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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/3-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/45_Rom_03_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 3:23 - Righteousness through Faith" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/romans/3-23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/romans/3-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/romans/">Romans</a> > <a href="/romans/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/3-22.htm" title="Romans 3:22">◄</a> Romans 3:23 <a href="/romans/3-24.htm" title="Romans 3:24">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/romans/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/romans/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/romans/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/romans/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/romans/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/romans/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/romans/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/romans/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/romans/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/romans/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/romans/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/romans/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />since all have sinned and <i>continually</i> fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/romans/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/romans/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/romans/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/romans/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/romans/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/romans/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/romans/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/romans/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/romans/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/romans/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/romans/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/romans/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/romans/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/romans/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/romans/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God -- <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/romans/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For all have sinned, and failed of the glory of God;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/romans/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/romans/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/romans/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/romans/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/romans/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For all have sinned and are short of the glory of God:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Because all of them have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God,<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/romans/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/romans/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />for all sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/romans/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/romans/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />for all having sinned, all have forfeited eternal glory:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/romans/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />for all sinned, and are coming short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/romans/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/romans/3-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=750" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/romans/3.htm">Righteousness through Faith</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">for</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pantes (Adj-NMP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all</a> <a href="/greek/264.htm" title="264: hēmarton (V-AIA-3P) -- Perhaps from a and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark, i.e. to err, especially to sin.">have sinned</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/5302.htm" title="5302: hysterountai (V-PIM/P-3P) -- From husteros; to be later, i.e. to be inferior; generally, to fall short.">fall short</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/1391.htm" title="1391: doxēs (N-GFS) -- From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.">glory</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God,</a> </span> <span class="reftext">24</span>and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12</a></span><br />Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-8.htm">1 John 1:8-10</a></span><br />If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-20.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:20</a></span><br />Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/14-2.htm">Psalm 14:2-3</a></span><br />The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/53-2.htm">Psalm 53:2-3</a></span><br />God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-6.htm">Isaiah 53:6</a></span><br />We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-6.htm">Isaiah 64:6</a></span><br />Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-22.htm">Galatians 3:22</a></span><br />But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-10.htm">James 2:10</a></span><br />Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-46.htm">1 Kings 8:46</a></span><br />When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/6-36.htm">2 Chronicles 6:36</a></span><br />When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14-16</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? / If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, / how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/25-4.htm">Job 25:4-6</a></span><br />How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure? / If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, / how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/20-9.htm">Proverbs 20:9</a></span><br />Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-9.htm">Jeremiah 17:9</a></span><br />The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;</p><p class="hdg">all have.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/3-9.htm">Romans 3:9,19</a></b></br> What then? are we better <i>than they</i>? