2:23 as question or statement; Paul's form of Isa 52:5 (2:24)
Says 2:23 reads ὃς ἐν νόμῳ καυχᾶσαι, διὰ τῆς παραβάσεως τοῦ νόμου τὸν θεὸν ἀτιμάζεις. SBLGNT, RP2018 and WH (p. 354) print a question mark, and the BSB has "do you dishonor God by breaking the law?"
Uncertain Whether 2:23 is (a) a fifth question, continuing 2:21–22, or (b) a statement summing them up, grounded by γάρ in 2:24. The relative ὅς, in place of the articular participles of 2:21–22, makes (b) possible, and γάρ suits a statement. This note leans to (a) with the editions; (b) is the main alternative.
Says 2:24 cites τὸ γὰρ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ δι᾽ ὑμᾶς βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, καθὼς γέγραπται. Swete's LXX of Isa 52:5 (vol. 3, p. 199) reads τάδε λέγει Κύριος Δι᾽ ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. Paul (1) puts τὸ ὄνομα first, (2) changes μου to τοῦ θεοῦ, (3) omits τάδε λέγει Κύριος and διὰ παντός, and (4) keeps the LXX's δι᾽ ὑμᾶς and ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. Only here in Romans does καθὼς γέγραπται follow its quotation. The MT and Ezek 36:20–23 are treated in note.language.Rom.2.24.isa-52-5-ezek-36.
Uncertain How Paul uses the text (L22(a)). In Isaiah, the name is reviled because Israel is oppressed; Paul applies the words to Israel's disobedience. (a) He applies the wording to a new situation, as Ezek 36:20 also does. (b) He reads the exile as itself the result of Israel's sin. This note leans to (a), with Ezekiel's diagnosis as the bridge; (b) is the main alternative.
Claims
- UncertainWhether 2:23 is a fifth question (lean; SBLGNT, RP2018, WH) or a summarizing statement grounded by 2:24 (main alternative).
- Says2:24 follows Swete's LXX of Isa 52:5, with the order, the person and two phrases adjusted, and with καθὼς γέγραπται after the quotation.
- UncertainWhether Paul applies Isaiah's words to a new situation, with Ezekiel's diagnosis as the bridge (lean), or reads the exile itself as the result of sin (main alternative).
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 2:23–24
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LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 vol. 3, p. 199 (Isa 52:5), scan archive.org theoldtestamenti03swetuoft leaf 222, checked 2026-10-29; apparatus: 5 εν τοις εθν. sub ÷ Q —
Δι᾽ ὑμᾶς διὰ παντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν
(LXX (Swete), CC BY-SA 4.0) - WH public domain Westcott & Hort, p. 354 (1892 printing; scan leaf n359), checked 2026-10-29
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-10-29
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