Romans 6:16
What does Romans 6:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:16 means
Paul states a principle: the one you choose to obey becomes your master. Present yourself to sin, and you become its slave, with death as the outcome. Present yourself in obedience to God, and you become a servant of righteousness, with a growing conformity to God’s standard. There is no neutral ground. Our repeated choices reveal and deepen our allegiance. This is a sober warning and a clarifying lens for life. The gospel does not free us to autonomy; it frees us to a new obedience. The stakes are ultimate—death or righteousness. Therefore, in light of grace, believers must yield themselves to the right master.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Are you not conscious that you are the servants of him to whom you give yourselves to do his desire? if to sin, the end being death, or if to do the desire of God, the end being righteousness.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862have ye not known that to whom ye present yourselves servants for obedience, servants ye are to him to whom ye obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether it be of sin unto death or of obedience unto justice.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves bondmen for obedience, ye are bondmen to him whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Context
Verse 16 launches the slavery metaphor that counters the antinomian misunderstanding of grace raised in verse 15. It presents two masters and two ends. Verses 17–18 will recount how the Roman Christians shifted from slavery to sin to slavery to righteousness through heartfelt obedience to the gospel. Verse 19 will apply the metaphor, calling for the same zeal once shown in sin to be shown now in righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
- 2 Peter 2:19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
- John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
- Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
- Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.
- Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
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