Romans 9:32
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone;
American King James Version (AKJV)
Why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone;
American Standard Version (ASV)
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Why? Because they were not searching for it by faith, but by works. They came up against the stone which was in the way;
Webster's Revision
Why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;
World English Bible
Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;
English Revised Version (ERV)
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
Definitions for Romans 9:32
Clarke's Romans 9:32 Bible Commentary
Wherefore? - And where lies their mistake? Being ignorant of God's righteousness - of his method of saving sinners by faith in Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness - their own method of obtaining everlasting salvation. They attend not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands on the extensive principles of grace and faith; but they turn all their regards to the law of Moses. They imagine that their obedience to that law gives them a right to the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom. But, finding that the Gospel sets our special interest in God and the privileges of his Church on a different footing, they are offended, and refuse to come into it.
Barnes's Romans 9:32 Bible Commentary
Wherefore? - Why? The apostle proceeds to state the reason why so uniform and remarkable a result happened. "They sought it not by faith, etc." They depended on their own righteousness, and not on the mercy of God to be obtained by faith.
By the works of the law - By complying with all the demands of the Law so that they might merit salvation. Their attempted obedience included their prayers, fastings, sacrifices, etc., as well as compliance with the demands of the moral law. It may be asked here, perhaps, how the Jews could know any better than this? how should they know anything about justification by faith? To this I:answer:
(1) That the doctrine was stated in the Old Testament; see Habakkuk 2:4; compare Romans 1:17; Psalm 32:1-11; Psalm 130:1-8; Psalm 14:1-7; compare Romans 3; Job 9:2.
(2) the sacrifices had reference to a future state of things, and were doubt less so understood; see the Epistle to the Hebrews.
(3) the "principle" of justification, and of living by faith, had been fully brought out in the lives and experience of the saints of old; see Romans 4 and Hebrews 11.
They stumbled - They fell; or failed; or "this was the cause why they" did not obtain it.
At that stumbling-stone - To wit, at what he specifies in the following verse. "A stumbling-stone" is a stone or impediment in the path over which people may fall. Here it means "that obstacle which prevented their attaining the righteousness of faith; and which was the occasion of their fall, rejection, and ruin." That was the rejection and the crucifixion of their own Messiah; their unwillingness to be saved by him; their contempt of him and his message. For this God withheld from them the blessings of justification, and was about to cast them off as a people. This also the apostle proceeds to prove was foretold by the prophets.
Wesley's Romans 9:32 Bible Commentary
9:32 And wherefore have they not? Is it because God eternally decreed they should not? There is nothing like this to be met with but agreeable to his argument the apostle gives us this good reason for it, Because they sought it not by faith - Whereby alone it could be attained. But as it were - In effect, if not professsedly, by works. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone - Christ crucified.
