I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

ROMANS 6:19KJV
Know the Bible

Romans 6:19 (KJV)

What does Romans 6:19 mean?

Romans 6:19 contrasts the direction of the readers’ former conduct with the direction Paul now urges them to take. Their actions had served impurity and wrongdoing; Paul calls them to place those same actions in the service of what is right, leading to a life set apart for God.

Paul says he is speaking “after the manner of men” because of the “infirmity of your flesh.” He uses the familiar human picture of servants and masters to make his point, while acknowledging the readers’ weakness.

The Greek behind Romans 6:19

  • “members” — μέλη (melē): The word means parts of a body. Here it points to the bodily faculties through which people act, rather than to members of a group.
  • “yield” — παρίστημι (paristēmi): The word carries the sense of presenting or placing something at someone’s disposal. Paul uses the same word for the readers’ past and present use of their bodies.
  • “holiness” — ἁγιασμός (hagiasmos): The word refers to being made holy or set apart. Here it names the result toward which serving righteousness leads.

Why Romans 6:19 matters

  • Paul describes wrongdoing as a course that produces more wrongdoing. The phrase “iniquity unto iniquity” gives the former pattern a continuing direction.
  • “Righteousness” means doing what is right. Paul distinguishes that service from its result by saying it leads “unto holiness.”
  • Paul’s servant language is a deliberate comparison. After speaking about servants in verse 18, he explains that he is using a human way of speaking in verse 19.

Where else these words appear

“men” Greek G442 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
  • 1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
  • James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

“uncleanness” Greek G167 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
  • Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
  • Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

“holiness” Greek G38 · used in 10 verses

  • 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.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
  • 1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

“iniquity” Greek G458 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
  • Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
  • Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.