Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

ROMANS 1:22KJV
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Romans 1:22 (KJV)

What does Romans 1:22 mean?

Romans 1:22 says that some people claimed to be wise, but in reality, they became foolish. The verse points out a contrast between how people saw themselves and what they actually became as a result of their choices.

Paul is writing to believers in Rome, describing how certain people, despite their confidence in their own wisdom, ended up acting in ways that showed a lack of true understanding. This verse is part of a larger section where Paul explains how turning away from God leads people to self-deception and moral confusion.

The Greek behind Romans 1:22

  • "wise" (σοφός, sophos): This word means someone who is skilled, clever, or learned. Paul uses it here to show that these people thought highly of their own intelligence or reasoning.
  • "fools" (μωραίνω, mōrainō): This word means to become foolish or senseless. The Greek carries the idea of losing good judgment, often by ignoring what is truly important.
  • "themselves" (ἑαυτούς, heautous): This word makes it clear that the claim to wisdom comes from their own self-assessment, not from others or from God.
  • "be" (εἶναι, einai): This is the basic verb "to be," used here to show the shift from what they claimed to what they actually became.

Why Romans 1:22 matters

  • Romans 1:22 warns against trusting only in human wisdom and self-confidence, showing how easily people can be mistaken about their own understanding.
  • The verse highlights a key theme in Romans 1: people’s rejection of God leads not to enlightenment, but to deeper confusion and error.
  • This verse sets up the argument that true wisdom comes from recognizing God, not from relying on one’s own ideas or status.

Where else these words appear

“themselves” Greek G5335 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 24:9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
  • Acts 25:19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
  • Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

“fools” Greek G3471 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
  • Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
  • 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

“wise” Greek G4680 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

“be” Greek G1511 · used in 124 verses

  • Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
  • Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
  • 2 Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.