For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

ROMANS 10:3KJV
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Romans 10:3 (KJV)

What does Romans 10:3 mean?

Romans 10:3 explains that some people did not understand or accept the way God makes people right with Himself, and instead tried to set up their own way of being righteous. Because of this, they did not accept or submit to God’s way of making people righteous.

Paul is writing to the believers in Rome, talking specifically about his fellow Israelites. He points out that they missed God’s plan for righteousness (being right with God) because they tried to achieve it on their own terms, rather than accepting what God provided. This verse highlights the difference between human efforts and God’s gift of righteousness.

The Greek behind Romans 10:3

  • δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē, “righteousness”): This word appears several times in the verse and refers to being right or just in God’s eyes. Paul contrasts “God’s righteousness” with “their own righteousness,” highlighting two very different approaches.
  • ἰδίος (idios, “own”): This word means “their own” and stresses that the people were relying on their personal standards or achievements, not on what God offers.
  • ὑποτάσσω (hypotassō, “submitted”): This word means to submit or yield. Paul says they “have not submitted” to God’s righteousness, showing that accepting God’s way requires humility and a willingness to receive, not just effort.

Why Romans 10:3 matters

  • Romans 10:3 clarifies that being right with God is not about following our own rules or traditions, but about accepting what God has provided.
  • The verse helps explain why many Israelites in Paul’s time did not recognize or accept Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise of righteousness.
  • This verse connects to Paul’s larger argument in Romans, showing the difference between trying to earn righteousness and receiving it as a gift from God.

Where else these words appear

“ignorant” Greek G50 · used in 21 verses

  • Mark 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
  • Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
  • 2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

“have” Greek G5293 · used in 32 verses

  • Luke 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
  • Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

“righteousness” Greek G1343 · used in 85 verses

  • Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
  • Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
  • Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“own” Greek G2398 · used in 109 verses

  • Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
  • John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
  • Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.