Devine Scripture

Romans 6:12

What does Romans 6:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 6:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 6:12 means

Because believers are dead to sin and alive to God, they must not let sin reign in their mortal bodies so as to obey its desires. Sin still seeks to rule through cravings and impulses, but it no longer has rightful dominion. Therefore, do not yield the throne. This command recognizes the ongoing conflict in the Christian life while affirming real power to resist. Our bodies matter—they are the arena of obedience. Paul calls us to active refusal of sin’s claims. Grace does not make effort unnecessary; it makes effort effective. Resisting sin’s reign is the practical outworking of our new identity in Christ, expressed in daily choices.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For this cause do not let sin be ruling in your body which is under the power of death, so that you give way to its desires;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Let not then the sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to obey its lusts.

Context

Verse 12 translates the reckoning of verse 11 into action: do not let sin reign. It introduces the language of rule and obedience, which will continue in the next verse’s call to present our members. Verses 13 and 14 will show the positive alternative—presenting ourselves to God—and provide assurance that sin will not have dominion because believers are under grace. This prepares for verses 15–23, where Paul uses the slavery metaphor to contrast former bondage with present service to righteousness.

v.11Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.

v.12This passage

v.13neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Cross references

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

  • Deuteronomy 7:2

    and when Jehovah thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them;

  • Jude 1:18

    that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.

  • Romans 8:13

    for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Romans 6:14

    For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.

  • 1 John 2:15

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

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