Romans 10:3 (DBY)

Passage

For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own [righteousness], have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Nearby Context

Romans 10:1 Brethren, the delight of my own heart and my supplication which [I address] to God for them is for salvation.

Romans 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Romans 10:3 For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own [righteousness], have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is [the] end of law for righteousness to every one that believes.

Romans 10:5 For Moses lays down in writing the righteousness which is of the law, The man who has practised those things shall live by them.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ignorant", "god's", "righteousness", "seeking", "establish", and "submitted". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ignorant" and "god's", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "For I bear them witness that they..." into verse 4's "For Christ is the end of law...", so "ignorant" and "god's" 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 "ignorant" and "god's" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.