Romans 3:19 (ASV)

Passage

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

Nearby Context

Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:

Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

Romans 3:20 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law [cometh] the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:21 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "things", "soever", "saith", "speaketh", "under", "mouth", and "stopped". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "There is no fear of God before..." into verse 20's "because by the works of the law...", so "world" and "things" 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 "world" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.