Romans 6 · Verse 12

Romans 6:12

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:12, King James Version

Romans 6:12 in other translations

BSBTherefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
WEBTherefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
ASVLet not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:
YLTLet not then the sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires;
DARBYLet not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to obey its lusts.
BBEFor this cause do not let sin be ruling in your body which is under the power of death, so that you give way to its desires;
WebsterLet not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts of it.

What does Romans 6:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Let not sin therefore--as a Master reign--(The reader will observe that wherever in this section the words "Sin," "Obedience," "Righteousness," "Uncleanness," "Iniquity," are figuratively used, to represent a Master, they are here printed in capitals, to make this manifest to the eye, and so save explanation). in your mortal body, that ye should obey it--sin. in the lusts thereof--"the lusts of the body," as the Greek makes evident. (The other reading, perhaps the true one, "that ye should obey the lusts thereof," comes to the same thing). The "body" is here viewed as the instrument by which all the sins of the heart become facts of the outward life, and as itself the seat of the lower appetites; and it is called "our mortal body," probably to remind us how unsuitable is this reign of sin in those who are "alive from the dead." But the reign here meant is the unchecked dominion of sin within us. Its outward acts are next referred to.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Let not sin therefore. This is a conclusion drawn from the previous train of reasoning. The result of all these considerations is, that sin should not be suffered to reign in us.

Reign. Have dominion; obtain the ascendency, or rule.

In your mortal body. In you. The apostle uses the word "mortal" here, perhaps, for these reasons:

(1.) to remind them of the tendency of the flesh to sin and corruption, as equivalent to "fleshly," since the flesh is often used to denote evil passions and desires, (comp. Rom 7:5,23, 8:3,6) and,

(2.) to remind them of their weakness, as the body was mortal, was soon to decay, and was therefore liable to be overcome by temptation. Perhaps, also, he had his eye on the folly of suffering the "mortal body" to overcome the immortal mind, and to bring it into subjection to sin and corruption.

That ye should obey it. That sin should get such an ascendency as to rule entirely over you, and make you the slave.

In the lusts thereof. In its desires, or propensities.

(u) "Let not sin" Psa 19:13, 119:33

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Let not sin therefore reign - This is a prosopopoeia, or personification. Sin is represented as a king, ruler, or tyrant, who has the desires of the mind and the members of the body under his control so that by influencing the passions he governs the body. Do not let sin reign, do not let him work; that is, let him have no place, no being in your souls; because, wherever he is he governs, less or more: and indeed sin is not sin without this. How is sin known? By evil influences in the mind, and evil acts in the life. But do not these influences and these acts prove his dominion? Certainly, the very existence of an evil thought to which passion or appetite attaches itself, is a proof that there sin has dominion; for without dominion such passions could not be excited. Wherever sin is felt, there sin has dominion; for sin is sin only as it works in action or passion against God. Sin cannot be a quiescent thing: if it do not work it does not exist. That ye should obey it in the lusts thereof - Αυτῃ εν ταις επιθυμιαις αυτου. This clause is wanting in the most ancient and reputable MSS. and in the principal versions. Griesbach has left it out of his text; and Professor White says, Certissime delenda: "These words should certainly he expunged" they are not necessary to the apostle's argument; it was enough to say, Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it. If it be there it will reign there; and its reign supposes, necessarily, the subjection of that in which it reigns. A king reigns when his laws are enforced, and the people obey them. When there is no executive government there is no reign. There may be a royal shadow there, but there is no king.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 6:11-15

The strongest motives against sin, and to enforce holiness, are here stated. Being made free from the reign of sin, alive unto God, and having the prospect of eternal life, it becomes believers to be greatly concerned to advance thereto. But, as unholy lusts are not quite rooted out in this life, it must be the care of the Christian to resist their motions, earnestly striving, that, through Divine grace, they may…

Read the full comment on Romans 6:11-15 →

Romans 6:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΜὴMēNotG3361
οὖνounthereforeG3767
βασιλευέτωbasileuetōshould reignG936
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἁμαρτίαhamartiasinG266
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
θνητῷthnētōmortalG2349
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
σώματιsōmatibodyG4983
εἰςeisin orderG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
ὑπακούεινhupakoueinto obeyG5219
αὐτῇautēaitG846
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἐπιθυμίαιςepithumiaisdesiresG1939
αὐτοῦ,autouof it,G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 6:12

  • Galatians 5:16

    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Romans 6:16

    Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

  • 1 John 2:15-17

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  • Galatians 5:24

    And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  • Romans 8:13

    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Psalms 19:13

    Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:11

    For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

  • Ephesians 2:3

    Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

  • 1 Peter 4:2-3

    That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

  • Romans 13:14

    But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Let not.
16; 5:21; 7:23,24; Nu 33:55; De 7:2; Jos 23:12,13; Jud 2:3; Ps 19:13
Ps 119:133
mortal.
8:11; 1Co 15:53,54; 2Co 4:11; 5:4
in the lusts.
16; 2:8; 8:13; 13:14; Ga 5:16,24; Eph 2:3; 4:22; 1Th 4:5; 2Ti 2:22
Tit 2:12; 3:3; Jas 1:14,15; 4:1-3; 1Pe 1:14; 2:11; 4:2,3; 1Jo 2:15-17
Jude 1:16,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 6:11

    Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Romans 6:12

    Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

  • Romans 6:13

    Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Read all of Romans 6

Romans 6:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No reine, pues, el pecado en vuestro cuerpo mortal, para que le obedezcáis en sus concupiscencias;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que le péché donc ne règne point dans votre corps mortel pour que vous obéissiez aux convoitises de celui-ci;
German
Elberfelder 1871		So herrsche denn nicht die Sünde in eurem sterblichen Leibe, um seinen Lüsten zu gehorchen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non ergo regnet peccatum in vestro mortali corpore ut obediatis concupiscentiis ejus.