Romans 3:20 (GNV)

Passage

Therefore by the woorkes of the Lawe shall no flesh be iustified in his sight: for by the Lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne.

Nearby Context

Romans 3:18 The feare of God is not before their eies.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatsoeuer ye Lawe saieth, it saieth it to them which are vnder ye Law, that euery mouth may bee stopped, and all the world be subiect to the iudgement of God.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the woorkes of the Lawe shall no flesh be iustified in his sight: for by the Lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne.

Romans 3:21 But nowe is the righteousnesse, of God made manifest without the Lawe, hauing witnes of the Lawe and of the Prophets,

Romans 3:22 To wit, the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ, vnto all, and vpon all that beleeue.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "woorkes", "lawe", "shall", "flesh", "iustified", and "sight". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "woorkes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Now we know that whatsoeuer ye Lawe..." into verse 21's "But nowe is the righteousnesse of God...", so "therefore" and "woorkes" 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 "therefore" and "woorkes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.