Parallel Verses

Youngs Literal Translation

And law came in, that the offence might abound, and where the sin did abound, the grace did overabound,

New American Standard Bible

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

King James Version

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Holman Bible

The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more

International Standard Version

Now the Law crept in so that the offense would increase. But where sin increased, grace increased even more,

A Conservative Version

And the law entered so that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace was more abundant,

American Standard Version

And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

Amplified

But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more,

An Understandable Version

Now the law of Moses was introduced [into the world] in order to cause sin to increase [i.e., it defined many things to be wrong that were previously not regarded as sin]. But with the increase of sin, God's unearned favor increased all the more.

Anderson New Testament

But, besides the first offense, law was introduced, in order that offenses might abound: but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Bible in Basic English

And the law came in addition, to make wrongdoing worse; but where there was much sin, there was much more grace:

Common New Testament

Law came in, that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Daniel Mace New Testament

the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent.

Darby Translation

But law came in, in order that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace has overabounded,

Godbey New Testament

But the law came, that the transgression might abound; but where sin did abound, there did grace superabound:

Goodspeed New Testament

Then law slipped in, and multiplied the offense. But greatly as sin multiplied, God's mercy has far surpassed it,

John Wesley New Testament

But the law came in between, that the offence might abound: yet where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Julia Smith Translation

And the law entered, that the fall might abound. And where sin abounded, grace superabounded:

King James 2000

Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Lexham Expanded Bible

Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance,

Modern King James verseion

But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

But the law, in the meantime, entered in that sin should increase. Neverthelater, where abundance of sin was, there was more plenteousness of grace.

Moffatt New Testament

Law slipped in to aggravate the trespass; sin increased, but grace surpassed it far,

Montgomery New Testament

Now law was brought in so that transgression might abound; but where sin abounded, grace super-abounded;

NET Bible

Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more,

New Heart English Bible

The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

Noyes New Testament

Moreover the law came in in addition, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more;

Sawyer New Testament

For the law supervened that the fall might abound; but where the sin abounded the grace was superabundant,

The Emphasized Bible

Law, however, gained admission, in order that the fault might abound, but, where the sin abounded, the favour greatly superabounded:

Thomas Haweis New Testament

But the law was introduced, that the offence might be more abundant. But where sin had abounded, there hath grace abounded more exceedingly:

Twentieth Century New Testament

Law was introduced in order that offences might be multiplied. But, where sins were multiplied, the loving-kindness of God was lavished the more,

Webster

Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Weymouth New Testament

Now Law was brought in later on, so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed;

Williams New Testament

Then law crept in to multiply the offense. Though sin has multiplied, yet God's favor has surpassed it and overflowed,

World English Bible

The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

Worrell New Testament

And the law entered, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did super-abound;

Worsley New Testament

Now the law made some entrance, that the offence might appear to abound; but where sin abounded, grace hath superabounded; that as sin had reigned in death,

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

the law
νόμος 
Nomos 
law
Usage: 179

παρεισέρχομαι 
Pareiserchomai 
Usage: 2

ἵνα 
Hina 
that, to,
Usage: 472

the offence
παράπτωμα 
Paraptoma 
Usage: 17

πλεονάζω 
Pleonazo 
Usage: 9

But
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

οὗ 
Hou 
Usage: 40

sin
ἁμαρτία 
Hamartia 
Usage: 143

πλεονάζω 
Pleonazo 
Usage: 9

χάρις 
Charis 
Usage: 151

Devotionals

Devotionals containing Romans 5:20

Images Romans 5:20

Prayers for Romans 5:20

Context Readings

Death Came Through Adam But Life Comes Through Christ

19 for as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the one, shall the many be constituted righteous. 20 And law came in, that the offence might abound, and where the sin did abound, the grace did overabound, 21 that even as the sin did reign in the death, so also the grace may reign, through righteousness, to life age-during, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Cross References

Romans 6:1

What, then, shall we say? shall we continue in the sin that the grace may abound?

2 Chronicles 33:9-13

And Manasseh maketh Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, to do evil above the nations that Jehovah destroyed from the presence of the sons of Israel.

Psalm 25:11

For Thy name's sake, O Jehovah, Thou hast pardoned mine iniquity, for it is great.

Isaiah 1:18

Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be!

Isaiah 43:24-25

Thou hast not bought for Me with money sweet cane, And with the fat of thy sacrifices hast not filled Me, Only -- thou hast caused Me to serve with thy sins, Thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.

Jeremiah 3:8-14

And I see when (for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery) I have sent her away, and I give the bill of her divorce unto her, that treacherous Judah her sister hath not feared, and goeth and committeth fornication -- she also.

Ezekiel 16:52

Thou also -- bear thy shame, That thou hast adjudged to thy sisters, Because of thy sins that thou hast done more abominably than they, They are more righteous than thou, And thou, also, be ashamed and bear thy shame, In thy justifying thy sisters.

Ezekiel 16:60-63

And I -- I have remembered My covenant with thee, In the days of thy youth, And I have established for thee a covenant age-during.

Ezekiel 36:25-32

And I have sprinkled over you clean water, And ye have been clean; From all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols, I do cleanse you.

Micah 7:18-19

Who is a God like Thee? taking away iniquity, And passing by the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance, He hath not retained for ever His anger, Because He -- He delighteth in kindness.

Matthew 9:13

but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

Luke 7:47

therefore I say to thee, her many sins have been forgiven, because she did love much; but to whom little is forgiven, little he doth love.'

Luke 23:39-43

And one of the evil-doers who were hanged, was speaking evil of him, saying, 'If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.'

John 10:10

The thief doth not come, except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

John 15:22

if I had not come and spoken to them, they were not having sin; but now pretext they have not for their sin.

Romans 3:19-20

And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;

Romans 4:15

for the law doth work wrath; for where law is not, neither is transgression.

Romans 6:14

for sin over you shall not have lordship, for ye are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 7:5-13

for when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, that are through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the death;

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,

2 Corinthians 3:7-9

and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

Galatians 3:19-25

Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator --

Ephesians 1:6-8

to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He did make us accepted in the beloved,

Ephesians 2:1-5

Also you -- being dead in the trespasses and the sins,

1 Timothy 1:13-16

who before was speaking evil, and persecuting, and insulting, but I found kindness, because, being ignorant, I did it in unbelief,

Titus 3:3-7

for we were once -- also we -- thoughtless, disobedient, led astray, serving desires and pleasures manifold, in malice and envy living, odious -- hating one another;

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Word Concordance

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

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NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain