Devine Scripture

Romans 5:21

What does Romans 5:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:21 means

Paul concludes with a grand purpose statement: as sin reigned in death, so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin once sat on the throne, exercising dominion that ended in death. Now, through Christ, grace is the governing power, and its rule operates “through righteousness”—the right-standing God gives in the gospel and the righteous character it produces. The end-point of grace’s reign is eternal life, secure and unending fellowship with God. Jesus Christ our Lord is the mediator and Lord of this new order. What Adam lost by sin, Christ surpassingly restores by grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That, as sin had power in death, so grace might have power through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that even as the sin did reign in the death, so also the grace may reign, through righteousness, to life age-during, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That as sin hath reigned to death: so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

in order that, even as sin has reigned in [the power of] death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Context

This final verse gathers the chapter’s themes: justification by faith (vv1–2), hope in suffering (vv3–5), love demonstrated in Christ’s death and life (vv6–11), and the Adam–Christ contrast (vv12–19), with the law’s role explained (v20). It ends by contrasting two kingdoms: sin/death versus grace/righteousness, and affirms the outcome—eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The verse prepares for Romans 6, where Paul will address the practical question that arises from grace’s reign: if grace abounds, should we continue in sin? The answer will be a decisive no.

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

v.21This passage

Cross references

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

  • Romans 5:17

    For 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.

  • Romans 5:14

    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.

  • Titus 2:11

    For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

  • Romans 8:10

    And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.

  • Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • 1 John 5:11

    And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

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