Romans 8:39
What does Romans 8:39 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 8:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 8:39 means
Paul completes the sweep: neither height nor depth nor any other created thing can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. By adding “any other creature,” he excludes every possibility outside God himself. Since God’s own love is the source and it flows through Christ, the bond is unbreakable. Our security rests not on our hold of God but on God’s hold of us in Christ. This final word seals the chapter’s themes: no condemnation at the start and no separation at the end. Between those pillars lies the Spirit-empowered life and the sovereign purpose of God, all anchored in the steadfast love revealed in Jesus.
Romans 8:39 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 · 2000nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Or things on high, or things under the earth, or anything which is made, will be able to come between us and the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862nor things about to be, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of god, that <FI>is<Fi> in Christ Jesus our Lord.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love ofGod, which [is] in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Context
Crowning the list of non-separators from verse 38, verse 39 extends the denial to the furthest reaches of space and to any created reality, then identifies the love’s source and mediator: the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This closing line ties together the chapter’s opening assurance of no condemnation with its final assurance of no separation, offering believers a comprehensive, Spirit-grounded confidence for life and eternity.
v.38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
v.39This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 10:10
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
- 1 John 4:9
Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- John 10:28
and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
- Revelation 13:1
and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
- Proverbs 20:5
Counsel in the heart of man islikedeep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Sermon ideas from Romans 8:39
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Romans 8:39 teaches us about justification
What Romans 8:39 teaches us about indwelling spirit
What Romans 8:39 teaches us about adoption
What Romans 8:39 teaches us about final perseverance
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