The Meaning of Romans 2:22 Explained

Romans 2:22

KJV: Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

YLT: thou who art preaching not to steal, dost thou steal? thou who art saying not to commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou who art abhorring the idols, dost thou rob temples?

Darby: thou that sayest man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

ASV: thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou that sayest  a man should  not  commit adultery,  dost thou commit adultery?  thou that abhorrest  idols,  dost thou commit sacrilege? 

What does Romans 2:22 Mean?

Study Notes

commit sacrilege
Or, rob temples.

Context Summary

Romans 2:21-29 - He Requires Heart-Obedience
The Jew relied upon the position given him by the privileges and rites of Judaism, although his religious life, as such, had shrunk within these outward things, as a seed rattles in its pod. The Apostle's argument is meant to show that personal irreligion and unbelief will neutralize all the benefit that outward rites might promise; while humble faith will compensate for any disadvantage which might result from heathen origin and environment.
The Jew will become as a Gentile, unless he have the spiritual counterpart to outward rites, while Gentiles will become as the Chosen People of God, if they have that separation of soul and life which was set forth in the initial rite of the Jew. See Colossians 2:11. The mere outward rite does not constitute sonship to Abraham; and he who has never undergone it, but by faith has put away all filthiness of flesh and spirit, is entitled to all the promises made to Abraham and his seed. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 2

1  No excuse for sin
6  No escape from judgment
14  Gentiles cannot;
17  nor Jews

Greek Commentary for Romans 2:22

That abhorrest [ο βδελυσσομενος]
Old word to make foul, to stink, to have abhorrence for. In lxx, in N.T. only here and Revelation 21:8. The very word used by Jesus to express their horror of idols See note on Matthew 24:15 for “abomination.” [source]
Dost thou rob temples? [ιεροσυλεισ]
Old verb from ιεροσυλος — hierosulos (Acts 19:37) and that from ιερον — hieron temple, and συλαω — sulaō to rob. The town clerk (Acts 19:37) said that these Jews (Paul and his companions) were “not robbers of temples,” proof that the charge was sometimes made against Jews, though expressly forbidden the Jews (Josephus, Ant. IV. 8, 10). Paul refers to the crime of robbing idol temples in spite of the defilement of contact with idolatry. [source]
Sayest [λέγων]
The denunciation is not so pronounced. The Talmud charges the crime of adultery upon the three most illustrious Rabbins. [source]
Abhorrest [βδελυσσόμενος]
The verb means originally to turn away from a thing on account of the stench. See on abomination, Matthew 24:15. [source]
Commit sacrilege [ἱεροσυλεῖς]
Rev. renders according to the etymology, ἱερόν temple συλάω todespoil; hence rob temples. Some explain, the pillage of idol temples; others, robbing the Jewish temple by embezzlement, withholding the temple tribute, etc. The robbery of temples as practiced by the Jews is inferred from Acts 19:37. Compare Josephus, Antiq., 4:8,10, where he lays down the law not to plunder Gentile temples, nor to seize treasure stored up there in honor of any God. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 2:22

Acts 19:37 Neither robbers of temples [ουτε ιεροσυλους]
Common word in Greek writers from ιερον — hieron temple, and συλαω — sulaō to rob, be guilty of sacrilege. The word is found also on inscriptions in Ephesus. The Jews were sometimes guilty of this crime (Romans 2:22), since the heathen temples often had vast treasures like banks. The ancients felt as strongly about temple-robbing as westerners used to feel about a horse-thief. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed [ἐσύλησα]
Only here in the New Testament, though it appears in the verb ἱεροσυλέω tocommit sacrilege, Romans 2:22, and in ἱεροσύλοι robbersof churches, Acts 19:37. Originally to strip off, as arms from a slain foe, and thence, generally, to rob, plunder, with the accompanying notion of violence. Paul thus strongly expresses the fact that he had accepted from other churches more than their share, that he might not draw on the Corinthians. [source]
Titus 1:16 Abominable [βδελυκτοὶ]
N.T.oClass. lxx, Proverbs 17:15; 2 Maccabees 1:27. See on βδέλυγμα abomination Matthew href="/desk/?q=mt+24:15&sr=1">Matthew 24:15, and comp. Revelation 17:4, Revelation 17:5; Revelation 21:27. The kindred verb, βδελύσσεσθαι abhor Romans 2:22; Revelation 21:8. [source]
Revelation 21:8 For the fearful [τοις δειλοις]
Old word (from δειδω — deidō to fear) for the cowardly, who recanted under persecution, in N.T. only here, Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40.Unbelieving (απιστοις — apistois). “Faithless,” “untrustworthy,” in contrast with Christ “ο πιστος — ho pistos ” (Revelation 1:5). Cf. Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 17:14. Disloyalty is close kin to cowardice.Abominable Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Abominable [εβδελυγμενοις]
Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 2:22 mean?

You saying not to commit adultery do you commit adultery abhorring - idols do you rob temples
λέγων μὴ μοιχεύειν μοιχεύεις βδελυσσόμενος τὰ εἴδωλα ἱεροσυλεῖς

λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
μοιχεύειν  to  commit  adultery 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: μοιχεύω  
Sense: to commit adultery.
μοιχεύεις  do  you  commit  adultery 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μοιχεύω  
Sense: to commit adultery.
βδελυσσόμενος  abhorring 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: βδελύσσομαι  
Sense: to render foul, to cause to be abhorred.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἴδωλα  idols 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: εἴδωλον  
Sense: an image, likeness.
ἱεροσυλεῖς  do  you  rob  temples 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἱεροσυλέω  
Sense: to commit sacrilege, to rob a temple.