Romans 3:16
What does Romans 3:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 3:16 means
Where sin rules, the road is strewn with ruin and misery. Human projects often leave behind brokenness—relationships fractured, communities harmed, hearts wounded. The verse underscores consequences: sin does not travel alone; it drags devastation in its wake. This is both personal and social. It is not merely that people make mistakes, but that entire ways of life produce destruction when God is not honored. The misery is not God’s delight but the predictable outcome of rebellion. Recognizing this helps us understand why the Gospel is not just private forgiveness but also a new way that heals what sin has ruined.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Destruction and misery are in their ways;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Destruction and misery are in their ways:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Destruction and misery are in their ways;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Destruction and trouble are in their ways;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Ruin and misery <FI>are<Fi> in their ways.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Destruction and misery in their ways:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890ruin and misery [are] in their ways,
Context
Continuing the depiction of violent paths, verse 16 names the debris field of sin—destruction and misery. Verse 15 highlighted swiftness to shed blood; verse 16 shows the sustained results. Verse 17 will note the absence of peace, summarizing the character of these ways. Then verse 18 reveals the root cause: no fear of God. This closes the Scripture chain (verses 10–18) that proves universal depravity. Verses 19–20 will then explain the law’s purpose in light of this: to stop every mouth and bring knowledge of sin, not to justify. From there, Paul turns to God’s saving righteousness revealed in Christ (verses 21–26).
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