Romans 2:21

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις; ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις;

Transliteration

Therefore ho didaskōn heteron, seauton not you didaskeis? ho kēryssōn not to kleptein, you klepteis?

Grammar Details

• *ho didaskōn*: article + participle, present active, nominative, masculine, singular - the one teaching
• *heteron*: adjective used as noun, accusative, masculine, singular - another
• *seauton*: reflexive pronoun, accusative, masculine, singular - yourself
• *didaskeis*: verb, present indicative, 2nd person singular - you teach
• *ho kēryssōn*: article + participle, present active, nominative, masculine, singular - the one preaching
• *kleptein*: verb, present infinitive - to steal
• *klepteis*: verb, present indicative, 2nd person singular - you steal

Word Meanings

• *didaskōn*: teaching/instructing
• *heteron*: another/other person
• *didaskeis*: teach/instruct
• *kēryssōn*: preaching/proclaiming/heralding
• *kleptein*: to steal/take secretly
• *klepteis*: steal/take secretly

Referenced Verses

• Matt 23:3-9 : 3 Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them‘Rabbi.’ 8 But you are not to be called‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 9 And call no one your‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in. 15 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves! 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say,‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ 17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And,‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ 19 You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it. 23 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law– justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too! 27 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
• Mic 3:11 : 11 Her leaders take bribes when they decide legal cases, her priests proclaim rulings for profit, and her prophets read omens for pay. Yet they claim to trust the LORD and say,“The LORD is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”
• Ps 50:16-21 : 16 God says this to the evildoer:“How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant? 17 For you hate instruction and reject my words. 18 When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives. 19 You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive. 20 You plot against your brother; you slander your own brother. 21 When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you!
• Luke 12:47 : 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.
• Luke 19:22 : 22 The king said to him,‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?
• 1 Cor 9:27 : 27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.
• Gal 6:13 : 13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.
• Titus 2:1-7 : 1 Conduct Consistent with Sound Teaching But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. 4 In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited. 6 Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled, 7 showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
• Isa 56:11 : 11 The dogs have big appetites; they are never full. They are shepherds who have no understanding; they all go their own way, each one looking for monetary gain.
• Ezek 22:12-13 : 12 They take bribes within you to shed blood. You engage in usury and charge interest; you extort money from your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign LORD. 13 “‘See, I strike my hands together at the dishonest profit you have made, and at the bloodshed they have done among you.
• Ezek 22:27 : 27 Her officials are like wolves in her midst rending their prey– shedding blood and destroying lives– so they can get dishonest profit.
• Amos 8:4-6 : 4 Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land. 5 You say,“When will the new moon festival be over, so we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, so we can open up the grain bins? We’re eager to sell less for a higher price, and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales! 6 We’re eager to trade silver for the poor, a pair of sandals for the needy! We want to mix in some chaff with the grain!”
• Matt 21:13 : 13 And he said to them,“It is written,‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are turning it into a den of robbers!”
• Luke 4:23 : 23 Jesus said to them,“No doubt you will quote to me the proverb,‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and say,‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’”
• Luke 11:46 : 46 But Jesus replied,“Woe to you experts in religious law as well! You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers!