Romans 6:19
What does Romans 6:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:19 means
Paul admits he is speaking in human terms—using the slavery image—because of our limitations. The point is clear: just as you once eagerly presented your bodily members to impurity and ever-increasing lawlessness, so now present them to righteousness leading to sanctification. Former patterns reinforced themselves—sin bred more sin. In Christ, the same dynamic operates in holiness—obedience breeds deeper holiness. Sanctification is a process, an ongoing setting apart to God in character and conduct. The call is to redirect the same energies once given to sin toward righteous purposes, trusting that God’s grace will produce real growth in holiness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I am using words in the way of men, because your flesh is feeble: as you gave your bodies as servants to what is unclean, and to evil to do evil, so now give them as servants to righteousness to do what is holy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862In the manner of men I speak, because of the weakness of your flesh, for even as ye did present your members servants to the uncleanness and to the lawlessness--to the lawlessness, so now present your members servants to the righteousness--t sanctification,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity: so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For even as ye have yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto holiness.
Context
Building on verse 18’s declaration of new servitude, verse 19 applies the metaphor to daily practice. It acknowledges the illustration’s limits while urging wholehearted presentation of ourselves to righteousness. The verse signals the progressive nature of sanctification. Verses 20–21 will now prompt reflection on the former life’s fruitlessness and deadly end, while verse 22 contrasts the present path’s holy fruit and eternal life. Verse 23 will summarize the stark contrast as wages versus gift.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 6:16
Know 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?
- Hebrews 12:15
looking carefully lestthere beany man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
- Romans 8:26
And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
- Galatians 3:15
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.
- Ephesians 2:2
wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
- Romans 6:13
neither 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.
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