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/1-28.htm">Romans 1:28-32</a></b></br> And even as they did not like to retain God in <i>their</i> knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/2-1.htm">Romans 2:1</a></b></br> Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.</p><p class="hdg">come.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1</a></b></br> Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left <i>us</i> of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.</p><p class="hdg">of.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/5-2.htm">Romans 5:2</a></b></br> By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_thessalonians/2-12.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:12</a></b></br> That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_thessalonians/2-14.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:14</a></b></br> Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/3-9.htm">Alike</a> <a href="/colossians/2-18.htm">Consciously</a> <a href="/romans/2-8.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/romans/3-6.htm">Far</a> <a href="/romans/3-7.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/romans/1-32.htm">Short</a> <a href="/romans/3-20.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/romans/2-12.htm">Sinned</a> <a href="/romans/3-12.htm">Wrong</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/romans/11-32.htm">Alike</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-7.htm">Consciously</a> <a href="/romans/8-15.htm">Fall</a> <a href="/romans/3-31.htm">Far</a> <a href="/romans/4-2.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/romans/9-28.htm">Short</a> <a href="/romans/4-8.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Sinned</a> <a href="/romans/5-14.htm">Wrong</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-1.htm">The Jews prerogative;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-3.htm">which they have not lost;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-9.htm">howbeit the law convinces them also of sin;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-20.htm">therefore no one is justified by the law;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-28.htm">but all, without difference, by faith, only;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/3-31.htm">and yet the law is not abolished.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/romans/3.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>for all</b><br />The phrase "for all" in <a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a> emphasizes the universality of the human condition. The Greek word used here is "πάντες" (pantes), which means "all" or "everyone." This word underscores the inclusive nature of the statement, indicating that no one is exempt from what follows. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding that both Jews and Gentiles are under the same moral and spiritual obligations before God. In a broader scriptural context, this aligns with the biblical narrative that all humanity, regardless of ethnicity or background, shares in the same fallen nature.<p><b>have sinned</b><br />The phrase "have sinned" comes from the Greek word "ἥμαρτον" (hēmarton), which is the aorist tense of "hamartano," meaning "to miss the mark" or "to err." This term was often used in ancient Greek to describe an archer missing the target. In the biblical context, it signifies falling short of God's standards and moral law. The aorist tense indicates a completed action, suggesting that sin is a definitive aspect of human history and experience. This concept is deeply rooted in the narrative of the Fall in Genesis, where humanity first deviated from God's command.<p><b>and fall short</b><br />The phrase "and fall short" is translated from the Greek word "ὑστεροῦνται" (hysterountai), which means "to lack" or "to come short of." This verb is in the present tense, indicating an ongoing state or condition. It suggests that not only have all sinned in the past, but they continue to fall short in the present. This ongoing shortcoming highlights the persistent nature of human imperfection and the need for divine grace. Theologically, it points to the continuous need for redemption and sanctification in the life of a believer.<p><b>of the glory of God</b><br />The phrase "of the glory of God" refers to the divine standard of holiness and perfection. The Greek word for "glory" is "δόξα" (doxa), which can mean "splendor," "brightness," or "honor." In the biblical context, it often refers to the manifest presence and holiness of God. Historically, the glory of God was associated with His presence in the tabernacle and the temple, symbolizing His holiness and majesty. In this verse, it underscores the vast chasm between human sinfulness and God's perfect holiness. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal of salvation: to restore humanity to a state where they can reflect and partake in God's glory.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/romans/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">All have sinned and come short.</span>--Strictly, <span class= "ital">all sinned;</span> the Apostle looking back upon an act done in past time under the old legal dispensation, without immediate reference to the present: he then goes on to say that the result of that act (as distinct from the act itself) continues on into the present. The result is that mankind, in a body, as he now sees them, and before they come within the range of the new Christian system, fall short of, miss, or fail to obtain, the glory of God.<p><span class= "bld">Glory of God.</span>--What is this glory? Probably not here, as in <a href="/romans/8-18.htm" title="For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.">Romans 8:18</a>; <a href="/romans/8-21.htm" title="Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.">Romans 8:21</a>, the glory which will be inaugurated for the saints at the <span class= "ital">Parusia,</span> or Second Coming of the Messiah--for that is something future--but, rather, something which is capable of being conferred in the present, viz., the glory which comes from the favour and approval of God. This favour and approval Jew and Gentile alike had hitherto failed to obtain, but it was now thrown open to all who became members of the Messianic kingdom. (Comp. for the sense, <a href="/romans/2-29.htm" title="But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.">Romans 2:29</a>, and for the use of the word, as well as the sense, <a href="/john/12-43.htm" title="For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.">John 12:43</a>, "they loved the praise [<span class= "ital">glory</span>] of men more than the praise [<span class= "ital">glory</span>] of God.")