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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Romans 2:21

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Formalism;   Hypocrisy;   Inconsistency;   Minister, Christian;   Sin;   Theft and Thieves;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Moses;   Life;   Thompson Chain Reference - Inconsistency;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;   The Topic Concordance - Blasphemy;   Dishonor;   Evangelism;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Hypocrites;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Family;   Hypocrisy;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Preach, Proclaim;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heathen;   Judgment, Last;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - James, the General Epistle of;   Scribes;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Education;   Formalism;   Holy Day;   Honest;   Law;   Romans Epistle to the;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crime;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Justification;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You teach others, so why don't you teach yourself? You tell them not to steal, but you yourself steal.
Revised Standard Version
you then who teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But thou which teachest another teachest not thy selfe. Thou preachest a man shuld not steale: and yet thou stealest.
Hebrew Names Version
You therefore who teach another, don't you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn't steal, do you steal?
International Standard Version
as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal?Psalm 50:16; Matthew 23:3;">[xr]
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?
New Century Version
You teach others, so why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but you steal.
Update Bible Version
you therefore that teach another, don't you teach yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, 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?
English Standard Version
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
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?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that proclaimest, a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Weymouth's 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?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
what thanne techist thou another, and techist not thi silf? Thou that prechist that me schal not stele, stelist?
English Revised Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Berean Standard Bible
you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
Contemporary English Version
But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You preach that it is wrong to steal. But 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]?
American Standard Version
thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Bible in Basic English
You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours?
Complete Jewish Bible
then, you who teach others, don't you teach yourself? Preaching, "Thou shalt not steal," do you steal?
Darby Translation
thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal?
Etheridge Translation
Thou, then, who teachest others, dost thou not teach thyself ? and who preachest that men should not steal, dost thou steal?
Murdock Translation
Thou therefore, who teachest others, teachest thou not thyself? And thou who teachest that men must not steal, dost thou steal?
King James Version (1611)
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest a man should not steale, doest thou steale?
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?
New Life Bible
You teach others. Why do you not teach yourselves? You tell others not to steal. Do you steal?
New Revised Standard
you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thou therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest, A man should not steale, doest thou steale?
George Lamsa Translation
Now, therefore, you teach others but fail to teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, yet you steal.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thou, therefore, that art teaching someone else, thyself, art thou not teaching? Thou that proclaimest - Do not steal! Art thou, stealing?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou therefore, that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou, that preachest that men should not steal, stealest.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thy selfe? Thou preachest a man shoulde not steale, yet thou stealest.
Good News Translation
You teach others—why don't you teach yourself? You preach, "Do not steal"—but do you yourself steal?
King James Version
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Lexham English Bible
Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal?
Literal Translation
Then the one teaching another, do you not teach yourself? The one preaching not to steal, do you steal?
Young's Literal Translation
Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now teachest thou other, and teachest not thy selfe. Thou preachest that a man shulde not steale, and thou stealest.
Mace New Testament (1729)
you therefore who instruct others don't you instruct yourself?
New English Translation
therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you 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?
Simplified Cowboy Version
But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You claim it is wrong to steal, but you steal anyway.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall 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?

Contextual Overview

17Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law— 21you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. 25Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

therefore: Psalms 50:16-21, Matthew 23:3-12, Luke 4:23, Luke 11:46, Luke 12:47, Luke 19:22, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 6:13, Titus 2:1-7

dost thou steal: Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 22:12, Ezekiel 22:13, Ezekiel 22:27, Amos 8:4-6, Micah 3:11, Matthew 21:13, Matthew 23:14

Reciprocal: Psalms 50:17 - hatest Isaiah 30:9 - will not Luke 6:41 - why Luke 6:42 - cast John 8:7 - He that John 10:10 - thief Acts 5:3 - to keep Romans 1:32 - knowing Romans 2:1 - for thou that James 3:1 - be

Cross-References

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
1 Samuel 26:12
So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord came over them.
Job 4:13
Among unsettling thoughts from visions in the night,when deep sleep comes over men,
Job 33:15
In a dream, a vision in the night,when deep sleep comes over peopleas they slumber on their beds,
Proverbs 19:15
Laziness induces deep sleep,and a lazy person will go hungry.
Daniel 8:18
While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?.... Several charges are here brought against the Jews, even against their teachers; for though they are put by way of question, they are to be considered as so many assertions and matters of fact; thus, though they taught others, they did not teach themselves; they were blind leaders of the blind; they were ignorant of the law, of the spirituality of it; they were desirous to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they said, nor whereof they affirmed: they were ignorant of the righteousness of God, of whom they boasted; and of the more excellent things of Moses, and the prophets, they pretended to explain; and of the Messiah, of whom their prophecies so much spoke: and besides, what they did understand and teach, they did not practise themselves; than which nothing is more shameful, or more betrays stupidity and ignorance; for as they themselves b say,

"he that teaches men, בדבר שהוא לא יעשה, "that which he himself does not do", is like a blind man who has a lamp in his hand, and enlightens others, but he, himself walks in darkness.''

