"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
— Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Romans 6:23 is the "wages of sin is death" verse, the last line of Romans 6. In one sentence it sets what sin pays against what God gives. This page gives the verse, where it sits in Romans, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about salvation, Bible verses about eternal life, and Bible verses about grace.
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The verse
The King James reads: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
"Wages" is opsonion (G3800), a soldier's ration or pay. The same word is used in Luke 3:14, "be content with your pay." "Sin" is hamartia (G266) and "death" is thanatos (G2288). "Gift" is charisma (G5486), a free gift of grace. "Eternal" is aionios (G166) and "life" is zoe (G2222).
Where it sits in Romans 6
Romans 6 asks what life looks like for people who have been united with Christ. Paul uses the picture of two masters: sin and God. Just before verse 23 he writes, "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life" (Romans 6:21-22).
Verse 23 sums that up. Earlier in the letter Paul writes that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Romans 8:1 follows: "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
What the verse is saying
The two halves are not built the same way. Sin pays a wage: death is what it earns. God does not pay a wage: eternal life is a gift, given "in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nobody earns the second half.
That is the same contrast as Ephesians 2:8-9: "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works." It also echoes John 3:16, where eternal life comes to "whoever believes in him."
Questions people ask
What does Romans 6:23 say?
In the NIV it says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The KJV reads, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
What does "the wages of sin is death" mean?
A wage is what you have earned. Paul is saying that what sin earns is death. The word he uses, opsonion, was used for a soldier's pay.
What is the gift of God in Romans 6:23?
Eternal life in Christ Jesus. Paul uses charisma, a free gift, to stress that it is given, not earned like a wage.
What comes before Romans 6:23?
Verse 22: "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."
What other verses are like Romans 6:23?
Romans 3:23 (all have sinned), Romans 5:8 (while we were still sinners, Christ died for us), Ephesians 2:8-9 (saved by grace through faith), and John 3:16 (whoever believes has eternal life) are close companions.
