Romans 6:23
New International Version
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Living Translation
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

English Standard Version
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

King James Bible
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New King James Version
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New American Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NASB 1995
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NASB 1977
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amplified Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christian Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

American Standard Version
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Contemporary English Version
Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.

English Revised Version
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Good News Translation
For sin pays its wage--death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

International Standard Version
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with the Messiah Jesus our Lord.

Majority Standard Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NET Bible
For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Heart English Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
For the wages paid by Sin are death; but God's free gift is the Life of the Ages bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

World English Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for the wages of sin [is] death, and the gift of God [is] continuous life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
for the wages of the sin is death, and the gift of God is life age-during in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the purchasing the provisions of sin, death; and the grace of God, life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New American Bible
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through our LORD Jesus Christ.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the product of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life in our Lord Yeshua The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal "life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Godbey New Testament
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Haweis New Testament
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is life eternal in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mace New Testament
for the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
For the wages paid by Sin are death; but God's free gift is the Life of the Ages bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Worrell New Testament
for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Worsley New Testament
For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wages of Sin
22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Cross References
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

1 John 5:11-12
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. / Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Titus 3:5-7
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. / This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, / so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Revelation 21:6-8
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. / The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. / But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Isaiah 53:5-6
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. / We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, / but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

Proverbs 11:19
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.

Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. / Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.


Treasury of Scripture

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the wages.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

but the.

Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 5:17,21
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) …

John 3:14-17,36
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: …

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Act Age-During Ages Bestowed Christ Death Eternal Favour Free Freely Gift Gives God's Jesus Life Paid Reward Sin Wages
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Act Age-During Ages Bestowed Christ Death Eternal Favour Free Freely Gift Gives God's Jesus Life Paid Reward Sin Wages
Romans 6
1. We may not live in sin;
2. for we are dead unto it;
3. as appears by our baptism.
12. Let not sin reign anymore;
18. because we have yielded ourselves to the service of righteousness;
23. and because death is the wages of sin.














For the wages of sin
The term "wages" (Greek: "ὀψώνια" - opsōnia) refers to the payment or compensation one receives for work done. In the Roman context, this would have been understood as the daily pay given to a soldier or laborer. Theologically, it signifies the inevitable outcome or consequence of sin, which is a life lived in rebellion against God. Sin, in its essence, is missing the mark of God's holiness and righteousness. Historically, the concept of sin and its consequences is deeply rooted in the Jewish understanding of the law and the sacrificial system, which pointed to the need for atonement.

is death
Death (Greek: "θάνατος" - thanatos) here is not merely physical death but encompasses spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. In the biblical narrative, death entered the world through Adam's sin (Genesis 3), and it is the ultimate penalty for sin. This death is contrasted with the life that God offers, highlighting the severity and seriousness of sin's consequences. Theologically, it underscores the need for redemption and the hope of resurrection through Christ.

but the gift of God
The word "gift" (Greek: "χάρισμα" - charisma) emphasizes the unearned and gracious nature of what God offers. Unlike wages, which are earned, a gift is freely given. This reflects the core of the Gospel message: salvation cannot be earned by human effort but is a result of God's grace. The historical context of Roman patronage systems, where gifts were given by benefactors to clients, helps illuminate the nature of God's grace as a divine benefactor offering life to humanity.

is eternal life
"Eternal life" (Greek: "ζωὴ αἰώνιος" - zōē aiōnios) refers to the quality and duration of life that is found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is not just life without end but a transformed life that begins now and continues forever. Scripturally, eternal life is a central theme in the New Testament, promised by Jesus to those who believe in Him (John 3:16). It signifies a restored relationship with God, free from the power and penalty of sin.

in Christ Jesus our Lord
This phrase underscores the centrality of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith. "In Christ" (Greek: "ἐν Χριστῷ" - en Christō) denotes a union with Christ, where believers are spiritually joined to Him. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, and through His death and resurrection, He provides the means for eternal life. The title "our Lord" (Greek: "Κύριος" - Kyrios) affirms His authority and divinity, acknowledging Him as the sovereign ruler over all. Historically, the confession of Jesus as Lord was a radical declaration in the Roman Empire, where Caesar was considered lord. This phrase encapsulates the Christian hope and assurance that life, both now and forever, is found in Jesus Christ alone.

(23) The gift of God.--The natural antithesis would be "wages;" but this would here be inappropriate, and therefore the Apostle substitutes "the free gift." In spite of your sanctification as Christians, still you will not have earned eternal life; it is the gift of God's grace.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wages
ὀψώνια (opsōnia)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3800: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the same as opsarion; rations for a soldier, i.e. his stipend or pay.

of sin
ἁμαρτίας (hamartias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

[is] death,
θάνατος (thanatos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

gift
χάρισμα (charisma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5486: From charizomai; a gratuity, i.e. Deliverance;, a endowment, i.e. religious qualification, or miraculous faculty.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

[is] eternal
αἰώνιος (aiōnios)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 166: From aion; perpetual.

life
ζωὴ (zōē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Christ
Χριστῷ (Christō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Lord.
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


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NT Letters: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death (Rom. Ro)
Romans 6:22
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