Law written on the heart: Jer 31:33 (LXX 38:33) and Rom 2:15
Says Rom 2:15: Gentiles show τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν ("the work of the law written on their hearts").
Says In the new covenant (31:31): נָתַתִּי אֶת־תּוֹרָתִי בְּקִרְבָּם (natatti et-torati beqirbam, "I will put my law within them") וְעַל־לִבָּם אֶכְתֲּבֶנָּה (ve'al-libbam ekhtavennah, "and on their heart I will write it"), singular "my law" (BDB p. 435).
Says Swete's LXX (Jer 38:33) reads διδοὺς δώσω νόμους μου εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς, with plural νόμους and εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν ("into their mind") for "within them." Apparatus: Codex Sinaiticus, first hand (ℵ*), καρδίαν for διάνοιαν; δώσω omitted by Codices Alexandrinus (A) and Marchalianus (Q). Heb 8:10 agrees with A and Q (no δώσω) and with Q's wording ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς.
Says Other texts place God's law or word within: Isa 51:7 עַם תּוֹרָתִי בְלִבָּם ('am torati velibbam, "a people with my law in their heart"); Ps 37:31 (בְּלִבּוֹ); Ps 40:8 (MT 40:9, בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָי, "within my inner parts"); Deut 30:14 (the word "in your mouth and in your heart"). None speaks of writing.
Implies Only Jer 31:33 shares "written" and "hearts" with Rom 2:15, which concerns "the work of the law" and Gentiles, not "the house of Israel."
Uncertain Evangelicals differ on whether 2:14–15 alludes to the new covenant, making these Gentiles Christians, or describes Gentiles generally, with conscience as witness (2:15b). The Gentiles of 2:26–29 need not be the same group. The verbal contact is real but slight.
Claims
- SaysJer 31:33 MT תּוֹרָתִי … אֶכְתֲּבֶנָּה: God will put his law within them and write it on their heart (new covenant, 31:31).
- SaysLXX Jer 38:33: plural νόμους, εἰς τὴν διάνοιαν αὐτῶν, γράψω; A and Q omit δώσω, Q has ἐπιγράψω after καρδίας αὐτῶν; Heb 8:10 agrees with them.
- SaysIsa 51:7 (תּוֹרָתִי בְלִבָּם), Ps 37:31 (בְּלִבּוֹ), Ps 40:8 (MT 40:9, בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָי, 'within my inner parts') and Deut 30:14 ('in your mouth and in your heart') place God's law or word within, without speaking of writing.
- ImpliesOnly Jer 31:33 shares both 'written' and 'hearts' with Rom 2:15, which speaks of 'the work of the law' and of Gentiles.
- UncertainWhether Rom 2:14–15 alludes to the new covenant (Gentile Christians) or describes Gentiles generally; 2:26–29 need not describe the same group.
Citations
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Jer 31:31, 33; Isa 51:7; Ps 37:31; Ps 40:9 (MT); Deut 30:14
- BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. torah (H8451), p. 435, entry j.di.af
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Jer 38:33, text and apparatus ("om δωσω AQ"; "επιγραψω αυτους επι τας καρδιας αυτων A"; Q: επι καρδιας … αυτων επιγραψω αυτους). LXX checked against Swete scan, vol. 3 (1912), p. 313.
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 2:14–15, 26–29; Heb 8:10
- TVTMS CC BY 4.0 Jer 31:33 = LXX 38:33; Ps 40:8 = MT 40:9
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-10-29
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