Romans 1:32 kjv
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 1:32 nkjv
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32 niv
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32 esv
Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 1:32 nlt
They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Romans 1 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:17 | "but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” | Consequence of disobedience is death. |
| Psa 50:16-21 | "...you approve of a thief and you make common cause with adulterers... " | Rebuke for professing faith while condoning sin. |
| Prov 1:10-16 | "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent... they rush to shed blood." | Warning against associating with evil deeds. |
| Prov 29:27 | "An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked." | Righteous abhor wickedness; wicked abhor righteousness. |
| Eze 18:4 | "Behold, all souls are Mine... The soul who sins will die." | All souls are God's; sin brings death. |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness..." | God's wrath against human sin. |
| Rom 1:19-20 | "what can be known about God is plain to them... since they are without excuse." | Humanity's innate knowledge of God and inexcusability. |
| Rom 1:21 | "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God..." | Knowledge of God leads to rejection, not worship. |
| Rom 1:24-31 | Describes the descent into various forms of immorality and depravity. | The specific "such things" that are practiced. |
| Rom 2:14-15 | "the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness." | Conscience testifies to God's moral law even without Mosaic Law. |
| Rom 5:12 | "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men..." | Sin universally brings death. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Sin's consequence is death, contrast with God's gift. |
| 1 Cor 5:1-2 | "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality... And you are inflated with pride, rather than having mourned so that the one who had done this deed would be removed..." | Warning against tolerance of sin within the church. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord." | Avoid close association or endorsement of unrighteousness. |
| Eph 5:11 | "And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." | Believers should not participate in, but rather expose, sin. |
| 1 Tim 5:22 | "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby participate in the sins of others..." | Believers must be careful not to endorse others' sins. |
| Heb 9:27 | "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment," | Universal decree of death and subsequent judgment. |
| James 1:15 | "Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it brings forth death." | The process by which sin culminates in death. |
| Jude 1:7 | "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural flesh, are displayed as an example in suffering the punishment of eternal fire." | Example of cities punished for ungodly sexual acts. |
| Rev 21:8 | "But for the cowardly, and unbelieving... their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." | The ultimate destination for those who persist in unrepentant sin. |
Romans 1 verses
Romans 1 32 Meaning
Romans 1:32 reveals the ultimate depth of human depravity: not only do people engage in acts they know are against God’s righteous decree and deserving of death, but they also wholeheartedly approve and even applaud others who practice the same evils. This signifies a rebellion against God that extends beyond personal sin into an active endorsement of wickedness within society, demonstrating humanity's inexcusable nature before God.
Romans 1 32 Context
Romans 1:32 concludes Paul's extensive indictment of both Gentile (and by implication, all) humanity's moral state. Beginning in verse 18, Paul argues that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth about God, evident in creation. Their knowing rejection of God led to idolatry, followed by God's judgment expressed through "giving them over" to progressively worse moral degradation, culminating in homosexual acts, debased minds, and a long list of specific sins (Rom 1:26-31). Verse 32 is the capstone, illustrating that humanity's depravity is so profound that they not only commit these "detestable" acts, but consciously, willingly, and actively approve of others doing them. This context underscores the universal human guilt and need for the righteousness of God offered through faith in Christ (Rom 3:21-26). It also stands as a polemic against any belief system, ancient or modern, that denies or trivializes human sinfulness or God's righteous judgment.
Romans 1 32 Word analysis
- οἵτινες (hoitines) - "who," "these very ones": This is a qualitative relative pronoun, emphasizing the character or nature of the individuals Paul is describing. It highlights that these specific sorts of people, defined by their actions and mindset, are the subject. It’s not just "those who," but "they, being the kind of people who..."
- τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ Θεοῦ (to dikaioma tou Theou) - "God’s righteous decree" / "God’s righteous judgment":
- δικαίωμα (dikaioma): Not just "righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη - dikaiosynē), but a specific righteous requirement, an ordinance, a judicial sentence, or an act of justice. It refers to God's just, definitive ruling or moral standard, inherently right and binding. It conveys the idea of a standard God has decreed or a righteous judgment He has pronounced.
- τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "of God." This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the decree. It is not human opinion but God's unchangeable standard.
- ἐπιγνόντες (epignontes) - "knowing fully," "recognizing clearly": This participle comes from the verb "epiginosko," which means "to know thoroughly, fully, intimately." It's stronger than simple "ginosko" (to know). It implies conscious, informed awareness, not mere superficial acquaintance. They had a full and active realization of God’s decree, whether through creation (Rom 1:19-20) or conscience (Rom 2:14-15).
