Devine Scripture

Romans 5:14

What does Romans 5:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:14 means

Despite the absence of the Mosaic law, death reigned from Adam to Moses—even over those who did not sin as Adam did, by violating a specific command. This widespread rule of death shows that humanity shares in Adam’s fallen condition and its penalty. Adam is called a figure (type) of the One who was to come—Jesus Christ. Both Adam and Christ act as representatives whose actions affect many. But the likeness is chiefly in the representative role, not in the results: Adam’s trespass brings death; Christ’s obedience brings life. By identifying this typology, Paul prepares to explain the superabundance of grace in Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But still death had power from Adam till Moses, even over those who had not done wrong like Adam, who is a picture of him who was to come.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but the death did reign from Adam till Moses, even upon those not having sinned in the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of him who is coming.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned, after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but death reigned from Adam until Moses, even upon those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is [the] figure of him to come.

Context

This verse concludes the aside begun in v13 by presenting decisive evidence: universal death before the law confirms that Adam’s sin had a representative effect. With Adam named as a type of Christ, Paul now contrasts the two heads of humanity. In vv15–17 he insists that the free gift is not like the trespass, emphasizing the “much more” of grace. Then, in vv18–19, he summarizes the parallels and opposites between Adam’s disobedience and Christ’s obedience, leading to the role of the law and the triumph of grace (vv20–21).

v.13for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

v.14This passage

v.15But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.

Cross references

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

  • Romans 8:20

    For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

  • Exodus 1:6

    And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

  • Genesis 4:8

    And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

  • Exodus 12:29

    And it came to pass at midnight, that Jehovah smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.

  • Genesis 19:25

    and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

  • Romans 5:21

    that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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