Devine Scripture

Romans 6:23

What does Romans 6:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 6:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 6:23 means

Here is the great summary: sin pays wages—what it owes is death. But God does not pay out what we earn; he gives a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The contrast is total: earned versus given, death versus life, sin’s mastery versus the Lordship of Christ. Eternal life is not achieved but received by union with Christ, who died and rose. This verse gathers the chapter’s themes—slavery, fruit, end, grace—and centers them on Christ Jesus. It urges sober realism about sin’s outcome and joyful trust in God’s generosity. The believer’s hope rests not on deserts but on God’s gift, secured by the Savior.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for the wages of the sin <FI>is<Fi> death, and the gift of God <FI>is<Fi> life age-during in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the act of favour ofGod, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Context

Concluding the chapter, verse 23 condenses the two paths Paul has contrasted in verses 15–22. It looks back over the argument about slavery and fruit and sets the ultimate outcomes side by side. This final word also ties to the earlier discussion of grace and union with Christ (verses 1–11): eternal life is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The chapter closes by calling readers away from sin’s deadly paymaster and into the gracious reign of God through Christ.

v.22But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

v.23This passage

Cross references

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

  • Romans 5:17

    For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.

  • John 5:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

  • 1 Peter 1:3

    Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • Romans 5:21

    that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • John 6:27

    Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.

  • John 6:50

    This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

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