Devine Scripture

Romans 1:26

What does Romans 1:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 1:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 1:26 means

For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. Women exchanged natural relations for those against nature. Paul points to a departure from the Creator’s design as an expression of judgment. “Natural” refers to what accords with God’s created order, not merely social custom. The emphasis is on the moral logic: idolatry breeds disordered desires. Paul names female same-sex relations to show the breadth of the disorder. This is not singling out one sin as the only or greatest, but exemplifying how rejecting the Creator leads to rejecting his design for the body and relationships.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For this cause, God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For this reasonGod gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature;

Context

Verse 26 applies the pattern of verse 24 to another sphere: because of idolatry (v.25), God gave people over to passions contrary to creation’s order. Verse 27 will parallel this with male same-sex relations, reinforcing the example. Then verse 28 will widen the lens again to a reprobate mind, introducing the catalog of vices (vv.29–31). The structure demonstrates the correspondence between false worship and pervasive moral disarray.

v.25for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

v.26This passage

v.27and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Timothy 1:10

    for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

  • Ephesians 4:19

    who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

  • Jude 1:7

    Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

  • Romans 1:24

    Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:5

    not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God;

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9

    Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

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