Romans 2:28

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.

King James Version (1611)
For hee is not a Iew, which is one outwardly, neither is that Circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

King James Version
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

English Standard Version
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

New American Standard Bible
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

New Century Version
They can do this because a person is not a true Jew if he is only a Jew in his physical body; true circumcision is not only on the outside of the body.

Amplified Bible
For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

Legacy Standard Bible
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

Berean Standard Bible
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.

Contemporary English Version
Just because you live like a Jew and are circumcised doesn't make you a real Jew.

Complete Jewish Bible
For the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly: true circumcision is not only external and physical.

Darby Translation
For he is not a Jew who [is] one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh;

Easy-to-Read Version
You are not a true Jew if you are only a Jew in your physical body. True circumcision is not only on the outside of the body.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For hee is not a Iewe, which is one outwarde: neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

George Lamsa Translation
For it is not the one who is outwardly a Jew, who is the real Jew; neither is circumcision that which is seen in the flesh.

Good News Translation
After all, who is a real Jew, truly circumcised? It is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, whose circumcision is a physical thing.

Lexham English Bible
For the Jew is not one outwardly, nor is circumcision outwardly, in the flesh.

Literal Translation
For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that outwardly in flesh;

American Standard Version
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:

Bible in Basic English
The true Jew is not one who is only so publicly, and circumcision is not that which may be seen in the flesh:

Hebrew Names Version
For he is not a Yehudi who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;

International Standard Version
For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something external and physical.Matthew 3:9; John 8:39; Romans 9:6-7; Galatians 6:15; Revelation 2:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
FOR it is not in outwardness that he is a Jihudoya nor is that which is seen in the flesh circumcision:

Murdock Translation
For he is not a Jew, who is so in what is external: nor is that circumcision, which is visible in the flesh.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For he is not a Iewe, whiche is a Iewe outwarde. Neither is that circucision which is outwarde in the fleshe:

English Revised Version
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

World English Bible
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For he is not a Jew, who is one in outward shew, neither is that circumcision which is apparent in the flesh.

Weymouth's New Testament
For the true Jew is not the man who is simply a Jew outwardly, and true circumcision is not that which is outward and bodily.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For he that is in opene is not a Jew, nether it is circumsicioun that is openli in the fleisch;

Update Bible Version
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:

Webster's Bible Translation
For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

New English Translation
For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,

New King James Version
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;

New Living Translation
For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

New Life Bible
A man is not a Jew just because he goes through the religious act of becoming a Jew.

New Revised Standard
For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, not he who is one in appearance, is a Jew, nor is, that which is such in appearance in flesh, circumcision;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For it is not he is a Jew, who is so outwardly: nor is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh.

Revised Standard Version
For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For he is not a Iewe which is a Iewe out warde. Nether is that thynge circumcision which is outwarde in the flesshe.

Young's Literal Translation
For he is not a Jew who is [so] outwardly, neither [is] circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For he is not a Iew which is a Iewe outwarde: nether is that circucision which is done outwardly in ye flesh:

Mace New Testament (1729)
for it is not the Jew in outward appearance, neither is it the external mark of circumcision:

Simplified Cowboy Version
Birth and circumcision doesn't make you a real Jew.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away. ²⁵Circumcision, the surgical ritual that marks you as a Jew, is great if you live in accord with God's law. But if you don't, it's worse than not being circumcised. The reverse is also true: The uncircumcised who keep God's ways are as good as the circumcised—in fact, better. Better to keep God's law uncircumcised than break it circumcised. Don't you see: It's not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. You become a Jew by who you are. It's the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For he: Romans 9:6-8, Psalms 73:1, Isaiah 1:9-15, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Hosea 1:6-9, Matthew 3:9, John 1:47, John 8:37-39, Galatians 6:15, Revelation 2:9

neither: Jeremiah 9:26, Romans 4:10-12, 1 Peter 3:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every Genesis 17:12 - he that is eight days old Genesis 34:24 - every male Leviticus 26:41 - their uncircumcised Numbers 16:3 - all the Deuteronomy 10:16 - Circumcise Deuteronomy 30:6 - will circumcise 1 Samuel 4:3 - it may save 1 Samuel 17:36 - this Psalms 59:5 - the heathen Isaiah 45:17 - Israel Jeremiah 4:4 - take Ezekiel 44:7 - uncircumcised in heart Micah 2:7 - named John 3:10 - and knowest John 8:39 - If Acts 7:51 - uncircumcised Romans 2:17 - thou art Romans 2:25 - circumcision Romans 4:11 - a seal 2 Corinthians 10:7 - ye look Galatians 6:16 - the Israel Philippians 3:2 - the

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly,.... The apostle removes the plea in favour of the Jews, taken from their name and privilege, by distinguishing between a Jew and a Jew, and between circumcision and circumcision: "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly"; by mere name, nature, nation, religion, and profession:

neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; which takes away the flesh of the foreskin, but not the carnality of the heart; leaves a mark upon the flesh, but no impression on the mind. This is nothing, is not the true, solid, substantial, spiritual circumcision, which only avails in the sight of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For he is not a Jew ... - He who is merely descended from Abraham, and is circumcised, and externally conforms to the Law only, does not possess the true character, and manifest the true spirit, contemplated by the separation of the Jewish people. Their separation required much more.

Neither is that circumcision ... - Neither does it meet the full design of the rite of circumcision, that it is externally performed. It contemplated much more; see Romans 2:29.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 28. For he is not a Jew — A genuine member of the Church of God, who has only an outward profession.

Neither is that circumcision — Circumcision is a rite which represents a spiritual thing, viz. the change and purification of the heart, as may be seen, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 4:6, Jeremiah 4:10; Jeremiah 9:26; Ezekiel 44:7, Ezekiel 44:9.