Romans 2:18
New International Version
if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

New Living Translation
You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

English Standard Version
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;

Berean Standard Bible
if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

Berean Literal Bible
and you know His will and approve the things being superior, being instructed out of the Law,

King James Bible
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

New King James Version
and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

New American Standard Bible
and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law,

NASB 1995
and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

NASB 1977
and know His will, and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

Legacy Standard Bible
and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

Amplified Bible
and [if you claim to] know His will and approve the things that are essential or have a sense of what is excellent, based on your instruction from the Law,

Christian Standard Bible
and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
know His will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,

American Standard Version
and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
You who know his will and discern what is right, you who are taught from The Written Law,

Contemporary English Version
By reading the Scriptures you learn how God wants you to behave, and you discover what is right.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And knowest his will, and approvest the more profitable things, being instructed by the law,

English Revised Version
and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
know what he wants, and distinguish right from wrong because you have been taught Moses' Teachings.

Good News Translation
you know what God wants you to do, and you have learned from the Law to choose what is right;

International Standard Version
and know his will, and approve of what is best because you have been instructed in the Law;

Literal Standard Version
and know the will, and approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the Law,

Majority Standard Bible
if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

New American Bible
and know his will and are able to discern what is important since you are instructed from the law,

NET Bible
and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law,

New Revised Standard Version
and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law,

New Heart English Bible
and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

Webster's Bible Translation
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law,

Weymouth New Testament
and know the supreme will, and can test things that differ--being a man who receives instruction from the Law--

World English Bible
know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

Young's Literal Translation
and dost know the will, and dost approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the law,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Jews and the Law
17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,…

Cross References
Luke 1:4
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Romans 2:19
if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,

Philippians 1:10
so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,


Treasury of Scripture

And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

knowest.

Deuteronomy 4:8
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Nehemiah 9:13,14
Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: …

Psalm 147:19,20
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel…

Philippians 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

being instructed.

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Psalm 19:8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 119:98-100,104,105,130
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me…

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Approve Desires Differ Different Distinctions Essential Excellent Instructed Instruction Judge Law Receives Superior Supreme Test
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Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














(18) His will.--Literally, the will--i.e., "the supreme will."

Approvest the things that are more excellent.--Probably rightly given in the Authorised version, though the marginal rendering also is possible, "triest the things that differ"--i.e., "art able to discriminate between good and evil."

Being instructed.--With reference to the constant reading of the Law in the synagogue.

Verse 18. - And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent (δοκιμάζεις τὰ διαφέροντα, a phrase capable also of the meaning, "provest the things which differ," i.e. distinguishest between right and wrong; for δοκιμάζειν may mean either "to prove," or "to approve" after trial, and τὰ διαφέροντα either "things which differ," or "things which surpass." Exactly the same expression occurs in Philippians 1:10, with the same uncertainty of meaning. The difference is unimportant, both interpretations coming to the same thing), being instructed (κατηχούμενος, which implies regular training, whether catechetically in youth, or through rabbinical and synagogic teaching) out of the Law. So far the Jew's own claims on the ground of his own position have been touched on; what follows expresses his attitude with regard to others. We may observe throughout a vein of irony.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[if you]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

know
γινώσκεις (ginōskeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

[His]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

will
θέλημα (thelēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

approve
δοκιμάζεις (dokimazeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1381: From dokimos; to test; by implication, to approve.

of what
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

is superior
διαφέροντα (diapheronta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1308: From dia and phero; to bear through, i.e. transport; usually to bear apart, i.e. to toss about; subjectively, to 'differ', or surpass.

because you are instructed
κατηχούμενος (katēchoumenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2727: To instruct orally, teach, inform. From kata and echos; to sound down into the ears, i.e. to indoctrinate or to apprise of.

by
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Law;
νόμου (nomou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.


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NT Letters: Romans 2:18 And know his will and approve (Rom. Ro)
Romans 2:17
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