Romans 6:21

KJV

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.

KJV (with Strong's)

What {G5101}{G3767} fruit {G2590} had ye {G2192} then {G5119} in {G1909} those things whereof {G3739} ye are {G1870} now {G3568} ashamed {G1870}? for {G1063} the end {G5056} of those things {G1565} is death {G2288}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but what benefit did you derive from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end result of those things was death.

Berean Standard Bible

What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.

American Standard Version

What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 6:21 serves as a poignant rhetorical question from the Apostle Paul, compelling believers to reflect on the utter futility and shameful outcomes of their former lives enslaved to sin. It starkly contrasts the emptiness and regret that characterize a life lived apart from God with the profound spiritual transformation found in Christ, culminating in the sobering declaration that the inevitable consequence, the ultimate "end," of such a life is spiritual death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 6:21 is situated within Paul's profound theological discourse on sanctification, following his foundational arguments on justification by faith in earlier chapters. Having established that believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, thereby being "dead to sin" and "alive to God in Christ Jesus" ([Romans 6:11](/romans/6-11 "Romans 6:11 - Dead to Sin, Alive to God")), Paul transitions from theological declaration to practical exhortation. He challenges the notion that grace permits continued sin ([Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall We Continue in Sin?")), asserting that believers have been "set free from sin" and "become slaves of righteousness" ([Romans 6:18](/romans/6-18 "Romans 6:18 - Freed from Sin, Slaves of Righteousness")). Verse 21, therefore, functions as a retrospective question, prompting a sober evaluation of their past bondage to sin before contrasting it with the glorious fruit of righteousness and eternal life that awaits those who are now slaves to God ([Romans 6:22](/romans/6-22 "Romans 6:22 - Fruit unto Holiness and Eternal Life")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Roman church, to whom Paul writes, was a diverse community of Jewish and Gentile believers living in the heart of the Roman Empire. Roman society was deeply stratified, with widespread practices of slavery. Paul masterfully employs the metaphor of "slavery" (to sin vs. to righteousness/God) to resonate with his audience's lived experience, making the theological concept of spiritual bondage and liberation tangible. The moral landscape of Rome was characterized by various forms of idolatry, immorality, and self-indulgence, making Paul's emphasis on the shame and death associated with sin particularly relevant. Believers, having come out of such a culture, would intimately understand the "things whereof ye are now ashamed," recognizing the emptiness and destructive nature of their former pagan or unrighteous lifestyles.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. Firstly, it underscores the **radical transformation** that occurs in salvation, where past behaviors once tolerated or even embraced are now viewed with shame and regret, indicative of a changed heart and mind. Secondly, it highlights the **inherent futility and destructive nature of sin**, portraying it as a master that yields no lasting good "fruit" but only leads to spiritual bankruptcy and ultimately "death." This contrasts sharply with the "fruit unto holiness" that comes from serving God ([Romans 6:22](/romans/6-22 "Romans 6:22 - Fruit unto Holiness")). Thirdly, it reinforces the **stark dichotomy between two masters and two outcomes**: slavery to sin leads to death, while slavery to God leads to righteousness and eternal life ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God")). This theological contrast is central to Paul's argument throughout [Romans 6](/romans/6 "Romans 6 - Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fruit (Greek, _karpós'_):** From G2590, meaning "fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively." In this context, Paul uses "fruit" metaphorically to refer to the outcome, result, or harvest of one's actions or way of life. The rhetorical question implies that the "harvest" of a life lived in sin is utterly worthless, producing no lasting benefit or good.
* **ashamed (Greek, _epaischýnomai'_):** From G1870, meaning "to feel shame for something." This word denotes a profound sense of regret, disgrace, or moral embarrassment. The fact that believers "are now ashamed" of their past sinful deeds indicates a spiritual awakening and a transformed moral compass, where what was once pursued is now recognized as morally reprehensible in light of God's truth.
* **death (Greek, _thánatos'_):** From G2288, meaning "death (literally or figuratively)." While it can refer to physical death, in this theological context, particularly in contrast to "eternal life" in the subsequent verse, "death" primarily signifies spiritual separation from God, a state of spiritual alienation and ultimate condemnation, which is the natural and inevitable consequence of sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?"**: This is a powerful rhetorical question. Paul challenges his readers to look back at their pre-conversion lives, specifically at the "things" (actions, desires, pursuits) that defined their existence under the dominion of sin. The phrase "what fruit" implies a search for positive, beneficial, or lasting results. The answer, implicitly, is "none." The subsequent clause, "whereof ye are now ashamed," confirms this, highlighting that their current, transformed perspective leads them to view those past deeds with regret and moral repugnance, signifying a true change of heart and allegiance.
* **"for the end of those things [is] death."**: This declarative statement provides the irrefutable reason for the shame and the lack of good fruit. The word "end" (G5056, _télos'_) here refers not merely to a temporal conclusion but to the ultimate outcome, goal, or destiny. Paul asserts that the inevitable, logical, and just culmination of a life lived in sin, pursuing "those things" that bring shame, is "death"—spiritual separation from God, which is the ultimate consequence of rebellion against Him.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in Romans 6:21 to convey his profound theological truth. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question** ("What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?"). This is not a question seeking information but one designed to provoke introspection and agreement from the audience, forcing them to acknowledge the emptiness of their past sinful lives. Secondly, Paul uses **Metaphor** with the word "fruit," representing the outcomes or results of one's actions. The implied answer to his question is that sin yields no good "fruit," only bitterness and regret. Finally, there is a stark **Contrast** or **Antithesis** between the past life of sin (leading to shame and death) and the implied new life in Christ (which, as the subsequent verses show, leads to righteousness and eternal life). This sharp juxtaposition emphasizes the radical difference between the two paths and their ultimate destinations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 6:21 powerfully articulates the destructive nature of sin and the radical transformation that occurs in salvation. Theologically, it underscores the biblical truth that sin is not merely a collection of bad deeds but a state of rebellion against God that leads to spiritual alienation and ultimate condemnation. Paul's rhetorical question exposes the inherent futility of pursuing worldly desires apart from God, revealing that such pursuits yield no lasting satisfaction or genuine good, only regret and spiritual emptiness. The "shame" experienced by believers signifies a renewed moral compass, now aligned with God's holiness, recognizing the true depravity of their former ways. This verse sets the stage for the glorious alternative presented in Christ: liberation from sin's dominion and the promise of eternal life through grace.

* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God")
* [Ephesians 2:1-3](/ephesians/2-1-3 "Dead in Sins, Alive in Christ")
* [Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19-21 "Works of the Flesh")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 6:21 serves as a profound call to ongoing self-reflection for every believer. It challenges us to honestly evaluate the "fruit" of our lives—not just our actions, but the underlying motivations and desires that drive them. Are there areas in our lives where we are still pursuing "things" that, upon sober reflection, would bring us shame or regret if exposed to the light of God's truth? This verse reminds us that true freedom and lasting satisfaction are never found in yielding to sinful desires, for their ultimate "end" is spiritual barrenness and separation from God. Instead, it encourages us to live in the reality of our new identity in Christ, embracing the path of righteousness that yields genuine "fruit" unto holiness and eternal life. It fosters a deep gratitude for the grace that has delivered us from the dominion of sin and empowers us to walk in newness of life, honoring God in every choice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things" from your past life, prior to or early in your walk with Christ, do you now look back on with a sense of shame or regret?**
* **How does understanding the "end" of those things (death) deepen your appreciation for the gift of eternal life in Christ?**
* **In what areas of your current life might you be tempted to pursue "fruit" that ultimately leads to spiritual emptiness or shame, rather than true life?**
* **How can reflecting on this verse motivate you to more fully embrace your identity as a "slave of righteousness" (Romans 6:18)?**

### FAQ
**What does Paul mean by "fruit" in this verse?**

Answer: In Romans 6:21, "fruit" (Greek, _karpós'_) is used metaphorically to represent the outcomes, results, or harvest of a particular way of life or set of actions. Paul's rhetorical question, "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?", implies that the "harvest" of a life lived in sin is utterly worthless, producing no lasting good, benefit, or satisfaction. Instead, it leads to regret, shame, and ultimately, spiritual death. It contrasts sharply with the "fruit unto holiness" that comes from serving God, as mentioned in [Romans 6:22](/romans/6-22 "Fruit unto Holiness").

**Is the "death" mentioned here only physical death?**

Answer: While sin ultimately leads to physical death, in this theological context, "death" (Greek, _thánatos'_) primarily refers to spiritual death—a state of separation from God. Paul consistently uses "death" in Romans to describe the spiritual alienation and condemnation that is the consequence of sin, contrasting it with the "eternal life" that is the gift of God through Jesus Christ ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God")). This spiritual death is the ultimate "end" of a life lived in rebellion against God, signifying a profound and eternal separation from His life-giving presence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 6:21, with its stark portrayal of sin's shameful fruit and ultimate end in death, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Humanity, enslaved to sin and producing only the bitter "fruit" of rebellion and regret, stood condemned to spiritual "death." However, Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, entered into this human condition, taking upon Himself the shame and the wages of sin. His death on the cross was not merely a physical end, but a vicarious bearing of the spiritual "death" that was our due ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His resurrection, Jesus broke the power of sin and death, offering a new reality where believers are no longer slaves to sin but are "made alive together with Christ" ([Ephesians 2:5](/ephesians/2-5 "Made Alive with Christ")). The "shame" of our past is covered by His righteousness ([Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Righteousness from God")), and the "death" that was our end is swallowed up in His eternal life ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "Death Swallowed Up in Victory")). Thus, Romans 6:21, while highlighting the bleakness of sin, ultimately points to Christ as the glorious solution, the one who transforms shame into glory and death into everlasting life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 1:32

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 7:5

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Proverbs 14:12

¶ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:8

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1 John 2:28

¶ And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.