Romans 6:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because of all this, believers must not let sin rule their bodies or obey its cravings.
What Does Romans 6:12 Mean?
From the truth that we are alive to God, Paul draws a direct charge: do not let sin reign. He pictures sin as a deposed king still seeking the throne of the 'mortal body,' demanding obedience through its desires. The command assumes that the believer now has the freedom and responsibility to refuse.
Sin's rule has been broken, but its appeals continue, and so the believer is called to active resistance. To obey its cravings is to crown again a master Christ has dethroned. Here grace and effort meet: precisely because we have been set free, we are urged to live as free people, denying sin the rule it no longer rightly holds.
Romans 6:12 in the Original Language
basileuo (βασιλεύω), 'reign' -- to rule as king, to hold the throne and command obedience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 6:12
What does Romans 6:12 mean?
Because of all this, believers must not let sin rule their bodies or obey its cravings.