Romans 2:23 (KJV)

What does Romans 2:23 mean?

Romans 2:23 challenges a person who takes pride in possessing God’s law while failing to obey it. Paul’s question points to the damage that such behavior does to God’s honor: the person’s conduct brings disgrace on the very God whose law is a source of pride.

Paul addresses the person as “thou,” meaning “you.” His question draws together the challenges in the preceding verses, where the person teaches others about stealing and adultery.

The Greek behind Romans 2:23

• “boast” — καυχάομαι (kauchaomai): The word carries the sense of taking pride or making a confident claim. Here the law is presented as a source of distinction for the person Paul addresses.
• “breaking” — παράβασις (parabasis): The word means a violation or crossing of a stated boundary. Here it points to acting against the law’s commands, not merely being unaware of them.

Why Romans 2:23 matters

• The law in view is God’s law, not simply a set of community customs. Paul connects “the law” with “God,” whose honor is affected by the person’s conduct.
• The question concerns more than a private contradiction. In the next verse, Paul cites a passage saying that God’s name is spoken against among the Gentiles—people outside the Jewish people—because of those he addresses.
• Paul’s wording is a pointed question rather than a detached description. “Dishonourest thou God?” presses the person he addresses to consider the seriousness of the charge.