Romans 3:2

Amplified Bible

Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very words].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Yes, the Jews have many benefits. The most important one is this: God trusted the Jews with his teachings.

Revised Standard Version
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Surely very moche. Fyrst vnto them was committed the worde of God

Hebrew Names Version
Much in every way! Because first of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

International Standard Version
There are all kinds of advantages! First of all, the Jewsthey">[fn] have been entrusted with the utterances of God.Deuteronomy 4:7-8; Psalm 147:19-20; Romans 2:18; 9:4;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words of God.

New Century Version
Yes, of course, there is in every way. The most important thing is this: God trusted the Jews with his teachings.

Update Bible Version
Much in every way: first of all, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
Much every way: chiefly, because that to them were committed the oracles of God.

English Standard Version
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

World English Bible
Much in every way! Because first of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Much every way; chiefly in that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Weymouth's New Testament
The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Myche bi al wise; first, for the spekyngis of God `weren bitakun to hem.

English Revised Version
Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Berean Standard Bible
Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.

Contemporary English Version
It is good in a lot of ways! First of all, God's messages were spoken to the Jews.

American Standard Version
Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Bible in Basic English
Much in every way: first of all because the words of God were given to them.

Complete Jewish Bible
Much in every way! In the first place, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God.

Darby Translation
Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles of God.

Etheridge Translation
Much in every thing: primarily that they had intrusted (to them) the words of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
Much, every way. And first, because to them were intrusted the oracles of God.

King James Version (1611)
Much euery way: chiefly, because that vnto them were committed the Oracles of God.

New Living Translation
Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

New Life Bible
Yes, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law.

New Revised Standard
Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Much euery maner of way: for chiefly, because vnto them were of credite committed the oracles of God.

George Lamsa Translation
Much in every way: because the Jews were the first to believe in the words of God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Much, every way: - First, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Much every way. First indeed, because the words of God were committed to them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Much euery way. First, for because yt vnto them were committed ye wordes of God.

Good News Translation
Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews.

Christian Standard Bible®
Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.

King James Version
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Lexham English Bible
Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Literal Translation
Much every way. For first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of God.

Young's Literal Translation
much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Surely very moch. First Vnto them was commytted what God spake.

Mace New Testament (1729)
much every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

New English Translation
Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

New King James Version
Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Well, more than you might think! First off, God trusted them with his story.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Contextual Overview

¹Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? ²Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very words]. ³What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it? ⁴Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture], "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED [by sinful men]." ⁵But 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.) ⁶Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? ⁷But [as you might say] if through my lie God's truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? ⁸And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) "Let us do evil so that good may come of it"? Their condemnation [by God] is just. ⁹Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power. ¹⁰As it is written and forever remains written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS [none that meets God's standard], NOT EVEN ONE.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Much: Romans 3:3, Romans 11:1, Romans 11:2, Romans 11:15-23, Romans 11:28, Romans 11:29

because: Romans 2:18, Romans 9:4, Deuteronomy 4:7, Deuteronomy 4:8, Nehemiah 9:13, Nehemiah 9:14, Psalms 78:4-7, Psalms 147:19, Psalms 147:20, Isaiah 8:20, Ezekiel 20:11, Ezekiel 20:12, Luke 16:29-31, John 5:39, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 19:10

committed: 1 Corinthians 9:17, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Galatians 2:7, 1 Timothy 6:20

the oracles: Romans 1:2, Psalms 119:140, Daniel 10:21, Acts 7:38, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 5:12, 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 1:21, Revelation 22:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:16 - General Leviticus 15:2 - unto the Deuteronomy 32:10 - he instructed 2 Samuel 7:23 - what one 2 Chronicles 17:9 - the book Psalms 19:7 - law Psalms 76:1 - In Judah Psalms 78:5 - For he Song of Solomon 8:8 - she hath Isaiah 1:2 - I have Isaiah 22:1 - of vision Isaiah 40:21 - General Mark 12:1 - and set John 4:22 - we worship John 6:63 - the flesh John 18:35 - Amos I Romans 2:14 - which Romans 2:23 - that makest Romans 2:25 - circumcision Romans 3:19 - what things Galatians 3:19 - then 1 Timothy 3:15 - the pillar 2 Timothy 1:14 - good

Cross-References

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the venom of a serpent; They are like the deaf horned viper that stops up its ear,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Much every way,.... The circumcised Jew has greatly the advantage of the uncircumcised Gentile, מכל פנים, "in all respects",

על כל צד, "on every side", as the Rabbins speak; phrases to which this in the text answers:

chiefly; more especially, particularly, and in the first place;

because that unto them were committed the oracles of God; by which are meant the law of Moses, and the writings of the prophets, the institutions of the ceremonial law, and the prophecies of the Messiah and the Gospel church state; and in a word, all the books of the Old Testament, and whatsoever is contained in them; which are called so, because they are of divine inspiration, contain the mind and will of God, and are infallible and authoritative: and it was the privilege and profit of the Jews that they were intrusted with them, when other nations were not, and so had the advantage of them; they had them for their own use; for hereby they had a more clear and distinct knowledge of God than the Gentiles could have by the light of nature; and besides, became acquainted with the doctrines of a trinity of persons in the Godhead, of the sonship and deity of the Messiah, of the sacrifice, satisfaction, and righteousness of the Redeemer, and of salvation by him; and also with the manner of worshipping of God according to his will; all which the Gentiles were ignorant of. Moreover, they had the honour of being the keepers of these sacred books, these divine oracles, and of transmitting them to posterity, for the use of others.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Much every way - Or, in every respect. This is the answer of the apostle to the objection in Romans 3:1.

Chiefly - That is, this is the principal advantage, and one including all others. The main benefit of being a Jew is, to possess the sacred Scriptures and their instructions.

Unto them were committed - Or were intrusted, were confided. The word translated “were committed,” is what is commonly employed to express “faith” or “confidence,” and it implied “confidence” in them on the part of God in intrusting his oracles to them; a confidence which was not misplaced, for no people ever guarded a sacred trust or deposit with more fidelity, than the Jews did the Sacred Scriptures.

The oracles - The word “oracle” among the pagan meant properly the answer or response of a god, or of some priest supposed to be inspired, to an inquiry of importance, usually expressed in a brief sententious way, and often with great ambiguity. The place from which such a response was usually obtained was also called an oracle, as the oracle at Delphi, etc. These oracles were frequent among the pagan, and affairs of great importance were usually submitted to them. The word rendered “oracles” occurs in the New Testament but four times, Acts 7:38; Heb 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11; Romans 3:2. It is evidently used here to denote the Scriptures, as being what was spoken by God, and particularly perhaps the divine promises. To possess these was of course an eminent privilege, and included all others, as they instructed them in their duty, and were their guide in everything that pertained to them in this life and the life to come. They contained, besides, many precious promises respecting the future dignity of the nation in reference to the Messiah. No higher favor can be conferred on a people than to be put in possession of the sacred Scriptures. And this fact should excite us to gratitude, and lead us to endeavor to extend them also to other nations; compare Deuteronomy 4:7-8; Psalms 147:19-20.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 3:2. APOSTLE. Much every way — The Jews, in reference to the means and motives of obedience, enjoy many advantages beyond the Gentiles; and, principally, because to them were committed the oracles of God-that revelation of his will to Moses and the prophets, containing a treasure of excellencies, with which no other part of the world has been favoured; though they have most grievously abused these privileges.