ROM 9:30-33

Israelʼs Unbelief

30What then shall we say? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have grasped righteousness — and a righteousness that is by faith. [9:31] But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not arrive at the law. [9:32] Why? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if by works — they stumbled over the stone of stumbling, [9:33] as it is written: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman world, righteousness was often understood as a legal or moral standing before God or the gods, tied to divine favor or justice. For Jews, righteousness was closely linked to adherence to the Torah, seen as the path to covenantal faithfulness. Gentiles, however, were outside this framework, lacking the Torah yet still accountable to God. Paul’s audience would recognize the tension: Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness through the Torah, attained it through faith, while Israel, pursuing righteousness through the law, failed to attain it. This failure was not due to the law itself but to Israel’s reliance on works rather than faith. The metaphor of the stumbling stone would resonate deeply, evoking Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16) of a stone in Zion that would cause stumbling for those who reject God’s way. For Paul’s Roman audience, this stone was Christ, the unexpected means of righteousness that transcended ethnic and legal boundaries.

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How other translations render this

ROM 9:30

KJV: What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
BSB: What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Koinōnos: What then shall we say? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have grasped righteousness — and a righteousness that is by faith.

ROM 9:31

KJV: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
BSB: but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Koinōnos: But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not arrive at the law.

ROM 9:32

KJV: Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
BSB: Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Koinōnos: Why? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if by works — they stumbled over the stone of stumbling,

ROM 9:33

KJV: As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
BSB: as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Koinōnos: as it is written: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ROM 9:30

righteousness:The word translated 'righteousness' here carries the sense of both justice and the fulfillment of God's law, encompassing both right standing and right action.
have grasped:The term translated 'have grasped' implies a strong, active seizing or taking hold, suggesting a deliberate and successful acquisition.

ROM 9:31

not:The word translated 'not' in this context carries the nuance of 'did not attain' or 'did not arrive at,' emphasizing a failure to reach a destination or goal.

ROM 9:32

stone:The word translated 'stone' here specifically refers to a 'stumbling block' or an 'obstacle' that causes one to trip or fall, rather than just any rock.