Devine Scripture

Romans 5:6

What does Romans 5:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:6 means

At the time God appointed, when we were helpless and undeserving, Christ died for the ungodly. Our condition was not one of slight weakness but total inability to rescue ourselves. The cross is therefore sheer grace: Christ acted for those who could not act for themselves. “In due season” highlights God’s sovereign timing in salvation history. The death of Christ is not a tragic accident but the central saving event. It reveals the character of God’s love described in v5—love that moves toward the unworthy. Knowing we contributed nothing but need, we rest our confidence solely in the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For when we were still without strength, at the right time Christ gave his life for evil-doers.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For in our being still ailing, Christ in due time did die for the impious;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for we being still without strength, in [the] due time Christ has died for [the] ungodly.

Context

Paul now provides objective proof of God’s love, complementing the Spirit’s witness (v5). He begins by describing our helpless state and Christ’s timely death for the ungodly. This sets up a human comparison in v7 (rarely will someone die even for a good person) to magnify the uniqueness of God’s love. Verse 8 will then state the contrast directly—God loved us while we were sinners—leading to the “much more” assurances of final salvation from wrath in vv9–11.

v.5and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.

v.6This passage

v.7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.

Cross references

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

  • Galatians 4:4

    but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

  • Ezekiel 16:4

    And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

  • 2 Peter 3:7

    but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

  • 1 Timothy 1:9

    as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

  • Romans 4:25

    who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

  • Hebrews 9:26

    else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

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