Romans 6:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Whomever you offer yourself to obey, that is whose servant you are, whether sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness.
What Does Romans 6:16 Mean?
Paul appeals to a truth everyone recognizes: obedience reveals ownership. The one you submit yourself to obey is the one whose servant you are. He sets out two masters with two destinations, sin that leads to death and obedience that leads to righteousness, and asks his readers to see which path their lives are walking.
There is no neutral ground; the question is only which master we serve. To present oneself to sin is to follow it toward death, while to give oneself to obedience is to be led toward righteousness and life. Paul presses the believer to recognize the stakes of daily surrender, for what we obey shapes whom we belong to and where we are going.
Romans 6:16 in the Original Language
doulos (δοῦλος), 'servant' -- a bondservant wholly belonging to and obeying a master.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 6:16
What does Romans 6:16 mean?
Whomever you offer yourself to obey, that is whose servant you are, whether sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness.