# Is “A law unto themselves” in the Bible?

> Yes. “A law unto themselves” is in the Bible, at Romans 2:14.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-law-unto-themselves
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Paul writes it to the church in Rome.

## The verse

> For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
>
> — [Romans 2:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/romans/2#14) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

Paul means it as a kind of credit: people who never had the law of Moses sometimes do what it asks, because what the law requires is written on their hearts (Romans 2:15). Today it means someone who ignores the rules.

## Common questions

### Is “A law unto themselves” in the Bible?

Yes. “A law unto themselves” is in the Bible, at Romans 2:14. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. Paul writes it to the church in Rome.

### Where in the Bible is “A law unto themselves”?

In Romans 2:14. In the Lumin Translation, Romans 2:14 reads: “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.”

### Who said “A law unto themselves”?

Paul writes it to the church in Rome.

### What does “A law unto themselves” mean in the Bible?

Paul means it as a kind of credit: people who never had the law of Moses sometimes do what it asks, because what the law requires is written on their hearts (Romans 2:15). Today it means someone who ignores the rules.

## More

- [Is “Love is patient, love is kind” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/love-is-patient-love-is-kind.md)
- [Is “My cup runneth over” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/my-cup-runneth-over.md)
- [Is “The powers that be” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-powers-that-be.md)
- [Is “Set your house in order” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/set-your-house-in-order.md)
- [Is “This is the day the Lord has made” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/this-is-the-day-the-lord-has-made.md)
- [Is “Vengeance is mine” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/vengeance-is-mine.md)
- [Is “You reap what you sow” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/you-reap-what-you-sow.md)
- [Where is “Do not be anxious about anything” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/do-not-be-anxious-about-anything.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)