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Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Romans 2:25

If you follow the law, your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, it is as if you were never circumcised.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Circumcision;   Formalism;   Hypocrisy;   Minister, Christian;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Moses;   The Topic Concordance - Circumcision;   Disobedience;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Circumcision;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   Circumcision;   Mission;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Law;   Motives;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Judgment, Last;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - James, the General Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Circumcision;   Fool;   Formalism;   Romans Epistle to the;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Uncircumcised;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Law of Moses, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Foreskin;   Justification;   Verily;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Circumcision;   Polemics and Polemical Literature;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
King James Version (1611)
For Circumcision verily profiteth if thou keepe the Law: but if thou be a breaker of the Law, thy Circumcision is made vncircumcision.
King James Version
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
English Standard Version
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
New American Standard Bible
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision.
Amplified Bible
Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God's sight].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Legacy Standard Bible
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Berean Standard Bible
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Contemporary English Version
Being circumcised is worthwhile, if you obey the Law. But if you don't obey the Law, you are no better off than people who are not circumcised.
Complete Jewish Bible
For circumcision is indeed of value if you do what Torah says. But if you are a transgressor of Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision!
Darby Translation
For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep [the] law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
Easy-to-Read Version
If you follow the law, then your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, then it is as if you were never circumcised.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For circucision verely is profitable, if thou do the Lawe: but if thou be a transgressour of the Lawe, thy circumcision is made vncircumcision.
George Lamsa Translation
For circumcision is profitable only if you keep the law: but if you break the law, then circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
Good News Translation
If you obey the Law, your circumcision is of value; but if you disobey the Law, you might as well never have been circumcised.
Lexham English Bible
For circumcision is of value if you do the law, but if you should be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Literal Translation
For indeed circumcision profits if you practice the Law, but if you are a transgressor of Law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
American Standard Version
For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
Bible in Basic English
It is true that circumcision is of use if you keep the law, but if you go against the law it is as if you had it not.
Hebrew Names Version
For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
International Standard Version
For circumcision is valuable if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.Galatians 5:3;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For circumcision profiteth, if thou accomplish the law; but if thou transgress the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcisedness.
Murdock Translation
For circumcision profiteth, indeed, if thou fulfillest the law: but if thou departest from the law, thy circumcision becometh uncircumcision.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For circumcision veryly auayleth, yf thou kepe the lawe: But yf thou be a breaker of the lawe, thy circumcision is made vncircumcision.
English Revised Version
For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
World English Bible
For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou keepest the law; but if thou art a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
Weymouth's New Testament
Circumcision does indeed profit, if you obey the Law; but if you are a Law-breaker, the fact that you have been circumcised counts for nothing.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For circumcisioun profitith, if thou kepe the lawe; but if thou be a trespassour ayens the lawe, thi circumsicioun is maad prepucie.
Update Bible Version
For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law: but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Webster's Bible Translation
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keepest the law; but if thou art a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
New English Translation
For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
New King James Version
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
New Living Translation
The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.
New Life Bible
Going through the religious act of becoming a Jew is worth something if you obey the Law. If you do not obey the Law, it is worth nothing to you.
New Revised Standard
Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, circumcision, indeed, profiteth - if, law, thou be practising; but, if thou be a transgressor of law, thy circumcision, hath become, uncircumcision
Douay-Rheims Bible
Circumcision profiteth indeed, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Revised Standard Version
Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Circumcisio verely avayleth if thou kepe the lawe. But if thou breake the lawe thy circumcision is made vncircumcision.
Young's Literal Translation
For circumcision, indeed, doth profit, if law thou mayest practise, but if a transgressor of law thou mayest be, thy circumcision hath become uncircumcision.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The circucision verely avayleth, yf thou kepe the lawe: but yf thou breake the lawe, then is thy circumcision become vncircumcision.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Circumcision indeed is an advantage, if you keep the law: but if you violate the law, your being a Jew makes you no better than a heathen.
THE MESSAGE
Circumcision, 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.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Havin' your pickle clipped is great if you're following the Code, but if you ain't, you're missing more than just a piece of yourself.

