Romans 6:21
What does Romans 6:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:21 means
Paul asks what benefit you gained then from the things you are now ashamed of. The honest answer is none that endures. Sin’s produce is shame in the present and death in the end. Looking back with renewed minds, believers see past indulgences for what they were—empty and destructive. This reflection is not to crush but to clarify: the old path bore bitter fruit and a fatal outcome. The end—death—means separation from God and ruin. The gospel invites sober assessment of sin’s yield so that we will cherish grace’s fruits and refuse to return to what only harms and kills.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
KJV
King James Version · 1611What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What fruit had you at that time in the things which are now a shame to you? for the end of such things is death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862what fruit, therefore, were ye having then, in the things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of those <FI>is<Fi> death.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752What fruit therefore had you then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890What fruit therefore had ye then in the things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of them [is] death.
Context
Following the reminder of former “freedom” from righteousness (verse 20), verse 21 presses for an inventory of sin’s fruit. It highlights shame and death as the true outcome. This paves the way for verse 22’s contrast—freedom from sin, service to God, sanctification, and eternal life. The movement is toward a decisive evaluation of the two ways of life, setting up the chapter’s final summary statement in verse 23 about wages and the free gift.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 3:3
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; yet thou hadst a harlot’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
- Romans 1:32
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
- Job 40:4
Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.
- James 1:15
Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.
- Philippians 3:19
whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
- Proverbs 1:31
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
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