Bible Strands
Romans 1:26
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, tracing the consequences of idolatry from the preceding verses. This verse specifically records God’s judgment on women before the text shifts to men in verse 27.
The words — παρέδωκεν (paredōken) translates literally as "gave over," marking a judicial surrender to sin. πάθη (pathē) means "passions," describing the uncontrollable desires that follow divine withdrawal.
The thread — The theme of exchanging natural order for unnatural desire connects to Jude 1:7 and Leviticus 18:22. Paul later lists related sexual immorality in 1 Timothy 1:10.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that idolatry directly corrupts human relationships and bodily conduct. It requires readers to see sexual deviation not as isolated acts but as a direct consequence of rejecting divine truth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Cross-references
- Jude 1:7 In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
- Leviticus 18:22 You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.
- Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
- Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
- Genesis 19:5 They called out to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them!”
- Judges 19:22 While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”
- Ephesians 5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
- Deuteronomy 23:17 No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute.