Romans 5:7 Meaning and Explanation
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even among people, one will rarely die for a righteous person, though perhaps someone might dare to die for a truly good person.
What Does Romans 5:7 Mean?
Paul pauses to weigh the death of Christ against ordinary human love. Even at its noblest, human self-sacrifice is rare and reserved for the worthy: hardly anyone will die for a merely upright person, though perhaps for a genuinely good and beloved person someone might be brave enough.
The point is to set a measuring line that the next verse will overturn. Human love, even when willing to die, gives itself for the deserving. Paul lays this out so that the love of God, which gives itself for the undeserving, will stand out by contrast as something altogether greater.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 5:7
What does Romans 5:7 mean?
Even among people, one will rarely die for a righteous person, though perhaps someone might dare to die for a truly good person.