Romans 5:21 (KJV)

Passage

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "grace", "hath", "reigned", "death", "even", "might", and "through". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grace" and "hath", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Moreover the law entered that the offence...", giving immediate footing for "grace" and "hath". In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "grace" and "hath" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.