Romans 8:36
What does Romans 8:36 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 8:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 8:36 means
By quoting Scripture that speaks of God’s people being treated like sheep for slaughter, Paul shows that suffering, even unto death, has long marked the faithful. Such experiences are not signs of God’s abandonment but the cost of allegiance in a fallen world. This real-world acknowledgment guards against triumphalism and prepares the ground for true triumph: victory amid, not apart from, affliction. The citation situates Christian suffering within the larger story of God’s people. Far from contradicting Christ’s love, these trials are the battleground where his love sustains and vindicates his own, proving that their security does not rest on favorable circumstances.
Romans 8:36 in context
Romans 8 — No Condemnation, No Separation
The high-water mark of Paul's letters. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death; the same Spirit cries 'Abba, Father' in our hearts and assures us we are children and heirs. Suffering is real, but the glory ahead is incomparably greater. All things work together for good to those who love God. And nothing — neither death nor life nor angels nor things present nor things to come — shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Justification
- Indwelling Spirit
- Adoption
- Final perseverance
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As it is said in the holy Writings, Because of you we are put to death every day; we are like sheep ready for destruction.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862(according as it hath been written--`For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we were reckoned as sheep of slaughter,')
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752(As it is written: For thy sake, we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.)
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890According as it is written, For thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we have been reckoned as sheep for slaughter.
Context
The scriptural citation in verse 36 validates the reality of suffering for God’s people, immediately before Paul declares in verse 37 that believers are more than conquerors in all such trials through Christ’s love. This sequence shows that the victory Paul proclaims is not denial of pain but endurance and triumph sustained by divine love, leading into the sweeping, categorical assurance of verses 38–39.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 4:9
For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.
- Jeremiah 51:40
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
- Acts 8:32
Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
- Jeremiah 11:19
But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
- Jeremiah 12:3
But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
- Acts 20:24
But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Sermon ideas from Romans 8:36
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Romans 8:36 teaches us about justification
What Romans 8:36 teaches us about indwelling spirit
What Romans 8:36 teaches us about adoption
What Romans 8:36 teaches us about final perseverance
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