Romans 1:31 (ASV)

Passage

without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

Nearby Context

Romans 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Romans 1:31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

Romans 1:32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "without", "understanding", "covenant-breakers", "natural", "affection", and "unmerciful". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "without" and "understanding", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "backbiters hateful to God insolent haughty boastful..." into verse 32's "who knowing the ordinance of God that...", so "without" and "understanding" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "without" and "understanding" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.