Romans 2:14

Amplified Bible

When Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to Jews], do instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience], they are a law to themselves, though they do not have the Law.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Those who are not Jews don't have the law. But when they naturally do what the law commands without even knowing the law, then they are their own law. This is true even though they don't have the written law.

Revised Standard Version
When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For if the gentyls which have no lawe do of nature the thynges contayned in the lawe: then they havynge no lawe are a lawe vnto them selves

Hebrew Names Version
(for when Goyim who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

International Standard Version
For whenever Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

New American Standard Bible
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

New Century Version
(Those who are not Jews do not have the law, but when they freely do what the law commands, they are the law for themselves. This is true even though they do not have the law.

Update Bible Version
(for when Gentiles that don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law to themselves;

Webster's Bible Translation
For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law to themselves.

English Standard Version
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

World English Bible
(for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these not having the law, are a law to themselves;

Weymouth's New Testament
For when Gentiles who have no Law obey by natural instinct the commands of the Law, they, without having a Law, are a Law to themselves;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whanne hethene men that han not lawe, don kyndli tho thingis that ben of the lawe, thei not hauynge suche manere lawe, ben lawe to hem silf,

English Revised Version
for when Gentiles which have no law do by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law unto themselves;

Berean Standard Bible
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law,

Contemporary English Version
Some people naturally obey the Law's commands, even though they don't have the Law.

American Standard Version
(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;

Bible in Basic English
For when the Gentiles without the law have a natural desire to do the things in the law, they are a law to themselves;

Complete Jewish Bible
For whenever Gentiles, who have no Torah, do naturally what the Torah requires, then these, even though they don't have Torah, for themselves are Torah!

Darby Translation
For when [those of the] nations, which have no law, practise by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves;

Etheridge Translation
FOR if the Gentiles, who have not the law, from their nature shall perform the law, these, while not having the law, unto themselves become a law.

Murdock Translation
for if Gentiles who have not the law, shall, by their nature, do the things of the law; they, while without the law, become a law to themselves:

King James Version (1611)
For when the Gentiles which haue not the Law, doe by nature the things contained in the Law: these hauing not the Law, are a Law vnto themselues,

New Living Translation
Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.

New Life Bible
The people who are not Jews do not have the Law. When they do what the Law tells them to do, even if they do not have the Law, it shows they know what they should do.

New Revised Standard
When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For when the Gentiles which haue not the Lawe, doe by nature, the things conteined in the Lawe, they hauing not the Lawe, are a Lawe vnto themselues,

George Lamsa Translation
For if the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, whensoever the nations which have not law, by nature, the things of the law, may be doing, the same, not having law, unto themselves, are a law, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these, having not the law, are a law to themselves.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For when the Gentiles, which haue not the lawe, do of nature the thynges conteyned in the lawe: they hauing not the lawe, are a lawe vnto them selues.

Good News Translation
The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law.

Christian Standard Bible®
So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.

King James Version
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:

Lexham English Bible
For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, although they do not have the law, are a law to themselves,

Literal Translation
For when nations not having Law do by nature the things of the Law, they not having Law are a law to themselves,

Young's Literal Translation
For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law -- to themselves are a law;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For yf the Gentyles which haue not the lawe, do of nature the thinges conteyned in the lawe, then they hauynge not the lawe, are a lawe vnto them selues,

Mace New Testament (1729)
when the Gentiles who have not the law, do by nature what the law prescribes, tho' these have not the law, they are a law to themselves:

THE MESSAGE
When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.

New English Translation
For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves.

New King James Version
for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Some cowpunchers have never heard the Code, but God has spoken to their hearts and they know the right things to do.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

Legacy Standard Bible
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

Contextual Overview

¹Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others; for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, because you who judge [from a position of arrogance or self-righteousness] are habitually practicing the very same things [which you denounce]. ²And we know that the judgment of God falls justly and in accordance with truth on those who practice such things. ³But do you think this, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things, and yet do the same yourself, that you will escape God's judgment and elude His verdict? ⁴Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]? ⁵But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶He WILL PAY BACK TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS [justly, as his deeds deserve]: ⁷to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life. ⁸But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation. ⁹There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, ¹⁰but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

which: Romans 2:12, Romans 3:1, Romans 3:2, Deuteronomy 4:7, Psalms 147:19, Psalms 147:20, Acts 14:16, Acts 17:30, Ephesians 2:12

do by: Romans 2:27, Romans 1:19, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 11:14, Philippians 4:8

are a law: Romans 2:12, Romans 1:32

Reciprocal: Acts 28:2 - showed 1 Corinthians 9:21 - them 1 John 3:20 - if

Cross-References

Genesis 10:11
From that land Nimrod went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah,

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram;

Genesis 15:18
On the same day the LORD made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—

Genesis 25:18
Ishmael's sons (descendants) settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled opposite (east) of all his relatives.

Deuteronomy 1:7
'Turn and resume your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland (the Shephelah), in the Negev (South country) and on the coast of the [Mediterranean] Sea, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

Deuteronomy 11:24
"Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall become yours; your territory shall be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea (the Mediterranean).

Daniel 10:4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great river Hiddekel [which is the Tigris],

Revelation 9:14
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For when the Gentiles which have not the law,.... The objection of the Gentiles against their condemnation, taken from their being without the law, is here obviated. The apostle owns that they had not the law, that is, the written law of Moses, and yet intimates that they had, and must have a law, against which they sinned, and so deserved punishment, and which they in part obeyed; for these men

do by nature the things contained in the law. The matter and substance of the moral law of Moses agrees with the law and light of nature; and the Gentiles in some measure, and in some sort, did these things by nature; not that men by the mere strength of nature without the grace of God, can fulfil the law, or do anything that is acceptable to God; and indeed, what these men did was merely natural and carnal, and so unacceptable to God. Some understand this of nature assisted by grace, in converted Gentiles, whether before or after the coming of Christ; others expound the phrase, by nature, freely, willingly, in opposition to the servile spirit of the Jews, in their obedience to the law; though it rather seems to design the dictates of natural reason, by which they acted: and so

these having not the law, the written law,

are a law to themselves; which they have by nature and use, and which natural reason dictates to them. So Plato distinguishes the law

"into written and un written q: the written law is that which was used in commonwealths; and that κατα εθη

γινομενος, "which was according to custom or nature", was called unwritten, such as not to go to market naked, nor to be clothed with women's clothes; which things were not forbidden by any law, but these were not done because forbidden by the unwritten law;''

which he calls "unwritten", because not written on tables, or with ink; otherwise it was written in their minds, and which by nature and use they were accustomed to.

q Laertii Vit. Philosoph. l. 3. in Vita Platon.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For when - The apostle, in Romans 2:13, had stated a general principle, that the doers of the Law only can be justified, if justification is attempted by the Law. In this verse and the next, he proceeds to show that the same principle is applicable to the pagan; that though they have not the written Law of God, yet that they have sufficient knowledge of his will to take away every excuse for sin, and consequently that the course of reasoning by which he had come to the conclusion that they were guilty, is well founded. This verse is not to be understood as affirming, as an historical fact, that any of the pagan ever did perfectly obey the Law which they had, any more than the previous verse affirms it of the Jews, The main point in the argument is, that if people are justified by the Law, their obedience must be entire and perfect; that this is not to be external only, or to consist in hearing or in acknowledging the justice of the Law; and that the Gentiles had an opportunity of illustrating this principle as well as the Jews, since they also had a law among themselves. The word “when” ὅταν hotan does not imply that the thing shall certainly take place, but is one form of introducing a supposition; or of stating the connection of one thing with another, Matthew 5:11; Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:16; Matthew 10:19. It is, however, true that the main things contained in this verse, and the next, actually occurred, that the Gentiles did many things which the Law of God required.

The Gentiles - All who were not Jews.

Which have not the law - Who have net a revelation, or the written word of God. In the Greek the article is omitted, “who have not law,” that is, any revealed law.

By nature - By some, this phrase has been supposed to belong to the previous member of the sentence, “who have not the law by nature.” But our translation is the more natural and usual construction. The expression means clearly by the light of conscience and reason, and whatever other helps they may have without revelation. It denotes simply, in that state which is without the revealed will of God. In that condition they had many helps of tradition, conscience, reason, and the observation of the dealings of divine Providence, so that to a considerable extent they knew what was right and what was wrong.

Do the things - Should they not merely understand and approve, but actually perform the things required in the Law.

Contained in the law - Literally, the things of the Law, that is, the things which the Law requires. Many of those things might be done by the pagan, as, e. g., respect to parents. truth, justice, honesty, chastity. So far as they did any of those things, so far they showed that they had a law among themselves. And wherein they failed in these things they showed that they were justly condemned. “Are a law unto themselves.” This is explained in the following verse. It means that their own reason and conscience constituted, in these things, a law, or prescribed that for them which the revealed law did to the Jews.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 2:14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, c.] Nor does it follow that the Gentiles who have not had a Divine revelation, shall either perish, because they had it not or their unrighteous conduct pass unpunished, because not having this revelation might be considered as an excuse for their sins.

Do by nature the things contained in the law — Do, without this Divine revelation, through that light which God imparts to every man, the things contained in the law - act according to justice, mercy, temperance and truth, the practice of which the revealed law so powerfully enjoins; these are a law unto themselves - they are not accountable to any other law, and are not to be judged by any dispensation different from that under which they live.

Rabbi Tanchum brings in the Supreme Being as saying: When I decreed any thing against the Gentiles, to whom I have not given laws and statutes, and they know what I have decreed; immediately they repent; but the Israelites do not so. Tanchum, fol. 43. 2.