Romans 3:15
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 6
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῶν
Their
G846
αὐτῶν
Their
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 6
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
Historical Context
Isaiah 59 indicted Israel's injustice and violence despite possessing God's law. First-century Judaism prided itself on not being like violent pagans, yet Paul includes Jews in this universal indictment. Jesus made the same point: murder begins with anger in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22).
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse expose the violence latent in human hearts, even when not physically acted upon?
- What forms of bloodshed exist beyond literal murder—reputation assassination, economic exploitation, abortion?
- How should recognizing your own capacity for violence drive you to the Prince of Peace?
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Analysis & Commentary
Their feet are swift to shed blood. Paul shifts from sins of speech to sins of violence (vv. 15-17), quoting Isaiah 59:7-8. Oxeis hoi podes autōn ekchsai haima (ὀξεῖς οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν ἐκχέαι αἷμα, "swift are their feet to shed blood"). Oxys (ὀξύς) means "sharp/swift"—depicting eager readiness to violence, not mere capacity.
Humanity doesn't reluctantly resort to violence when necessary; we rush toward it. From Cain murdering Abel to the 20th century's genocides, human history is written in blood. The image of "swift feet" suggests that violence is not an aberration but a default human response. We are, by nature, homo homini lupus—"man is wolf to man." Only God's common grace restrains the bloodshed that fallen human nature would otherwise unleash.