Romans 5:20

Romans 5:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
• New International Version (NIV)The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Context of Romans 5:20

18Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous. Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, 21so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:20 word by word

Νόμος δὲ παρεισῆλθεν, ἵνα πλεονάσῃ τὸ παράπτωμα· οὗ δὲ ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία, ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ χάρις,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreoverδέde · thenG1161
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• enteredπαρεισέρχομαιpareiserchomai · to come inG3922
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• the offenceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the offenceπαράπτωμαparaptōma · trespassG3900
• might aboundπλεονάζωpleonazō · to increaseG4121
• whereοὗhou · whitherG3757
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• did much more aboundὑπερπερισσεύωhuperperisseuō · to aboundG5248

Cross-references for Romans 5:20

• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
• Romans 4:15For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either.
• Romans 6:14For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
• Romans 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
• John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But they no longer have any excuse for their sin.
• 2 Corinthians 3:7But if the ministry that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective),
• Galatians 3:19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.
• Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?
• 2 Chronicles 33:9But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed ahead of the Israelites.
• Psalms 25:11For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.
• Isaiah 1:18Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.
• Isaiah 43:24You did not buy me aromatic reeds; you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices. Yet you burdened me with your sins; you made me weary with your evil deeds.
• Jeremiah 3:8She also saw that I gave wayward Israel her divorce papers and sent her away because of her adulterous worship of other gods. Even after her unfaithful sister Judah had seen this, she still was not afraid, and she too went and gave herself like a prostitute to other gods.
• Ezekiel 16:52So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.
• Ezekiel 36:25I will sprinkle you with pure water and you will be clean from all your impurities. I will purify you from all your idols.
• Micah 7:18There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.

Commentaries on Romans 5:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The law entered that (̔ ) the offense might abound - After considering various opinions concerning the true meaning of this verse, (see under Romans 5:12; (note)), I am induced to prefer my own, as being the most simple. By law I understand the Mosaic law. By entering in, , or, rather, coming in privily, see Galatians 2:4, (the only place where it occurs besides), I understand the temporary or limited use of that law, which was, as far as its rites and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Moreover - But. What is said in this verse and the following, seems designed to meet the Jew, who might pretend that the Law of Moses was intended to meet the evils of sin introduced by Adam, and therefore that the scheme defended by the apostle was unnecessary. He therefore shows them that the effect of the Law of Moses was to increase rather than to diminish the sins which had been introduced into the world. And if such was the fact, it could not be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-21Verses 20-21 By Christ and his righteousness, we have more and greater privileges than we lost by the offence of Adam. The moral law showed that many thoughts, tempers, words, and actions, were sinful, thus transgressions were multiplied. Not making sin to abound the more, but discovering the sinfulness of it, even as the letting in a clearer light into a room, discovers the dust and filth which were there before, but were not seen. The sin of Adam, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Many Jews believed that God’s law, given to Israel, reversed or reduced the harmful effects of Adam’s sin. Paul says instead that God’s law caused sin to increase and helped people see their sin more clearly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. Moreover the law--"The law, however." The Jew might say, If the whole purposes of God towards men center in Adam and Christ, where does "the law" come in, and what was the use of it? Answer: It entered--But the word expresses an important idea besides "entering." It signifies, "entered incidentally," or "parenthetically." (In Ga 2:4 the same word is rendered, "came in privily.") The meaning is, that the promulgation of the law at Sinai was no…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 5:20

• Adam
• Atonement
• Grace of God
• Justification
• Salvation
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Abound
• Access
• Atonement
• Condemnation
• Die
• Disobedience
• Faith
• Figure
• Grace
• Pardon

Commentaries on Romans 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings