Romans 2:3

Authorized King James Version

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And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Original Language Analysis

λογίζῃ thinkest thou G3049
λογίζῃ thinkest thou
Strong's: G3049
Word #: 1 of 21
to take an inventory, i.e., estimate (literally or figuratively)
δὲ And G1161
δὲ And
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 2 of 21
but, and, etc
τοῦτο this G5124
τοῦτο this
Strong's: G5124
Word #: 3 of 21
that thing
ὦ O G5599
ὦ O
Strong's: G5599
Word #: 4 of 21
as a sign of the vocative case, o; as a note of exclamation, oh
ἄνθρωπε man G444
ἄνθρωπε man
Strong's: G444
Word #: 5 of 21
man-faced, i.e., a human being
ὁ G3588
ὁ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 6 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κρίνων that judgest G2919
κρίνων that judgest
Strong's: G2919
Word #: 7 of 21
by implication, to try, condemn, punish
τοὺς G3588
τοὺς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 8 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὰ G3588
τὰ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοιαῦτα such things G5108
τοιαῦτα such things
Strong's: G5108
Word #: 10 of 21
truly this, i.e., of this sort (to denote character or individuality)
πράσσοντας them which do G4238
πράσσοντας them which do
Strong's: G4238
Word #: 11 of 21
to "practise", i.e., perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from g4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication, to execute,
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 12 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ποιῶν doest G4160
ποιῶν doest
Strong's: G4160
Word #: 13 of 21
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
αὐτά the same G846
αὐτά the same
Strong's: G846
Word #: 14 of 21
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὅτι that G3754
ὅτι that
Strong's: G3754
Word #: 15 of 21
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
σὺ thou G4771
σὺ thou
Strong's: G4771
Word #: 16 of 21
thou
ἐκφεύξῃ shalt escape G1628
ἐκφεύξῃ shalt escape
Strong's: G1628
Word #: 17 of 21
to flee out
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 18 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κρίμα the judgment G2917
κρίμα the judgment
Strong's: G2917
Word #: 19 of 21
a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime"))
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 20 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ of God G2316
θεοῦ of God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 21 of 21
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

Analysis & Commentary

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? The Greek λογίζῃ (logizē, "reckon/calculate") carries ironic force—do you really 'reckon' or reason this way? Paul personalizes the rhetorical question with ὦ ἄνθρωπε (ō anthrōpe, "O man"), echoing prophetic confrontation (Micah 6:8). The verb ἐκφεύγω (ekpheugō, "escape from") appears in judicial contexts of fleeing prosecution.

The question drips with incredulity: how can the judge who commits identical sins possibly imagine he'll evade God's courtroom? This confronts the twisted logic of religious pride, which assumes doctrinal orthodoxy or ritual observance creates immunity. Jesus satirized this mentality in Luke 18:9-14's parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.

Paul's argument builds toward the devastation of 3:9-20: both Jews and Gentiles stand condemned. The rhetorical question format indicts the reader before stating the verdict, making the conclusion inescapable. No one escapes judgment—the only question is whether we face it in Christ (justification by faith) or in ourselves (condemnation by works).

Historical Context

Jewish eschatology expected a "day of the Lord" when God would judge the nations and vindicate Israel. This fueled nationalistic theology that saw judgment as primarily for Gentiles. Paul here deconstructs that false security, insisting God's judgment applies to behavior, not ethnicity. The Dead Sea Scrolls show similar sectarian thinking where Qumran community members believed their elect status ensured escaping God's wrath directed at outsiders.

Questions for Reflection