Devine Scripture

Romans 6:14

What does Romans 6:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 6:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 6:14 means

Paul adds a promise and a reason: sin will not have dominion over you, because you are not under law but under grace. Law commands but does not empower; grace not only forgives but also frees and enables obedience. Being “under grace” means living in the realm where God’s favor in Christ rules, the Spirit applies Christ’s work, and sin’s tyranny is broken. Therefore, the commands just given are not vain. They rest on God’s pledge of victory. This assurance guards against despair and against presumption: grace rules, so sin cannot. The Christian’s hope for holiness is grounded in God’s covenant kindness, not in human resolve alone.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For sin may not have rule over you: because you are not under law, but under grace.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for sin over you shall not have lordship, for ye are not under law, but under grace.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Verse 14 concludes the first set of exhortations (11–13) with a grounding promise. It affirms that grace establishes a new regime, contrasting with the law’s inability to deliver from sin’s power. This statement could be twisted to excuse sin, so Paul raises and rejects that misuse in verse 15. He will then employ the slavery imagery (verses 16–23) to show that grace reassigns masters—from sin to righteousness—and leads to sanctification and life, not moral laxity.

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.

v.14This passage

v.15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.

Cross references

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

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

  • Psalms 130:7

    O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.

  • Romans 11:6

    But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

  • Hebrews 8:10

    For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:

  • Romans 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

  • Matthew 1:21

    And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.

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