Devine Scripture

Romans 6:5

What does Romans 6:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 6:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 6:5 means

Union with Christ has two sides: if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. This includes both present participation and future certainty. Now, believers share in Christ’s risen life, enabling obedience and transformation. In the future, it anticipates bodily resurrection. The “likeness” language respects that we do not die or rise exactly as Christ did, yet truly share in the realities he secured. Paul’s point is assurance: God does not unite us to Christ halfway. The same grace that joined us to his cross guarantees our share in his risen life, making ongoing slavery to sin unfitting.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For, if we have been made like him in his death, we will, in the same way, be like him in his coming to life again;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For, if we have become planted together to the likeness of his death, <FI>so<Fi> also we shall be of the rising again;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For if we are become identified with [him] in the likeness of his death, so also we shall be of [his] resurrection;

Context

Verse 5 bridges doctrine and hope. Coming after the call to newness of life (verse 4), it anchors that life in union with Christ’s death and resurrection, present and future. It prepares for verses 6–7, which describe the crucifixion of the “old man” and the end of sin’s mastery. Then verses 8–10 will develop the life believers now have with the risen Christ. The argument gains force: because union with Christ is comprehensive, the ethical implications are unavoidable.

v.4We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

v.5This passage

v.6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;

Cross references

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

  • John 12:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.

  • John 15:1

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

  • Isaiah 5:2

    and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

  • Romans 6:8

    But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;

  • Matthew 15:13

    But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up.

  • Psalms 92:13

    They are planted in the house of Jehovah; They shall flourish in the courts of our God.

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