Devine Scripture

Romans 5:16

What does Romans 5:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:16 means

The opposition deepens: the judgment following one sin resulted in condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses resulted in justification. Adam’s single act brought a negative verdict to the race. Christ’s gift, however, meets a world already multiplied in sins and yet produces a positive verdict of righteousness. This shows the surprising power of grace: it does not merely cancel Adam’s initial failure; it overcomes the flood of subsequent transgressions. Justification here is God’s judicial declaration that sinners are righteous, grounded in Christ. The gift triumphs where guilt abounds, displaying that salvation rests entirely on God’s generosity, not on human repair.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the free giving has not the same effect as the sin of one: for the effect of one man's sin was punishment by the decision of God, but the free giving had power to give righteousness to wrongdoers in great number.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and not as through one who did sin <FI>is<Fi> the free gift, for the judgment indeed <FI>is<Fi> of one to condemnation, but the gift <FI>is<Fi> of many offences to a declaration of `Righteous,'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And not as it was by one sin, so also is the gift. For judgment indeed was by one unto condemnation: but grace is of many offences unto justification.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And [shall] not as by one that has sinned [be] the gift? For the judgment [was] of one to condemnation, but the act of favour, of many offences unto justification.

Context

Continuing the contrast begun in v15, this verse moves from the persons to the outcomes: condemnation through one trespass versus justification through the free gift after many sins. The logic prepares for v17’s language of reigning. If condemnation leads to death’s rule, justification ushers believers into life’s dominion. The momentum is building toward the summary parallels of vv18–19 and the final statement about the law’s role and grace’s triumph (vv20–21).

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.

v.16This passage

v.17For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 13:38

    Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:

  • Isaiah 44:22

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

  • Isaiah 1:18

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

  • Luke 7:47

    Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

  • Genesis 3:6

    And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

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