Romans 3:25

Authorized King James Version

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Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Original Language Analysis

ὃν Whom G3739
ὃν Whom
Strong's: G3739
Word #: 1 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
προέθετο hath set forth G4388
προέθετο hath set forth
Strong's: G4388
Word #: 2 of 28
to place before, i.e., (for oneself) to exhibit; (to oneself) to propose (determine)
ὁ G3588
ὁ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 3 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ God G2316
θεοῦ God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 4 of 28
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἱλαστήριον to be a propitiation G2435
ἱλαστήριον to be a propitiation
Strong's: G2435
Word #: 5 of 28
an expiatory (place or thing), i.e., (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the ark (in the temple)
διὰ for G1223
διὰ for
Strong's: G1223
Word #: 6 of 28
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστεως faith G4102
πίστεως faith
Strong's: G4102
Word #: 8 of 28
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
ἐν in G1722
ἐν in
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 9 of 28
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
τῷ G3588
τῷ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 10 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ his G846
αὐτοῦ his
Strong's: G846
Word #: 11 of 28
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
αἵματι blood G129
αἵματι blood
Strong's: G129
Word #: 12 of 28
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
εἰς to G1519
εἰς to
Strong's: G1519
Word #: 13 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ἔνδειξιν declare G1732
ἔνδειξιν declare
Strong's: G1732
Word #: 14 of 28
indication (abstractly)
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 15 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δικαιοσύνης righteousness G1343
δικαιοσύνης righteousness
Strong's: G1343
Word #: 16 of 28
equity (of character or act); specially (christian) justification
αὐτοῦ his G846
αὐτοῦ his
Strong's: G846
Word #: 17 of 28
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
διὰ for G1223
διὰ for
Strong's: G1223
Word #: 18 of 28
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 19 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πάρεσιν the remission G3929
πάρεσιν the remission
Strong's: G3929
Word #: 20 of 28
praetermission, i.e., toleration
τῶν G3588
τῶν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 21 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προγεγονότων that are past G4266
προγεγονότων that are past
Strong's: G4266
Word #: 22 of 28
to be already, i.e., have previousy transpired
ἁμαρτημάτων of sins G265
ἁμαρτημάτων of sins
Strong's: G265
Word #: 23 of 28
a sin (properly concrete)
ἐν in G1722
ἐν in
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 24 of 28
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
τῇ G3588
τῇ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 25 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀνοχῇ the forbearance G463
ἀνοχῇ the forbearance
Strong's: G463
Word #: 26 of 28
self-restraint, i.e., tolerance
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 27 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ God G2316
θεοῦ God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 28 of 28
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

Analysis & Commentary

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. The theological heart of Romans: hon proetheto ho theos hilastērion (ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεός ἱλαστήριον, "whom God set forth as a propitiation"). Hilastērion (ἱλαστήριον)—the mercy seat where sacrificial blood was sprinkled on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:14-15), or more broadly, a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies divine wrath.

Dia pisteōs en tō autou haimati (διὰ πίστεως ἐν τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματι, "through faith in his blood")—appropriated by faith, grounded in Christ's blood. Purpose: eis endeixin tēs dikaiosynēs autou (εἰς ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ, "to demonstrate his righteousness") because of paresin tōn progegonotōn hamartēmatōn (πάρεσιν τῶν προγεγονότων ἁμαρτημάτων, "passing over of former sins") in anochē tou theou (ἀνοχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ, "forbearance of God"). God's pre-cross patience in not immediately judging sin raised questions about His justice—answered at Calvary.

Historical Context

The Day of Atonement was Judaism's central ceremony for dealing with sin. Paul declares Christ as the ultimate hilasterion—not a mere symbol but the reality. His blood accomplishes what animal sacrifices foreshadowed: actual propitiation of divine wrath, demonstrating God is both just (punishing sin) and justifier (saving sinners).

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