Romans 10:2 (YLT)

Passage

for I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge,

Nearby Context

Romans 10:1 Brethren, the pleasure indeed of my heart, and my supplication that <FI>is<Fi> to God for Israel, is--for salvation;

Romans 10:2 for I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge,

Romans 10:3 for not knowing the righteousness of God, and their own righteousness seeking to establish, to the righteousness of God they did not submit.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is an end of law for righteousness to every one who is believing,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "bear", "testimony", "zeal", and "knowledge". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "bear" and "testimony", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "Brethren the pleasure indeed of my heart..." into verse 3's "for not knowing the righteousness of God...", so "bear" and "testimony" 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 "bear" and "testimony" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.