Romans 2:20

King James Version

An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
You say you're a clinician who can teach fools and a top hand the young'uns can follow. You are absolutely certain the Code contains the full measure of knowledge and truth that there is.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

Legacy Standard Bible
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

Bible in Basic English
A teacher of the foolish, having in the law the form of knowledge and of what is true;

Darby Translation
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law:

New King James Version
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

Christian Standard Bible®
an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression of knowledge and truth in the law—

World English Bible
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

Weymouth's New Testament
a schoolmaster for the dull and ignorant, a teacher of the young, because in the Law you possess an outline of real knowledge and an outline of the truth:

King James Version (1611)
An instructour of the foolish, a teacher of babes: which hast the forme of knowledge and of the trueth in the Law:

Literal Translation
an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
an enformer of ye vnwyse: a teacher of ye symple: which hast the ensample of knowlege & of the trueth in the lawe.

Mace New Testament (1729)
an instructer of the ignorant, a teacher to the weak, because you have a clear view of the true meaning of the law.

Amplified Bible
and [that you are] a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the [spiritually] childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—

American Standard Version
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

Revised Standard Version
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
an informer of them which lacke discrecio a teacher of vnlearned which hast the ensample of that which ought to be knowen and of the truth in the lawe.

Update Bible Version
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

Webster's Bible Translation
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law:

Young's Literal Translation
an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the law.

New Century Version
You think you can show foolish people what is right and teach those who know nothing. You have the law; so you think you know everything and have all truth.

New English Translation
an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth—

Berean Standard Bible
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-

Contemporary English Version
And since there is knowledge and truth in God's Law, you think you can instruct fools and teach young people.

Complete Jewish Bible
an instructor for the spiritually unaware and a teacher of children, since in the Torah you have the embodiment of knowledge and truth;

English Standard Version
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

Geneva Bible (1587)
An instructer of them which lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned, which hast the forme of knowledge, & of the truth in ye Law.

George Lamsa Translation
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, you are the semblance of knowledge and of truth as embodied in the law.

Hebrew Names Version
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

International Standard Version
an instructor of ignorant people, and a teacher of infants because you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the lawRomans 6:17; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:5;">[xr] -

Etheridge Translation
and an instructor of the wanting-in-mind, and a teacher of children, and hast a type of knowledge and of truth in the law:

Murdock Translation
and an instructor of those lacking knowledge, and a preceptor to the young; and thou hast the appearance of knowledge and of verity in the law:

New Living Translation
You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

New Life Bible
You think you can teach foolish people and children about God. You have in the Law the plan of truth and wisdom.

English Revised Version
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

New Revised Standard
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A trainer of the simple, a teacher of babes, having the forming of knowledge and truth in the law, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.

Lexham English Bible
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
An infourmer of them whiche lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned: which hast the fourme of knowledge, & of the trueth in the lawe.

Easy-to-Read Version
You think you can show foolish people what is right. And you think you are a teacher for those who are just beginning to learn. You have the law, and so you think you know everything and have all truth.

New American Standard Bible
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—

Good News Translation
an instructor for the foolish, and a teacher for the ignorant. You are certain that in the Law you have the full content of knowledge and of truth.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
a techere of vnwise men, a maistir of yonge children, that hast the foorme of kunnyng and of treuthe in the lawe;

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, ¹⁸ And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; ¹⁹ And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, ²⁰ An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. ²¹ Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? ²² Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? ²³ Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? ²⁴ For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. ²⁵ For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a teacher: Matthew 11:25, 1 Corinthians 3:1, Hebrews 5:13, 1 Peter 2:2

the form: Romans 6:17, 2 Timothy 1:13, 2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 1:16

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:14 - the light Romans 2:27 - by the 2 Timothy 3:16 - for instruction James 3:1 - be

Cross-References

Genesis 2:18
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

An instructor of the foolish,.... All men in a state of unregeneracy are foolish, and need instruction; here the common people among the Jews, who knew not the law, are meant; it was very usual to call anyone of their doctors and masters מורה, "an instructor": it follows,

a teacher of babes; either in age or in understanding; such who taught either of them were called by the Jews מלמדי תינוקות, "teachers of babes". Thus they paraphrase the text in Daniel 12:3:

"they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. This is the Judge who judges, the judgment of truth truly, and the collectors of alms: and they that turn, many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever; these are, מלמדי תנוקות, "the teachers of babes" z.''

Though these are said a to be inferior to the wise men, or doctors:

which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law: they had not a true knowledge of the law; only a draught and scheme, the outward form of the law, and a mere shadow and appearance of the knowledge of the truth of it. From hence the apostle would have it concluded, that though the Jews had the law, and in some sense knew it, yet inasmuch as they did not perform it, they could not be justified by it; and that even their teachers, their greatest masters and doctors, were very deficient, as appears from what follows; and since they could not be instilled by it, who taught others the knowledge of it, the hearers of it could not expect justification from it.

z T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2. & 21. 1, 2. Maimon. Hilchot Talmud Tora, c. 2. sect. 1. a Gloss in Sota, fol. 49. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Of the foolish - The word “foolish” is used in the Scriptures in two significations: to denote those who are void of understanding, and to denote the wicked. Here it is clearly used in the former sense, signifying that the Jew esteemed himself qualified to instruct those without knowledge.

Of babes - This is the literal meaning of the original word. The expression is figurative, and denotes those who were as ignorant as children - an expression which they would be likely to apply to all the Gentiles. It is evident that the character bare given by Paul to the Jews is one which they claimed, and of which they were proud. They are often mentioned as arrogating this prerogative to themselves, of being qualified to be guides and teachers of others; Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:2, Matthew 23:16, Matthew 23:24. It will be remembered, also, that the Jews considered themselves to be qualified to teach all the world, and hence evinced great zeal to make proselytes. And it is not improbable (Tholuck) that their Rabbies were accustomed to give the names “foolish” and “babes” to the ignorant proselytes which they had made from the pagan.

Which hast the form of knowledge - The word translated here as “form” properly denotes a delineations or picturing of a thing. It is commonly used to denote also the appearance of any object; what we see, without reference to its internal character; the external figure. It sometimes denotes the external appearance as distinguished from what is internal; or a hypocritical profession of religion without its reality; 2 Timothy 3:5. “Having the form of godliness, but denying its power.” It is sometimes used in a good, and sometimes in a bad sense. Here it denotes that in their teaching they retained the semblance, sketch, or outline of the true doctrines of the Old Testament. They had in the Scriptures a correct delineation of the truth. Truth is the representation of things as they are; and the doctrines which the Jews had in the Old Testament were a correct representation or delineation of the objects of knowledge; compare 2 Timothy 1:13.

In the law - In the Scriptures of the Old Testament. In these verses the apostle concedes to the Jews all that they would claim. Having made this concession of their superior knowledge, he is prepared with the more fidelity and force to convict them of their deep and dreadful depravity in sinning against the superior light and privileges which God had conferred on them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. An instructer of the foolish, c.] Ye believe the Gentiles to be babes and fools when compared with yourselves that ye alone possess the only true knowledge; that ye are the only favourites of Heaven; and that all nations must look up to you as possessing the only form of knowledge, μορφωσιν της γνωσεως, the grand scheme and draught of all true science, of every thing that is worthy to be learned: the system of eternal truth, derived from the law. If, therefore, ye act not as becomes those who have such eminent advantages, it must be to your endless disgrace and infamy.