But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
English Standard Version (ESV)
The crucial insight is that "the word" isn't just an abstract concept but something tangible, intimately tied to our speech and inner thoughts. Paul emphasizes that this "word of faith" is not a distant, impossible quest but something already present within us, ready to be spoken and believed.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building a powerful contrast between earning righteousness through strict adherence to the law and receiving it through faith in Christ. Having just quoted Scripture to show that righteousness through faith isn't a distant, unattainable thing, he now directly addresses what that "word" says, emphasizing its closeness and accessibility. He’s making the point that salvation through faith is not a matter of arduous searching or difficult effort, but something readily available through the message of the gospel itself.
Ever feel like God's truth is locked away in some ancient text or far-off land? Paul shatters that idea.
Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:14, a passage originally about the Law of Moses. He masterfully shifts its meaning to highlight how accessible the Gospel of faith is. The 'word' isn't hidden in heaven or beyond the sea; it's right here, right now.
Accessible Truth
Paul introduces a specific phrase here: 'the word of faith.' What makes this 'word' so unique?
This isn't just any word; it's the 'word of faith.' This phrase, used only here by Paul, encapsulates the core message of the Gospel.
What it Means:
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Understand the original words
rhēma · Greek Noun
A divine message, doctrine, or proclamation; specifically, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul draws from Deuteronomy's assurance that God's commands are not impossibly distant, applying it to the gospel. This highlights how the message of salvation through faith in Christ is readily available, requiring not arduous effort but a heart response and vocal confession.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Wilderness Journey
God delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt, giving them His Law through Moses. This Law is presented as a clear path to obedience and a relationship with God, emphasizing its accessibility through teaching and practice.
c. 1400 BC
Deuteronomy Promulgated
Moses reiterates the Law to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing that God's commands are not impossibly distant but are to be internalized and spoken. This passage highlights the accessibility of God's word for obedience.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Key figures, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the period when many Israelites are physically removed from their homeland, making access to God's Law seem more remote.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Temple Destruction
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and a significant portion of the remaining population is exiled. This catastrophic event deepens the sense of distance from God's presence and promises.
c. 450 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
Under figures like Ezra and Nehemiah, some Israelites return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and re-establish their community. Despite the return, the people grapple with adherence to the Law and their relationship with God.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
Jesus proclaims God's kingdom, fulfills the Law's demands through His life and death, and rises again. This event is the ultimate revelation of God's accessible way of salvation through faith.
c. AD 50-60— this verse
Paul's Missionary Journeys and Epistles
The Apostle Paul travels widely, preaching the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ and establishing churches. He writes letters, including Romans, to explain and defend this message, contrasting it with the Law's emphasis on works.
This is the original Old Testament passage Paul is quoting and applying to the Gospel, showing that God's commands are accessible, not impossibly distant.
John 1:17This verse highlights the contrast between the Law given through Moses and the grace and truth that came through Jesus, echoing Paul's point about different ways of approaching righteousness.
Romans 10:9-10These verses immediately follow, explaining *how* the word in your heart and mouth leads to righteousness and salvation through confession and belief in Christ's resurrection.
Colossians 1:23This passage speaks of the gospel being proclaimed to all creation and received through faith, paralleling Paul's emphasis on the accessibility of the 'word of faith'.
vincentRomans 10:8: "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;"
The word is nigh theeSeptuagint, Very nigh thee is the word. The word is the whole subject-matter of the Gospel. See Romans 10:9. Moses used it of the law. See on Luke 1:37. The whole quotation in the Hebrew is as follows: "It (the commandment) is not in heaven, that ye should say, Who will ascend for us to heaven, and bring it to us, and make us hear it tha…
cambridgeRomans 10:8: "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;"
8 . The word ] More precisely, the utterance ; i.e. of the terms of the covenant. Alike the elder and later Covenants were not obscure enigmas, but could be recited by human lips and assented to as “just and good” by human hearts. that is , &c.] See last note but one on Romans 10:6 . Here again St Paul sees in the words of Moses a divinely-meant adaptation t…
The crucial insight is that "the word" isn't just an abstract concept but something tangible, intimately tied to our speech and inner thoughts. Paul emphasizes that this "word of faith" is not a distant, impossible quest but something already present within us, ready to be spoken and believed.
Paul is building a powerful contrast between earning righteousness through strict adherence to the law and receiving it through faith in Christ. Having just quoted Scripture to show that righteousness through faith isn't a distant, unattainable thing, he now directly addresses what that "word" says, emphasizing its closeness and accessibility. He’s making the point that salvation through faith is not a matter of arduous searching or difficult effort, but something readily available through the message of the gospel itself.
Paul is building a powerful contrast between earning righteousness through strict adherence to the law and receiving it through faith in Christ. Having just quoted Scripture to show that righteousness through faith isn't a distant, unattainable thing, he now directly addresses what that "word" says, emphasizing its closeness and accessibility. He’s making the point that salvation through faith is not a matter of arduous searching or difficult effort, but something readily available through the message of the gospel itself.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);" — The crucial insight is that "the word" isn't just an abstract concept but something tangible, intimately tied to our speech and inner thoughts. Paul emphasizes that this "word of faith" is not a dist…
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Last reviewed October 2026