And such teachers they own were among them.

"Beautiful (say they c) are the words which come out of the mouths of them that do, them: Ben Assai was a beautiful preacher, but did not well observe;''

i.e., to do what he said.

Thou that preach at a man should not steal, dost thou steal? some understand this figuratively, of stealing, or taking away the true sense of the law, and putting a false one upon it; of which these men were notoriously guilty: but rather, it is to be understood literally, not only of the inward desires and motions of their minds after this sin, and of their consenting to, and conniving at theft and robbery, but of their doing it themselves; who, under pretence of long prayers, "devoured widows' houses", Matthew 23:14, plundered and robbed them of their substance: no wonder that these men preferred Barabbas, a thief and a robber, to Jesus Christ.

b Sepher Hamaalot, p. 87. Apud Buxtorf. Heb. Florileg. p. 75. c Bereshit Rabba, fol. 30. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou therefore ... - He who is a teacher of others may be expected to be learned himself. They ought to be found to be possessed of superior knowledge; and by this question the apostle impliedly reproves them for their ignorance. The form of a question is chosen because it conveys the truth with greater force. He puts the question as if it were undeniable that they were grossly ignorant; compare Matthew 23:3, “They say, and do not,” etc.

That preachest - This word means to proclaim in any manner, whether in the synagogue, or in any place of public teaching.

Dost thou steal? - It cannot be proved, perhaps, that the Jews were extensively guilty of this crime. It is introduced partly, no doubt, to make the inconsistency of their conduct mere apparent. We expect a man to set an example of what he means by his public instruction.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Thou therefore — Dr. Taylor has paraphrased this and the three following verses thus: "What signify your pretensions to knowledge, and the office of teaching others, if you have no regard to your own doctrine? What are you the better for preaching against theft, if you are a thief yourself? Or for declaring adultery unlawful, if you live in the practice of it? Or for representing idolatry abominable, if you are guilty of sacrilege? What honours or singular favours do you deserve, if, while you glory in the law and your religious privileges, you dishonour God, and discredit his religion, by transgressing his law, and living in open contradiction to your profession? And this is more than supposition; notorious instances might be produced of the forementioned crimes, whereby the Jews of the present age have brought a reproach upon religion among the Gentiles; as well as those Jews of former times, of whom the Prophet Ezekiel speaks, Ezekiel 36:23: And I will sanctify my great name, which was PROFANED among the HEATHEN, which ye have PROFANED in the midst of them."

That the Jewish priesthood was exceedingly corrupt in the time of the apostle, and that they were so long before, is fully evident from the sacred writings and from Josephus. The high-priesthood was a matter of commerce, and was bought and sold like other commodities. Of this Josephus gives many instances. The rapine of Eli's sons descended to several generations. Dr. Whitby well observes that of all these things mentioned by the apostle the Jewish doctors were notoriously guilty; and of most of them they were accused by our Lord.

1. They said and did not; and laid heavy burdens upon others, which they would not touch with their own fingers, Matthew 23:3, Matthew 23:4.

2. They made the house of God a den of thieves, Matthew 21:13; John 2:16.

3. They were guilty of adultery by unjust divorces, Matthew 19:9.

4. Their polygamy was scandalous: even their rabbins, when they came to any place, would exclaim, Who will be my wife for a day?

As to idolatry, they were perfectly saved from it ever since the Babylonish captivity but to this succeeded sacrilege, as is most evident in the profanation of the temple, by their commerce transacted even within its courts; and their teaching the people that even their aged parents might be left to starve, provided the children made a present to the temple of that which should have gone for their support. According to Josephus, Bell. Jud. l. vi. c. 26, They were guilty of theft, treachery, adultery, sacrilege, rapine, and murder. And he adds, that new ways of wickedness were invented by them; and that of all their abominations the temple was the receptacle. In his Antiquities of the Jews, lib. xx. c. 8, he says: The servants of the high priests took away, by violence, the tithes of the priests, so that many of them perished for want of food. Even their own writers acknowledge that there were great irregularities and abominations among the rabbins.

So Bereshith rabba, sect. 55, fol. 54:

"Rabbi Abun proposed a parable concerning a master who taught his disciples not to pervert justice, and yet did it himself; not to show respect of persons, and yet did it himself; not to receive bribes, and yet received them himself; not to take usury, and yet took it himself. The disciple replied:-Rabbi, thou teachest me not to take usury, and yet thou takest it thyself! Can that be lawful to thee which is forbidden to me?"


 
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