Romans 5:21
New International Version
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Living Translation
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

English Standard Version
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

King James Bible
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

New King James Version
so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New American Standard Bible
so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NASB 1995
so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NASB 1977
that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amplified Bible
so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Contemporary English Version
Sin ruled by means of death. But God's gift of grace now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As sin ruled by bringing death, God's kindness would rule by bringing us his approval. This results in our living forever because of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good News Translation
So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

International Standard Version
so that, just as sin ruled by bringing death, so also grace might rule by bringing justification that results in eternal life through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

Majority Standard Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NET Bible
so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Heart English Bible
that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
That as sin hath reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the Life of the Ages through Jesus Christ our Lord.

World English Bible
that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that even as sin reigned in death, so also grace may reign, through righteousness, to continuous life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
that even as the sin did reign in the death, so also the grace may reign, through righteousness, to life age-during, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Smith's Literal Translation
That as sin reigned in death, so grace might reign by justice to life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That as sin hath reigned to death; so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, just as sin has reigned unto death, so also may grace reign through justice unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New American Bible
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Just as sin had reigned through death, so grace shall reign through righteousness unto eternal life by our LORD Jesus Christ.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
That as sin reigned by death, in this way grace shall reign by righteousness to eternal life by our Lord Yeshua The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
that as sin has reigned, ending in death, so might grace reign by justification, ending in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Godbey New Testament
in order that as sin reigned through death, so may grace reign also through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Haweis New Testament
that as sin had reigned by death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto life eternal by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mace New Testament
that as sin prevailed unto death, even so might the divine favour prevail by righteousness unto eternal life, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the Life of the Ages through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Worsley New Testament
so grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
20The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. / But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Galatians 3:21-22
Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. / But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast.

Titus 3:5-7
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. / This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, / so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. / For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

1 John 5:11-12
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. / Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, / and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, / who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hebrews 9:28
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Genesis 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

Genesis 3:17-19
And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. / Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. / By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

That as sin has reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

That.

Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Romans 6:12,14,16
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof…

grace.

John 1:16,17
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace…

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

through.

Romans 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

unto.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Jump to Previous
Age-During Bestowing Christ Death Eternal Exercise Exercised Grace Inflicting Jesus Kingly Life Order Power Reign Reigned Results Righteousness Sin Sway
Jump to Next
Age-During Bestowing Christ Death Eternal Exercise Exercised Grace Inflicting Jesus Kingly Life Order Power Reign Reigned Results Righteousness Sin Sway
Romans 5
1. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God;
2. and joy in our hope;
8. that since we were reconciled by his blood, when we were enemies;
10. we shall much more be saved, being reconciled.
12. As sin and death came by Adam;
17. so much more righteousness and life by Jesus Christ.
20. Where sin abounded, grace did superabound.














so that
This phrase indicates purpose or result, connecting the preceding discussion about sin and grace to the outcome described in this verse. In the Greek, "ἵνα" (hina) is often used to express purpose, showing that the following statement is the intended result of what has been previously discussed. This highlights the divine intention behind the narrative of sin and grace, emphasizing God's sovereign plan in salvation history.

just as sin reigned
The imagery of sin "reigning" suggests a dominion or authority, akin to a king ruling over his subjects. The Greek word "ἐβασίλευσεν" (ebasileusen) is derived from "βασιλεύω" (basileuō), meaning to rule as a king. Historically, this reflects the pervasive influence of sin in the world, as seen from the fall of Adam. Sin's reign is characterized by its power to corrupt and lead humanity away from God, resulting in spiritual and physical death.

in death
Death here is both physical and spiritual, a consequence of sin's dominion. The Greek "ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ" (en tō thanatō) underscores the sphere in which sin's reign is most evident. Biblically, death entered the world through Adam's transgression (Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12), and it serves as the ultimate penalty for sin. This phrase reminds believers of the stark reality of life without God's intervention.

so also grace might reign
In contrast to sin, grace is depicted as a reigning power. The Greek "ἡ χάρις βασιλεύσῃ" (hē charis basileusē) uses the same verb for reigning, indicating a parallel but opposite dominion. Grace, unmerited favor from God, overcomes the reign of sin, offering redemption and life. This reflects the transformative power of God's grace, which not only forgives but also empowers believers to live righteously.

through righteousness
Righteousness is the means by which grace reigns. The Greek "διὰ δικαιοσύνης" (dia dikaiosynēs) suggests that righteousness is the channel or instrument of grace's dominion. This righteousness is not of human origin but is imputed through faith in Christ (Romans 3:22). It signifies a restored relationship with God, where believers are justified and made right before Him.

to bring eternal life
The ultimate purpose of grace reigning through righteousness is to grant eternal life. The Greek "εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον" (eis zōēn aiōnion) indicates a movement towards or result in eternal life. This life is not merely unending existence but a quality of life in communion with God, beginning now and continuing forever. It is the fulfillment of God's promise and the hope of every believer.

through Jesus Christ our Lord
Jesus Christ is the agent through whom eternal life is made possible. The Greek "διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν" (dia Iēsou Christou tou Kyriou hēmōn) emphasizes His central role in salvation. As Lord, He has authority over all, and through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death. This phrase affirms the exclusivity of Christ as the mediator of God's grace and the source of eternal life, underscoring the Christian confession of faith in Jesus as Lord.

(21) Unto death.--Rather, in death; death being, as it were, the domain in which its sovereignty was exercised.

In this last section we seem still to trace the influence of the school of Gamaliel. It appears that the Jewish doctors also attributed universal mortality to the fall of Adam, and regarded his sin as including that of the rest of mankind. (On the whole section, see Excursus F: On St. Paul's View of the Religious History of Mankind.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
so that,
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

just as
ὥσπερ (hōsper)
Adverb
Strong's 5618: Just as, as, even as. From hos and per; just as, i.e. Exactly like.

sin
ἁμαρτία (hamartia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

reigned
ἐβασίλευσεν (ebasileusen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 936: (a) I rule, reign, (b) I reign over. From basileus; to rule.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

death,
θανάτῳ (thanatō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.

so
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

also
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

grace
χάρις (charis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485: From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.

might reign
βασιλεύσῃ (basileusē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 936: (a) I rule, reign, (b) I reign over. From basileus; to rule.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

righteousness,
δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosynēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.

to bring
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

eternal
αἰώνιον (aiōnion)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 166: From aion; perpetual.

life
ζωὴν (zōēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

Christ
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Lord.
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


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NT Letters: Romans 5:21 That as sin reigned in death even (Rom. Ro)
Romans 5:20
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