Romans 1:31
What does Romans 1:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 1:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 1:31 means
Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful—Paul shows the erosion of reason, loyalty, and basic human tenderness. “Covenant-breakers” reflects unfaithfulness to promises, whether social or personal. “Without natural affection” suggests a breakdown of even instinctive family love. Mercy dries up, leaving cruelty. This is the social fallout of turning from God: relationships fray, trust collapses, and hardness spreads. The vices are not isolated; they interlock, creating a culture resistant to wisdom, fidelity, and compassion. Paul’s portrait is bleak but accurate to a world estranged from the Creator’s character of truth, faithfulness, and steadfast love.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Without knowledge, not true to their undertakings, unkind, having no mercy:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Foolish, dissolute: without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, unmerciful;
Context
Verse 31 concludes the vice list that began in verse 29. Having described depravity of mind and manifold sins, Paul is ready in verse 32 to finalize the indictment: people act against better knowledge. The shift to moral awareness and complicity will show that the problem is not only behavior but conscience—those who practice such things know God’s decree and still do them, even celebrating others who join them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Timothy 3:3
without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
- Romans 3:11
There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;
- Proverbs 18:2
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
- Isaiah 33:8
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: the enemy hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth not man.
- Matthew 15:16
And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding?
- Isaiah 27:11
When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off; the women shall come, and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have compassion upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.
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