For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ancient word for "wages" here specifically refers to a soldier's regular pay, highlighting that sin consistently earns death as its due reward. In stark contrast, "eternal life" is called a "gift," emphasizing that it's not earned or deserved but freely given by God, solely through Christ.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just explained how believers are no longer enslaved to sin but are freed to serve God. He emphasizes this new reality by contrasting the ultimate outcomes of serving sin versus serving righteousness. This verse serves as a powerful, stark summary of the eternal consequences of these two opposing paths.
Why does Paul use the word 'wages' for the outcome of sin? It’s a stark comparison that highlights the earned nature of our sin's consequence.
Paul uses the term 'wages' (opsōnia) to describe the outcome of sin. This word originally referred to the provisions or pay given to Roman soldiers. Think of it like this: soldiers serve, and they expect to be paid for their service. Similarly, when we serve sin, we are 'paid' for our 'work.'
What You Earn
Paul wants us to see that sin doesn't just lead to death; it earns it. It's the rightful payment for services rendered to a corrupt master.
If sin earns death, what about eternal life? Paul makes a sharp turn here, calling it a 'gift' – a word that completely changes the game.
The contrast Paul draws is profound. While sin earns death as its 'wages,' eternal life is called a 'gift' (charisma) from God. This isn't a paycheck for good deeds; it's a free offering.
Ask a follow-up
Why 'Gift' is Crucial
Paul intentionally uses 'gift' to dismantle any notion that we can work our way to heaven. Eternal life is God's free initiative, a demonstration of His grace poured out through Jesus.
Understand the original words
opsōnion · Greek Noun
A term signifying what is earned or deserved. In a theological context, it is the just recompense for human transgression against the holiness of God.
charisma · Greek Noun
Refers to a favor or benefit bestowed out of grace without expectation of return. It emphasizes that salvation is entirely a gracious act of God, unearned by human works.
Christos Iesous · Greek Proper Noun phrase
The historical person and divine Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One (Messiah). He is the mediator through whom God’s grace is accessed and the foundation of the believer's new identity.
This passage establishes the foundational principle that disobedience to God leads to death, directly paralleling the 'wages of sin' in Romans 6:23.
Ezekiel 18:4This verse states 'The soul who sins shall die,' underscoring the inherent consequence of sin and the idea of deserved wages, aligning with Paul's argument.
Matthew 25:46This parable contrasts 'eternal punishment' for the wicked with 'eternal life' for the righteous, mirroring the stark choice and ultimate destinations presented in Romans 6:23.
John 3:16This beloved verse highlights God's immense love in giving His Son, which is the ultimate source of the 'free gift' of eternal life mentioned in Romans 6:23.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57This passage triumphantly declares victory over death through Christ, emphasizing that true 'victory' and 'gift' come through Him, contrasting with the 'wages' of sin.
bensonRomans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23 . For the wages of sin is death — “The word οψωνια , rendered wages, properly signifies the food and pay which generals give to their soldiers for their service. By using this term, the apostle shows what sort of pay the usurper, sin, gives to those who serve under his banners. Further, as the sin here spoken of is that which men commit personally, and which they continue…
clarkeRomans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
For the wages of sin is death - The second death, everlasting perdition. Every sinner earns this by long, sore, and painful service. O! what pains do men take to get to hell! Early and late they toil at sin; and would not Divine justice be in their debt, if it did not pay them their due wages? But the gift of God is eternal life - A man may Merit hell, but he cannot Merit heaven. The…
The ancient word for "wages" here specifically refers to a soldier's regular pay, highlighting that sin consistently earns death as its due reward. In stark contrast, "eternal life" is called a "gift," emphasizing that it's not earned or deserved but freely given by God, solely through Christ.
Paul has just explained how believers are no longer enslaved to sin but are freed to serve God. He emphasizes this new reality by contrasting the ultimate outcomes of serving sin versus serving righteousness. This verse serves as a powerful, stark summary of the eternal consequences of these two opposing paths.
Paul has just explained how believers are no longer enslaved to sin but are freed to serve God. He emphasizes this new reality by contrasting the ultimate outcomes of serving sin versus serving righteousness. This verse serves as a powerful, stark summary of the eternal consequences of these two opposing paths.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — The ancient word for "wages" here specifically refers to a soldier's regular pay, highlighting that sin consistently earns death as its due reward. In stark contrast, "eternal life" is called a "gi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026