Romans 6:20
What does Romans 6:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:20 means
When you were slaves of sin, you were “free” in relation to righteousness—that is, you felt no obligation to it and did not serve it. This supposed freedom was actually bondage. Sin monopolized your loyalties and produced no righteous fruit. Paul is not praising autonomy; he is exposing its emptiness. To be free from righteousness is to be cut off from the only service that leads to life. This verse prepares the reader to judge the past honestly. Whatever pleasures sin promised, it kept you from the good you were made for, leaving you under its control and headed toward ruin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When you were servants of sin you were free from righteousness.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for when ye were servants of the sin, ye were free from the righteousness,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For when ye were bondmen of sin ye were free from righteousness.
Context
Verse 20 recalls the former condition to set up a searching question in verse 21 about the fruit and outcome of that life. The argument contrasts two freedoms: the old “freedom” from righteousness that was actually slavery to sin, and the new freedom from sin that is servitude to God. Verses 21–22 will weigh the fruit and end of each path—death versus holiness and eternal life—leading to the climactic summary in verse 23.
v.19I 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.
v.20This passage
v.21What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
- 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?
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