Devine Scripture

Romans 5:19

What does Romans 5:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:19 means

Continuing the summary, Paul explains the mechanism: through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, and through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. Adam’s act constituted the many as sinners—placing them in a state and under a verdict. Christ’s obedience, in contrast, constitutes the many as righteous—granting a new status before God. This is federal headship: the actions of the representative affect those he represents. Christ’s obedience includes His entire faithful mission, climaxing at the cross. The verse highlights imputation: righteousness is counted to believers because of Christ, just as sin’s consequence came through Adam.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Because, as numbers of men became sinners through the wrongdoing of one man, even so will great numbers get righteousness through the keeping of the word of God by one man.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the one, shall the many be constituted righteous.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners: so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous.

Context

Verse 19 parallels v18 but shifts from outcomes (condemnation/justification) to causes (disobedience/obedience). With the representative principle clarified, Paul turns to explain the law’s role in the drama (v20): it entered to make trespass abound, yet grace outdid sin’s growth. The chapter will then close (v21) by personifying sin and grace as reigning powers and affirming the final aim—eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

v.18So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.

v.19This passage

v.20And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

Cross references

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

  • Romans 5:15

    But 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.

  • Philippians 2:8

    and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

  • Daniel 9:24

    Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

  • Romans 5:18

    So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

  • Ephesians 1:6

    to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:

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