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

18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life by 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

• Moreoverδέde · thenG1161
• lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• enteredπαρεισέρχομαιpareiserchomai · to come inG3922
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• offenceπαράπτωμαparaptōma · trespassG3900
• aboundπλεονάζωpleonazō · to increaseG4121
• whereοὗhou · whitherG3757
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• aboundὑπερπερισσεύωhuperperisseuō · to aboundG5248

Cross-references for Romans 5:20

• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
• Romans 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
• Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
• Romans 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
• John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
• 2 Corinthians 3:7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
• Galatians 3:19What purpose thenserveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
• Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
• 2 Chronicles 33:9So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
• Psalms 25:11For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity; for it is great.
• Isaiah 1:18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
• Isaiah 43:24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast burdened me with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities.
• Jeremiah 3:8And I saw, when for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
• Ezekiel 16:52Thou also, who hast judged thy sisters, bear thy own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
• Ezekiel 36:25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

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