Romans 11:6
What does Romans 11:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 11:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 11:6 means
Paul clarifies the principle behind the remnant: salvation and election are by grace, not by works. Grace, by definition, is unearned favor. If human works played a determining role, grace would cease to be grace. The verse protects the purity of the gospel—God saves on the basis of His mercy in Christ, not human performance. This also humbles both Jew and Gentile. No one can claim standing before God as a wage for effort; all must receive it as a gift. In the context of Israel, their remnant is not composed of the morally superior but of those whom God, in grace, has brought to faith.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But if it is of grace, then it is no longer of works: or grace would not be grace.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But if by grace, no longer of works: since [otherwise] grace is no more grace.
Context
Following the assertion of a grace-based remnant in verse 5, verse 6 draws a sharp boundary between grace and works. This sets the theological stakes before Paul addresses the painful reality that most of Israel did not obtain what it sought (verse 7). The flow is important: the remnant is explained by grace, not merit; the general hardening is explained in the following verses with scriptural support, showing both divine sovereignty and human responsibility at work.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 2:4
but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
- Deuteronomy 9:4
Speak not thou in thy heart, after that Jehovah thy God hath thrust them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness Jehovah hath brought me in to possess this land; whereas for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah doth drive them out from before thee.
- Galatians 5:4
Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
- Titus 3:5
not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
- Romans 3:27
Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.
- 2 Timothy 1:9
who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
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