As it is written (καθως γεγραπτα οτ). Usual formula of quotation as in verse Romans 3:4 with recitative οτ added as in verse Romans 3:8. Paul here uses a catena or chain of quotations to prove his point in verse Romans 3:9 that Jews are in no better fix than the Greeks for all are under sin. Dr. J. Rendel Harris has shown that the Jews and early Christians had Testimonia (quotations from the Old Testament) strung together for certain purposes as proof-texts. Paul may have used one of them or he may have put these passages together himself. Verses Romans 3:10-12 come from Psalm 14:1-3; first half of Romans 3:13 as far as εδολιουσαν from Psalm 4:9, the second half from Psalm 140:3; verse Romans 3:14 from Psalm 10:7; Romans 3:15-17 from an abridgment of Isaiah 59:7; verse Romans 3:18 from Psalm 35:1. Paul has given compounded quotations elsewhere (2 Corinthians 6:16; Romans 9:25; Romans 9:27; Romans 11:26; Romans 11:34; Romans 12:19). Curiously enough this compounded quotation was imported bodily into the text (LXX) of Romans 3:14 after Romans 4 in Aleph B, etc.

There is none righteous, no, not one (ουκ εστιν δικαιος ουδε εις). "There is not a righteous man, not even one." This sentence is like a motto for all the rest, a summary for what follows.