Romans · Chapter 3 · Forgiveness
Romans 3:23 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
What has been forgiven, you can forgive.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;"
KJV · King James Version
"For1063 all3956 have sinned264, and2532 come short5302 of the glory1391 of God2316;"
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses come, while the WEB renders these as fall. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Romans 3:23 in Romans 3
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Romans 3:23 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Romans 3. Read the full chapter →
- v.21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
- v.22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
- v.23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
- v.24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
- v.25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
Book background
About the Book of Romans
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Pauline epistle
- Author
- Paul the apostle
- Date written
- c. 57 AD
- Audience
- The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met)
- Chapters
- 16
Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). It has transformed every major Christian revival in history.
Setting: Written from Corinth on the eve of Paul's final trip to Jerusalem.
Key themes: righteousness · faith · justification · sin · gospel
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Romans 3:23
Romans 3:23 contains 12 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
for all have sinned
FAHS
- 2
and fall short of the glory of God;
AFSOTG
Frequently asked
FAQ about Romans 3:23
What does Romans 3:23 say?
Romans 3:23 reads: "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;" — from the New Testament, Romans (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Romans 3:23 in?
Romans 3:23 is in the book of Romans, traditionally attributed to Paul the apostle and written around c. 57 AD. Romans is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to The Christians at Rome (whom Paul had not yet met). Best known for "the just shall live by faith" and Romans 8:28.
What is Romans 3:23 about?
Romans 3:23 is primarily a Bible verse about Forgiveness. Within Romans, Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Romans 3:23 in WEB and KJV?
Romans 3:23 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "For1063 all3956 have sinned264, and2532 come short5302 of the glory1391 of God2316;". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Romans 3:23?
Romans 3:23 is 12 words in the WEB translation (56 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.
How can I memorise Romans 3:23?
To memorise Romans 3:23, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Romans 3:23 matter in Romans?
Romans is Paul's most systematic exposition of the gospel — that all have sinned, are justified freely by faith in Christ apart from works, are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and live by the Spirit in confident assurance ("nothing can separate us from the love of God" — chapter 8). It has transformed every major Christian revival in history. Romans 3:23 sits within this larger story — Romans as a whole emphasises righteousness, faith, justification.
How can I apply Romans 3:23 today?
Many readers use Romans 3:23 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Romans 3:23 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Romans 5:8
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Read context →
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1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Read context →
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Ephesians 4:32
“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”
Read context →
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2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will fo…”
Read context →
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Matthew 5:44
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,”
Read context →
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James 5:16
“Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.”
Read context →
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1 Peter 4:8
“And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
Read context →
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Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Read context →
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Psalms 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”
Read context →
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Psalms 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Read context →
More featured verses in Romans
Browse Romans → Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Read context →
Romans 5:8
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Read context →
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Read context →
Romans 8:31
“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Read context →