Romans 3:23-24
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The phrase "come short of the glory of God" isn't just about failing to achieve some future reward; it means we're missing out now on the honor and approval that comes directly from God Himself. Our sin has disqualified us from experiencing His favor and participating in His very essence of glory.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just spent considerable time demonstrating that both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin, unable to justify themselves through the Law. He has shown that God's standards are perfect and that humanity, in its entirety, has failed to meet them. This verse acts as a crucial summary of that entire argument before pivoting to the solution found in God's grace.
We often think of 'sin' as a list of bad actions. But the Bible paints a much broader, deeper picture.
The verse starts with a powerful, sweeping statement: 'for all have sinned.' This isn't just about a few bad apples; it's a declaration about the entire human race.
A Collective Past
The Greek word used here points to past actions that have resulted in a current state. It's not just about isolated incidents, but a shared history of rebellion against God that has defined humanity. Think of it like inheriting a family trait – we've all inherited the tendency and the guilt of sin.
Missing the Mark
The second part, 'fall short of the glory of God,' is crucial. It means we don't measure up. We fail to reflect God's perfect character, to live up to the standard He set, and to experience the full, intended relationship with Him.
What exactly is this 'glory of God' that we all fall short of? It's more than just a distant, unattainable ideal.
The phrase 'glory of God' in this context isn't just about God's inherent splendor, but what that glory means for us.
God's Approval and Presence
Many commentators see this as the approval, favor, and honor that comes from God. It's the state of being in right standing with Him, being in His presence, and reflecting His character. Before sin, humanity was meant to live in this perfect fellowship and to be a testament to God's glory.
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The Lost Standard
Because 'all have sinned,' we have all missed this intended standard. We are like runners who have missed the finish line, or artists who have failed to capture the essence of their subject. Sin creates a deficit, a lack, a falling short of what God intended for us – to live in His light and honor.
A Present Reality
This isn't just a future problem. The Greek tense suggests a present lack resulting from past actions. We are currently in a state of deficiency, unable to achieve this glory on our own.
Understand the original words
hēmarton · Greek Verb
To miss the mark; to fall short of God’s standard of holiness and perfection. It is a rebellion against God's law and a corruption of human nature.
doxa · Greek Noun
The manifestation of God's presence, majesty, and character. For humans, it refers to the state of perfection originally intended for creation that was forfeited through sin.
dikaioumenoi · Greek Verb (participle)
A legal term denoting God's act of declaring a sinner righteous. It is a judicial verdict based on the finished work of Christ, not on the individual's merit or works.
charis · Greek Noun
The unmerited, favor of God toward the undeserving. It is the basis for salvation, provided freely by God's own initiative and love.
apolytrōsis · Greek Noun
The act of buying back or setting free from slavery or captivity through the payment of a price. Biblically, it refers to deliverance from the bondage of sin and its penalty via the death of Christ.
This passage shows the first human sin, where Adam and Eve, like all humanity described in Romans 3:23, 'sinned' by disobeying God's command, thereby falling short of their intended glory and communion with God.
Psalm 14:2-3This Psalm echoes the sentiment of Romans 3:23, stating that 'The Lord looked down from heaven to see if there were any understanding, any seeking of God. But all have turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.' This highlights the universal nature of sin.
Ecclesiastes 7:20This verse directly states, 'Surely there is no man so righteous on earth that he does good and never sins.' This reinforces the idea in Romans 3:23 that no one is exempt from sin, and all fall short of God's perfect standard.
1 John 1:8-10This passage reiterates the universality of sin, stating, 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' It complements Romans 3:23 by emphasizing that acknowledging our sin is the first step toward truth and reconciliation with God.
Isaiah 53:6This prophetic passage from Isaiah beautifully illustrates the concept of falling short of God's glory, stating 'All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.' It paints a vivid picture of humanity's wandering and its consequence, which Paul explains further in Romans 3.
meyerRomans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Romans 3:23 . Ἥμαρτον ] The sinning of every man is presented as a historical fact of the past, whereby the sinful state is produced. The perfect would designate it as a completed subsisting fact. Calvin, moreover, properly remarks that according to Paul there is nulla justitia “nisi perfecta et absoluta,” and “si verum esset, nos partim operibus justificari, partim Dei gratia, non valeret hoc Pauli argumentum.” Luther aptl…
ellicottRomans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
(23) All have sinned and come short. —Strictly, all sinned; the Apostle looking back upon an act done in past time under the old legal dispensation, without immediate reference to the present: he then goes on to say that the result of that act (as distinct from the act itself) continues on into the present. The result is that mankind, in a body, as he now sees them, and before they come within the range of the new Christian…
The phrase "come short of the glory of God" isn't just about failing to achieve some future reward; it means we're missing out now on the honor and approval that comes directly from God Himself. Our sin has disqualified us from experiencing His favor and participating in His very essence of glory.
Paul has just spent considerable time demonstrating that both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin, unable to justify themselves through the Law. He has shown that God's standards are perfect and that humanity, in its entirety, has failed to meet them. This verse acts as a crucial summary of that entire argument before pivoting to the solution found in God's grace.
Paul has just spent considerable time demonstrating that both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin, unable to justify themselves through the Law. He has shown that God's standards are perfect and that humanity, in its entirety, has failed to meet them. This verse acts as a crucial summary of that entire argument before pivoting to the solution found in God's grace.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," — The phrase "come short of the glory of God" isn't just about failing to achieve some future reward; it means we're missing out now on the honor and approval that comes directly from God Himself. Ou…
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Last reviewed October 2026
