Romans 5:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who had not sinned as Adam did; and Adam is a pattern of the One to come.
What Does Romans 5:14 Mean?
Still within his parenthesis, Paul offers proof that sin held the world even before the law: death 'reigned' over everyone in the long age from Adam to Moses, including those who had not broken a direct command as Adam had. Death's universal reign witnesses to a deeper bondage.
Then comes a pivotal turn. Adam is called 'the figure of him that was to come' -- a pattern pointing forward to Christ. The resemblance is one of structure, not character: as one man's act shaped the destiny of many, so would Another's. With this, Paul opens the door to the glorious contrast he is about to draw.
Romans 5:14 in the Original Language
tupos (τύπος), 'figure' -- a pattern, type, or foreshadowing of something yet to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 5:14
What does Romans 5:14 mean?
Death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who had not sinned as Adam did; and Adam is a pattern of the One to come.