- ὅτι (hoti) - "that": Introduces the content of what they know.
- οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες (hoi ta toiayta prassontes) - "those who do such things":
- πράσσοντες (prassontes): From "prasso," often implying habitual, deliberate, or persistent action. These are not accidental or one-off transgressions, but patterns of behavior. "Such things" refers directly to the list of vices in Romans 1:29-31.
- ἄξιοι θανάτου εἰσίν (axioi thanatou eisin) - "deserve death," "are worthy of death":
- ἄξιοι (axioi): "Worthy of," "deserving of," "fitting for." This indicates a just and deserved recompense for their actions.
- θανάτου (thanatou): "Death." In the biblical context, this is primarily spiritual death—separation from God, a state of condemnation—and ultimately, eternal judgment. It implies both a present spiritual deadness and a future eschatological doom.
- οὐ μόνον αὐτὰ ποιοῦσιν (ou monon auta poiousin) - "not only continue to do them," "not only practice them":
- ποιοῦσιν (poiousin): From "poieo," a general verb "to do, to make, to perform." While "prasso" (above) often implies habitual, "poieo" here still indicates active engagement in the deeds. The "not only" stresses that doing the sin itself is just the baseline; there's something worse to follow.
- ἀλλὰ καὶ συνευδοκοῦσιν (alla kai syneudokousin) - "but also approve of," "take pleasure in," "heartily consent to":
- συνευδοκοῦσιν (syneudokousin): This is a strong, significant verb. "Eu dokia" means "good pleasure" or "delight." The prefix "syn-" means "with" or "together with." Therefore, "syneudokousin" means "to be well-pleased with together," "to agree with," "to heartily approve," "to take pleasure in along with others," or even "to endorse." It's not passive toleration but active, shared approbation. This indicates a deeper level of rebellion, a desire to normalize or even celebrate evil.
- τοῖς τὰ πράσσουσιν (tois ta prassousin) - "those who practice them": Refers back to the same category of habitual evildoers, reinforcing that their approval is specifically for others engaging in the described unrighteous practices.
Words-group Analysis
- "Although they know God’s righteous decree": This phrase highlights culpability. Humanity possesses an innate awareness of God's moral standard, whether through direct revelation, conscience, or the order of creation. Their sin is not committed out of ignorance but defiance.
- "that those who do such things deserve death": This defines the consequence of violating God's known standards. "Death" here is understood in its full biblical sense, encompassing spiritual separation from God and ultimately eternal judgment. This sets the stage for Paul's presentation of the Gospel as the solution to humanity's condemnation.
- "they not only continue to do them but also approve of those who practice them": This demonstrates the escalation of rebellion. It's one level of sin to commit an act knowing it's wrong; it's a profounder level to actively affirm, encourage, and even delight in others committing the same wrong. This shared endorsement normalizes sin, removes restraint, and solidifies collective defiance against God's will. This points to a darkened heart that celebrates evil rather than righteousness.
Romans 1 32 Bonus Section
This verse powerfully illustrates the depth of human resistance to God. It shows that suppressing the truth (Rom 1:18), abandoning God, and exchanging Him for creation (Rom 1:21-23) leads not just to individual acts of sin, but to a collective spiritual blindness that celebrates sin itself. This communal affirmation of wrongdoing creates an environment where conscience is further dulled, and the moral fabric of society erodes, escalating rebellion from isolated acts to widespread acceptance and promotion of what God condemns. It's a key biblical statement on the concept of collective moral decay and inexcusable spiritual hardening.
Romans 1 32 Commentary
Romans 1:32 serves as the devastating conclusion to Paul's exposé on universal human sinfulness. It argues that people, despite an inherent or revealed understanding of God's moral order and the deserved judgment for defying it, choose to actively embrace and perpetuate sin. Their culpability is deepened by not merely engaging in "such things" (the vices listed in 1:29-31) but by also giving their hearty approval and shared delight to others who commit these same acts. This communal endorsement indicates a perverted conscience and a profound state of rebellion against God, signifying a complete surrender to a debased mind. It moves beyond individual failure to a societal embrace of unrighteousness, making humanity utterly without excuse before a holy God. This universal condemnation underscores the absolute necessity of God's gracious intervention through the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means to righteousness and life.