Contextual Overview

17 What about you? You call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law of Moses and brag that you are close to God. 18 You know what he wants you to do and what is important, because you have learned the law. 19 You think you are a guide for the blind and a light for those who are in darkness. 20 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. 21 You teach others, so why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but you steal. 22 You say that others must not take part in adultery, but you are guilty of that sin. You hate idols, but you steal from temples. 23 You brag about having God's law, but you bring shame to God by breaking his law, 24 just as the Scriptures say: "Those who are not Jews speak against God's name because of you." 25 If you follow the law, your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, it is as if you were never circumcised. 26 People who are not Jews are not circumcised, but if they do what the law says, it is as if they were circumcised.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

circumcision: Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29, Romans 3:1, Romans 3:2, Romans 4:11, Romans 4:12, Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Galatians 5:3-6, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:12

but if: Romans 2:23, Jeremiah 9:25, Jeremiah 9:26, Acts 7:51

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:23 - circumcised John 6:63 - the flesh Acts 10:35 - in Romans 2:13 - For not 1 Corinthians 7:19 - Circumcision Galatians 5:6 - in Philippians 3:3 - we Hebrews 2:16 - verily Hebrews 4:2 - did James 2:14 - What

Cross-References

Genesis 2:10
A river flowed through Eden and watered the garden. From there the river branched out to become four rivers.
Genesis 2:11
The first river, named Pishon, flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.
Genesis 3:7
Then, it was as if their eyes were opened. They realized they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made something to cover themselves.
Exodus 32:25
Moses saw that the people were acting wildly. Aaron had let them get out of control and become fools in front of their enemies.
Psalms 25:3
No one who trusts you will be disgraced, but those who sin without excuse will be disgraced.
Psalms 31:17
Lord , I called to you, so do not let me be disgraced. Let the wicked be disgraced and lie silent in the grave.
Isaiah 44:9
Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing. People treasure them, but they are useless. Those people are witnesses for the statues, but those people cannot see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed.
Isaiah 47:3
People will see your nakedness; they will see your shame. I will punish you; I will punish every one of you."
Isaiah 54:4
"Don't be afraid, because you will not be ashamed. Don't be embarrassed, because you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame you felt earlier; you will not remember the shame you felt when you lost your husband.
Jeremiah 6:15
They should be ashamed of the terrible way they act, but they are not ashamed at all. They don't even know how to blush about their sins. So they will fall, along with everyone else. They will be thrown to the ground when I punish them," says the Lord .

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For circumcision verily profiteth,.... The plea from circumcision in favour of the Jews, and their acceptance with God, and justification before him, is here, and in the following verses, considered. The apostle allows that circumcision was profitable; which must be understood whilst it was in force, before the abrogation of it, for since, it is not profitable but pernicious; and then it was only profitable, in case the law was kept:

if thou keepest the law; that is, perfectly; for circumcision obliged persons to keep the whole law. Now the circumcised Jews did not keep it in such sense; wherefore circumcision was of no use to them, but, on the contrary, was an handwriting against them.

But if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision; that is, it is not accounted circumcision; it is of no avail; such a man was all one as an uncircumcised Gentile, and appeared to be uncircumcised in a spiritual sense: the apostle perhaps alludes to a practice among some of the Jews, to bring on and draw over the foreskin, after they had been circumcised; :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For circumcision - John 7:22 note; Acts 7:8 note. This was the special rite by which the relation to the covenant of Abraham was recognised; or by which the right to all the privileges of a member of the Jewish commonwealth was acknowledged. The Jews of course affixed a high importance to the rite.

Verily profiteth - Is truly a benefit; or is an advantage. The meaning is, that their being recognised as members of the Jewish commonwealth, and introduced to the privileges of the Jew, was an advantage; see Romans 3:1-2. The apostle was not disposed to deny that they possessed this advantage, but he tells them why it was a benefit, and how it might fail of conferring any favor.

If thou keep the law - The mere sign can be of no value, The mere fact of being a Jew is not what God requires. It may be a favor to have his Law, but the mere possession of the Law cannot entitle to the favor of God. So it is a privilege to be born in a Christian land; to have had pious parents; to be amidst the ordinances of religion; to be trained in Sundayschools; and to be devoted to God in baptism: for all these are favorable circumstances for salvation. But none of them entitle to the favor of God; and unless they are improved as they should be, they may be only the means of increasing our condemnation; 2 Corinthians 2:16.

Thy circumcision is made uncircumcision - Thy circumcision, or thy being called a Jew, is of no value. It will not distinguish you from those who are not circumcised. You will be treated as a pagan. No external advantages, no name, or rite, or ceremony will save you. God requires the obedience of the heart and of the life. Where there is a disposition to render that, there is an advantage in possessing the external means of grace. Where that is missing, no rite or profession can save. This applies with as much force to those who have been baptized in infancy, and to those who have made a profession of religion in a Christian church, as to the Jew.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. For circumcision verily profiteth — It is a blessing to belong to the Church of God and wear the sign of the covenant, provided the terms of the covenant are complied with.

But if thou be a breaker of the law — If thou do not observe the conditions of the covenant, the outward sign is both without meaning and without effect. This was a maxim of the rabbins themselves; for they allowed that an apostate or ungodly Israelite must go to hell, notwithstanding his circumcision.


 
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