Romans 3:25

“whom God put forward as a cover of expiation through faith, in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins committed beforehand”
Romans 3:25 · direct translation from the Greek

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Paul explains how God is just and also declares just those who believeHoliness All fell short, and God presents Jesus as the way to be declared righteousThe Cross

With the Greek beneath

whomὃνGodὁ θεὸςput forwardπροέθετοas a cover of expiationἱλαστήριονthroughδιὰfaith,πίστεωςinἐνhis blood,τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματιforεἰςa demonstrationἔνδειξινof his righteousness,τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦbecause ofδιὰthe passing overτὴν πάρεσινof the sinsτῶν ἁμαρτημάτωνcommitted beforehandπρογεγονότων

Theme · Leviticus 16:14

Go to Leviticus 16:14

Romans 3:25 uses hilastērion, the same word that Hebrews 9:5 uses for the cover of expiation (kapporet), on which the blood was sprinkled in Leviticus 16:14.

The same term appears in both passages.

ἱλαστήριονhilastērionG2435כַּפֹּרֶתkaporetH3727“cover of expiation”

Cover of expiationכַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριονכפרת hilastērion

The gold lid of the ark, with two cherubim on top (Exodus 25:17-22). From there YHWH spoke with Moses, and on it the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Expiation (Leviticus 16:14-15).

See it in the glossary

Thread: Cover of expiation · 6 of 6

כַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριον

Paul says that God put Jesus forward as a hilastērion, a cover of expiation, in his blood.

Hebrews 9:5

Romans 3:25, word by word

Godθεὸςtheos

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theos” appears

put forwardπροέθετοproetheto

put forward

To set before everyone's eyes.

Where else “proetheto” appears

as a cover of expiationἱλαστήριονhilastērion

cover of expiation

Cover of expiation: the lid of the ark where the blood of atonement was sprinkled; a means of expiation.

Where else “hilastērion” appears

faithπίστεωςpisteōs

trust

Truly trusting in God or in Jesus.

Where else “pisteōs” appears

his bloodαἵματιhaimati

blood

The red fluid that runs through the bodies of people and animals.

Where else “haimati” appears

a demonstrationἔνδειξινendeixin

demonstration, proof

Demonstration, proof: what makes something plain.

Where else “endeixin” appears

of his righteousnessδικαιοσύνηςdikaiosynēs

righteousness

Doing what is just, living as God wants.

Where else “dikaiosynēs” appears

the passing overπάρεσινparesin

passing over

Passing over: leaving sins unpunished for a time.

Where else “paresin” appears

of the sinsἁμαρτημάτωνhamartēmatōn

sin

Sin, a wrong committed.

Where else “hamartēmatōn” appears

committed beforehandπρογεγονότωνprogegonotōn

happen before

Happen before, take place earlier.

Where else “progegonotōn” appears

Translation note

In the Greek of the Old Testament this word designates the lid of the ark, where the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14-15; compare Hebrews 9:5); it can also be understood “means of expiation.”

The context

24being declared righteous freely by his grace through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus,

25 · This verse (above)

26in the forbearance of God; for the demonstration of his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be righteous and the one who declares righteous the one who is of faith in Jesus.

Read all of Romans 3

To study Romans 3 in a group

1. What it says
What does Paul say about everyone, and about how they are treated through God's grace? (vv. 22-24)
2. What it means
Although some were unfaithful, Paul says God's faithfulness is not nullified. How does he explain this? (vv. 3-4)
3. How I live it
Paul speaks of a gift that is not earned (v. 24). How can you live today with gratitude for what you have received without deserving it?

How to use it