establishes God’s righteousness, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man.)

Berean Literal Bible
But if our unrighteousness shows God's righteousness, what shall we say? God, inflicting the wrath, is unrighteous? I speak according to man.

Young's Literal Translation
And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

Smith's Literal Translation
And if our injustice shall recommend the justice of God, what shall we say God not unjust bringing in anger? (I speak as man).

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But if our injustice commend the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who executeth wrath?

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath?

New American Bible
But if our wickedness provides proof of God’s righteousness, what can we say? Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath?

New Revised Standard Version
But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Now if our iniquity serves to establish the righteousness of God, what then shall we say? Is God unjust when he inflicts his anger? I speak as a man.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But if our evil establishes the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God doing evil by bringing forth his wrath? I am speaking as a man.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
But if our unrighteousness causes God's plan of justifying men to be better known, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who inflicts punishment? I speak as a man.

Godbey New Testament
But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust administering wrath? I speak according to a man.

Haweis New Testament
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous in inflicting wrath? (I speak humanly).

Mace New Testament
but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?"

Weymouth New Testament
But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?

Worrell New Testament
But, if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, Who visits with wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man).

Worsley New Testament
"But if our unrighteousness confirm the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous, who inflicteth his wrath?" (I speak as a man) God forbid:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God Remains Faithful
…4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.” 5But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. 6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 51:4
Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Job 34:17
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

Genesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

Psalm 96:13
before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Psalm 98:9
before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

Isaiah 45:21
Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.

Isaiah 10:1-3
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. / What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

2 Chronicles 19:7
And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Ezekiel 18:25
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

John 5:30
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Treasury of Scripture

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man)

But if.

Romans 3:7,25,26
For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? …

Romans 8:20,21
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, …

what shall.

Romans 4:1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Is God.

Romans 2:5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

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 9:18-20
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth…

I speak.

Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

1 Corinthians 9:8
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

Galatians 3:15
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Jump to Previous

Clearer Clearly Commend Commendeth Commends Demonstrates God's Human Inflicts Justice Light Manner Punishment Righteousness Serves Sets Show Speak Speaking Supported Terms Unjust Unrighteous Unrighteousness Using Vengeance Visiteth Way Wickedness Wrath Wrongdoing

Jump to Next

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

But if our unrighteousness
The phrase "our unrighteousness" refers to the inherent sinfulness and moral failings of humanity. In the Greek, "unrighteousness" is "adikia," which denotes injustice or moral wrong. This highlights the universal condition of sin that Paul addresses throughout Romans. Historically, the Jewish understanding of sin was deeply rooted in the Law given to Moses, which defined righteousness and unrighteousness. This phrase sets the stage for a discussion on the contrast between human sin and divine holiness.

highlights the righteousness of God
The word "highlights" in this context means to bring into sharp relief or to make evident. The Greek word "sunistēmi" can mean to commend or to demonstrate. Here, Paul is arguing that human sinfulness serves to underscore or magnify God's perfect righteousness. The "righteousness of God" is a central theme in Romans, referring to God's perfect moral standard and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. This righteousness is not just a characteristic of God but is also something He imparts to believers through faith in Jesus Christ.

what shall we say?
This rhetorical question is a common device used by Paul to engage his readers and provoke thought. It invites the audience to consider the implications of the preceding statement. In the context of a first-century Jewish audience, this question would challenge their understanding of justice and divine retribution, prompting them to reflect on the nature of God's righteousness in contrast to human sin.

That God is unjust in bringing His wrath on us?
The phrase "God is unjust" is a hypothetical objection that Paul anticipates from his readers. The Greek word for "unjust" is "adikos," which means unrighteous or unjust. This question addresses a potential misunderstanding of God's character. The "wrath" of God is a theme that Paul explores extensively, referring to God's righteous judgment against sin. In the historical context, God's wrath was understood as a necessary response to sin, ensuring justice and upholding His holiness.

(I am speaking in human terms.)
This parenthetical statement indicates that Paul is using a human analogy to explain a divine truth. The phrase "in human terms" suggests that Paul is simplifying a complex theological concept to make it more accessible to his audience. This acknowledgment of human limitations in understanding divine justice reflects a humility in approaching the mysteries of God's nature. It also serves as a reminder that while human logic can help us grasp aspects of God's character, it is ultimately limited in fully comprehending His divine essence.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) But if our unrighteousness.--A new and profound question suggests itself to the mind of the Apostle, and his keen intellect will not let it go: "If the sin (here the unbelief) of man only tends to vindicate (commends or establishes) the righteousness of God, why should that sin be punished?" The mere raising of such a question requires an apology; it is only as a man might speak about man that he dares to utter such a thought. That, too, is an impossible objection, for if it held good there could not be any judgment. No sin would be punishable, for all sin would serve to emphasise the strict veracity of God in His denunciations of it, and therefore would ultimately conduce to His glory. It would thus cease to be sinful, and there would be nothing to hinder us from adopting the principle that is so calumniously attributed to us--that it is lawful to do evil that good may come. A calumny it is, and any such principle with all that appertains to it--i.e., with the whole of the preceding argument,--is justly condemned.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 5, 6. - But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall We say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (so the Authorized Version; rather, brings the wrath upon us (ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν), with reference to the Divine wrath against sin, spoken of above). I speak after the manner of men. God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world! The purport of this reply appears sufficiently in the paraphrase given above. But the intended Bearing on the argument of ver. 7 is not at once apparent.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

unrighteousness
ἀδικία (adikia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 93: Injustice, unrighteousness, hurt. From adikos; injustice; morally, wrongfulness.

highlights
συνίστησιν (synistēsin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4921: To place together, commend, prove, exhibit; instrans: I stand with; To be composed of, cohere.

the righteousness
δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosynēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.

of God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

shall we say?
ἐροῦμεν (eroumen)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2046: Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.

[That]
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative 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.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

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

unjust
ἄδικος (adikos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 94: Unjust, unrighteous, wicked. Specially, heathen.

to inflict
ἐπιφέρων (epipherōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2018: To bring forward (against), impose, inflict. From epi and phero; to bear upon, i.e. Adduce (accuse, inflict), superinduce.

[His]
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wrath [on us]?
ὀργήν (orgēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3709: From oregomai; properly, desire, i.e., violent passion (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment.

I am speaking
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

in
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

human terms.
ἄνθρωπον (anthrōpon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

Links

Romans 3:5 NIV
Romans 3:5 NLT
Romans 3:5 ESV
Romans 3:5 NASB
Romans 3:5 KJV

Romans 3:5 BibleApps.com
Romans 3:5 Biblia Paralela
Romans 3:5 Chinese Bible
Romans 3:5 French Bible
Romans 3:5 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness (Rom. Ro)