<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God</span>. The "glory of God," of which all men are here said to come short (<span class="greek">ὑσεροῦνται</span>), has been taken to mean <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> <span class="accented">honour or praise from God.</span> "Dei favore et approbatione carent" (Sehleusner). So decidedly Meyer, Tholuek, Alford, and others. In this case <span class="greek">Θεοῦ</span> would be the <span class="accented">gen. auctoris</span>, which Meyer argues is probable from its being so in <span class="greek">Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνη</span>. This argument (which is not worth much in any case) tells the other way if, as we hold, it is not so in the latter phrase. For the New Testament use of <span class="greek">δόξα</span> in the sense of "praise" or "honour," <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-6.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:6</a> is adduced (<span class="greek">Οὔτε ζητοῦντες ἐν ἀνθρώποις δόξαν</span>); also <a href="/john/5-44.htm">John 5:44</a> (<span class="greek">Δόξαν παρὰ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ μόνου Θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε</span>); and especially <a href="/john/12-43.htm">John 12:43</a>, where <span class="greek">δόξα</span> is, as here, followed by the genitive <span class="greek">Θεοῦ</span> without any connecting preposition: <span class="greek">Ἠγάπησαν γὰρ τὴν δόξαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων</span> <span class="greek">μᾶλλον ἤπερ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ</span> ("the praise of God," Authorized Version). But, even apart from the different, and in itself more obvious, meaning of the phrase, <span class="greek">δόξα τοῦ Θεου</span>, where it occurs elsewhere, it is at least a question whether in the last cited passage it can be taken to mean praise or honour <span class="accented">from</span> God. It comes immediately after the quotation from <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9</a>, etc., followed by "These things said Esaias, when he saw <span class="accented">his glory</span> (<span class="greek">τὴν δόξα αὐτοῦ</span>), and spoke of him." Hence the meaning of <a href="/john/12-43.htm">John 12:43</a> may probably be that the persons spoken of loved <span class="accented">mundane</span> glory (cf. <a href="/matthew/4-8.htm">Matthew 4:8</a>; <a href="/matthew/6-29.htm">Matthew 6:29</a>) rather than the <span class="accented">Divine</span> glory, seen in the vision of faith, manifested to the world in Christ (cf. <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>, "We beheld his glory," etc.), and "loved" by those who have not the eyes blinded and the heart hardened. So, even in the previous passage of St. John's Gospel (<a href="/john/5-41.htm">John 5:41, 44</a>), <span class="greek">ἡ δόξα ἡ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ</span> may denote man's participation in the Divine glory, rather than praise or honour, while <span class="greek">δόξα παρὰ</span> <span class="greek">ἀλλήλων</span> may mean the mundane glory conferred by men on each other. These considerations commend, in the passage before us, the interpretation <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> "Significatur ipsius Dei viventis gloria, <span class="accented">vitam</span> tribuens (cf. <a href="/romans/6-4.htm">Romans 6:4</a>); ad quam homini, si non peccasset, patuit aditus: sod peccator ab illo fine sue excidit, neque jam eum assequitur, neque gloriam illam, quae in illo effulsisset, ullo mode tolerare potest: <a href="/hebrews/12-20.htm">Hebrews 12:20</a>, et <span class="accented">seq.</span>; <a href="/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2</a>; quo fit ut morti sit obnoxius: nam gloria et immortalitas suut synonyma, et sic mors et corruptio. <span class="accented">Absunt a gloria Dei, i.e.</span> a summo fine homiuis aberrarunt. At justificati recuporant spom illius glorise. Vid. omnino c. 5:2, 11, 17; 8:30, etc." (Bengel). Further, the sense which the same expression seems evidently to bear in <a href="/romans/5-2.htm">Romans 5:2</a> of this Epistle is of importance for our determination of its meaning here. We are not justified in understanding, with some interpreters, any specific reference to the "image of God" (cf. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-7.htm">1 Corinthians 11:7</a>, <span class="greek">εἰκὼν καὶ</span> <span class="greek">δόξα Θεοῦ ὑπάρχων</span>) in which man was created, and which has been lost by the Fall, there being nothing to suggest it, or, with others, <span class="accented">exclusively</span> to the future glory, since the present <span class="greek">ὑστεροῦνται</span> seems to denote a present deficiency. The general conception appears sufficiently plain in Bengel's exposition above given, according to which "the glory of God" means the glory of the Divine righteousness ("sempiterna ejus virtus et divinitas" Bengel on <a href="/hebrews/1-8.htm">Hebrews 1:8</a>), which man, through sin, falls short of. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/romans/3-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="grk">γὰρ</span> <span class="translit">(gar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> </span><span class="str2">For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="grk">πάντες</span> <span class="translit">(pantes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have sinned</span><br /><span class="grk">ἥμαρτον</span> <span class="translit">(hēmarton)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_264.htm">Strong's 264: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps from a and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark, i.e. to err, especially to sin.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">fall short</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑστεροῦνται</span> <span class="translit">(hysterountai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5302.htm">Strong's 5302: </a> </span><span class="str2">From husteros; to be later, i.e. to be inferior; generally, to fall short.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the</span><br /><span class="grk">τῆς</span> <span class="translit">(tēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">glory</span><br /><span class="grk">δόξης</span> <span class="translit">(doxēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1391.htm">Strong's 1391: </a> </span><span class="str2">From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God,</span><br /><span class="grk">Θεοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Theou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/romans/3-23.htm">NT Letters: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short (Rom. 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