“Shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?”
The full verse · Romans 2:27 · KJV
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Asked to
Jews: the Jew Paul has addressed as "thou" since Romans 2:17, who has "the letter and circumcision" (Romans 2:25-27)
The Scene
Paul has just asked whether an uncircumcised person who keeps the law will be counted as circumcised (Romans 2:26).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionPaul presses his argument one step further. Not only would God accept a law-keeping Gentile (Romans 2:26); that Gentile's obedience would stand as a witness against the Jew who has every advantage and still breaks the law. Barnes gives the sense: "Shall not a pagan man who has none of your external privileges, if he keeps the law, condemn you who are Jews; who, although you have the letter and circumcision, are nevertheless transgressors of the law?" Matthew Henry says that "the obedience of those that enjoy less means, and make a less profession" will help condemn those who enjoy greater means.
The Response
What Scripture recordsPaul answers by explaining what makes a true Jew: "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Romans 2:28-29). The ESV renders Romans 2:27 itself as a statement: the uncircumcised law-keeper "will condemn you."
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Uncircumcision which is by nature" means a Gentile in his natural state. Barnes calls it "the natural state of man," his condition before receiving any of the rites of the Jewish religion. "The letter" means the written law, which the ESV renders "the written code." "Judge" here carries the sense of condemn, as Barnes explains and as the ESV translates it.
The Jew in this verse had two outward advantages: the written law and the covenant sign. Paul's charge is that he had both and still "dost transgress the law."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus used the same pattern: "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas" (Matthew 12:41), and the queen of the south "shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it" (Matthew 12:42). Barnes cites these verses here. Those with fewer privileges who respond to God expose those with more who do not.
This shows God's fairness. Privilege increases responsibility; it does not grant immunity. As Paul said earlier, "there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11).
Look Closer
Who would "judge" the circumcised lawbreaker in Romans 2:27?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Father, what have You given me that I have treated as a shield instead of a call to obey You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Why do you think greater knowledge of God can sometimes make people less responsive to Him rather than more?
- Tell about a time you were stirred by the faith of someone who had far less religious background than you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Every spiritual advantage you have, whether Scripture, teaching, a church, or a godly family, is a gift meant to lead you to obey God, not a reason to feel secure while ignoring Him.
This doesn't mean having privilege is a bad thing. Paul says the advantage of the Jew is "much every way" (Romans 3:2). Privilege is a blessing that comes with responsibility. Receive it with gratitude and let it lead you to the inward change Paul describes in Romans 2:29.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?”
“What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?”
“Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles?”
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also?”