Romans 1:27
What does Romans 1:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 1:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 1:27 means
Likewise, men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with desire for one another, committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Paul continues the example of disorder. The “penalty” is bound up with the sin—distorted desires and their damaging outcomes. The focus is moral consequence more than any single temporal symptom. By highlighting both women and men, Paul underscores that idolatry’s effects are comprehensive. His point is not to isolate a solitary vice but to show that rejecting the Creator’s order produces visible, consequential departures in human sexuality and conduct.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts, one towards another: men with men, working that which is filthy and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit.
Context
Parallel to verse 26, verse 27 completes the example of passions contrary to created order. With the sexual sphere highlighted as symptomatic of deeper rebellion, verse 28 will return to the broader diagnosis: a reprobate mind doing unfitting things. This paves the way for the extensive vice list (vv.29–31), demonstrating that the problem is not limited to any one group or behavior but is universal.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
- Leviticus 20:13
And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
- Romans 1:23
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
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