Romans 5:16

Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman believers while structuring his theological argument in chapter 5 about the contrast between Adam’s disobedience and Christ’s grace. He makes this statement to clarify how divine justification operates differently from the condemnation that followed a single offense.

The words — δῶρημα (dōrēma) literally means "gift" and denotes the unmerited provision that follows many trespasses. The phrase οὐχ ὡς (ouch hōs) literally translates to "not as" and establishes the structural comparison between the result of one sin and the result of the gift.

The thread — The pattern of God replacing human failure with forgiveness runs through Acts 13:38, Isaiah 1:18, and Isaiah 44:22. These passages collectively show God’s consistent action of blotting out transgressions and cleansing sins rather than leaving them as permanent records.

Why it lands — The text states that justification follows many trespasses as a gift, not as a verdict earned by moral performance. It asks the reader to accept a standing before God that is secured by grace rather than by measuring personal obedience against a standard of condemnation.

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

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Cross-references

Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
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,
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.