Romans 6 · Verse 21

Romans 6:21

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Romans 6:21, King James Version

Romans 6:21 in other translations

BSBWhat fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
WEBWhat fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
ASVWhat fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
YLTwhat fruit, therefore, were ye having then, in the things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of those is death.
DARBYWhat fruit therefore had ye then in the things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of them is death.
BBEWhat fruit had you at that time in the things which are now a shame to you? for the end of such things is death.
WebsterWhat fruit had ye then in those things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

What does Romans 6:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death--What permanent advantage, and what abiding satisfaction, have those things yielded? The apostle answers his own question:--"Abiding satisfaction, did I ask? They have left only a sense of 'shame.' Permanent advantage? 'The end of them is death.'" By saying they were "now ashamed," he makes it plain that he is not referring to that disgust at themselves, and remorse of conscience by which those who are the most helplessly "sold under sin" are often stung to the quick; but that ingenuous feeling of self-reproach, which pierces and weighs down the children of God, as they think of the dishonor which their past life did to His name, the ingratitude it displayed, the violence it did to their own conscience, its deadening and degrading effects, and the death--"the second death"--to which it was dragging them down, when mere Grace arrested them. (On the sense of "death" here, see on Ro 5:12-21, Note 3, and Ro 6:16: see also Re 21:8--The change proposed in the pointing of this verse: "What fruit had ye then? things whereof ye are now ashamed" [Luther, Tholuck, De Wette, Philippi, Alford, &c.], seems unnatural and uncalled for. The ordinary pointing has at least powerful support [Chrysostom, Calvin, Beza, Grotius, Bengel, Stuart, Fritzsche]).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. What fruit had ye then, etc. What reward, or what advantage. This is an argument drawn from the experience of Christians respecting the indulgence of sinful passions. The question discussed throughout this chapter is, whether the gospel plan of justification by faith leads to indulgence in sin? The argument here is drawn from the past experience which Christians have had in the ways of transgression. They have tried it; they know its effects; they have tasted its bitterness; they have reaped its fruits. It is implied here, that having once experienced these effects, and knowing the tendency of sin, they will not indulge in it now. Comp. Rom 7:5.

Whereof ye are now ashamed. Having seen their nature and tendency, you are now ashamed of them. Comp. Rom 6:1, Eph 5:12, "For it is a shame to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." 2Cor 4:2, Jude 1:13, Php 3:19.

For the end. The tendency--the result. Those things lead to death.

Is death. Rom 6:22.

(c) "fruit" Rom 7:5 (d) "the end of those" Jas 1:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 What fruit had ye then in those things - God designs that every man shall reap benefit by his service. What benefit have ye derived from the service of sin? Whereof ye are now ashamed? - Ye blush to remember your former life. It was scandalous to yourselves, injurious to others, and highly provoking to God. The end of those things is death - Whatever sin may promise of pleasure or advantage, the end to which it necessarily tends is the destruction of body and soul.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 6:21-23
The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be called fruit. Sinners are but ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity, and reaping the same. Shame came into the world with sin, and is still the certain effect of it. The end of sin is death. Though the way may seem pleasant and inviting, yet it will be bitterness in the latter end. From this condemnation the believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin. If the fruit is unto holiness, if there is an active principle of true and growing grace, the end will be everlasting life; a very happy end! Though the way is up-hill, though it is narrow, thorny, and beset, yet everlasting life at the end of it is sure. The gift of God is eternal life. And this gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it, prepares us for it, preserves us to it; he is the All in all in our salvation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 6:21 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.

τίναtinaWhatG5101
οὖνounthereforeG3767
καρπὸνkarponfruitG2590
εἴχετεeichetehad youG2192
τότε,totethenG5119
ἐφ᾽eph᾽in the [things]G1909
οἷςhoisof whichG3739
νῦνnunnowG3568
ἐπαισχύνεσθε;epaischunestheyou are ashamed?G1870
τὸtoTheG3588
γὰρgarforG1063
τέλοςtelosendG5056
ἐκείνωνekeinōnof those thingsG1565
θάνατος.thanatos[is] death.G2288

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

Cross references for Romans 6:21

  • Romans 1:32

    Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  • Romans 7:5

    For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

  • Romans 6:23

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

  • Galatians 6:7-8

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Proverbs 14:12

    There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

  • Proverbs 16:25

    There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

  • Jeremiah 8:12

    Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

  • Romans 8:6

    For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

  • 1 John 2:28

    And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 17:10

    I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

  • Hebrews 6:8

    But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
What.
7:5; Pr 1:31; 5:10-13; 9:17,18; Isa 3:10; Jer 17:10; 44:20-24
Ga 6:7,8
whereof.
Ezr 9:6; Job 40:4; 42:6; Jer 3:3; 8:12; 31:19; Eze 16:61-63
Eze 36:31,32; 43:11; Da 9:7,8; 12:2; Lu 15:17-21; 2Co 7:11
1Jo 2:28
for the.
23; 1:32; De 17:6; 21:22; 2Sa 12:5-7; 1Ki 2:26; Ps 73:17; Pr 14:12
Pr 16:25; Php 3:19; Heb 6:8; 10:29; Jas 1:15; 5:20; 1Pe 4:17; Re 16:6
Re 20:14

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

Context

  • Romans 6:20

    For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

  • Romans 6:21

    What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

  • Romans 6:22

    But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Read all of Romans 6

Romans 6:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Qué fruto, pues, teníais de aquellas cosas de las cuales ahora os avergonzáis? porque el fin de ellas es muerte.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quel fruit donc aviez-vous alors des choses dont maintenant vous avez honte? car la fin de ces choses est la mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Welche Frucht hattet ihr denn damals von den Dingen, deren ihr euch jetzt schämet? denn das Ende derselben ist der Tod.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quem ergo fructum habuistis tunc in illis, in quibus nunc erubescitis? nam finis illorum mors est.