Romans 8:36

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

As {G2531} it is written {G1125},{G3754} For thy {G4675} sake {G1752} we are killed {G2289} all {G3650} the day long {G2250}; we are accounted {G3049} as {G5613} sheep {G4263} for the slaughter {G4967}.

As the Tanakh puts it,

“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”

As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Commentary

Romans 8:36 is a powerful verse quoted by the Apostle Paul to emphasize the reality of suffering and persecution faced by believers, drawing a parallel to the experiences of God's people in the Old Testament.

Context

This verse follows immediately after Paul's list of potential afflictions—tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword—that cannot separate believers from the love of Christ. Romans chapter 8 as a whole builds a robust case for the security of those who are in Christ Jesus, culminating in the triumphant declaration of God's unshakeable love. Verse 36 serves to acknowledge the severe reality of the suffering endured by Christians, even unto death, before leading into the declaration of ultimate victory.

Key Themes

  • Suffering for Christ: The verse starkly portrays the extreme suffering, even death, faced by believers because of their faith.
  • Identification with God's People: By quoting the Old Testament, Paul identifies the suffering of New Testament believers with the historical suffering of Israel.
  • Readiness for Sacrifice: Being "accounted as sheep for the slaughter" highlights a state of constant vulnerability and potential martyrdom for the sake of their commitment to God.
  • Faithfulness Amidst Persecution: Despite facing death daily, the verse implies an enduring faithfulness, setting the stage for the declaration of victory in the following verses.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "As it is written" signals a direct quotation from the Old Testament. The source is Psalm 44:22. This Psalm laments the suffering of Israel despite their faithfulness, attributing their plight to their commitment to God. By quoting this, Paul connects the experience of early Christians facing persecution with the historical suffering of God's people. The phrase "accounted as sheep for the slaughter" is a vivid metaphor emphasizing vulnerability and being led defenselessly to death.

Reflection and Application

Romans 8:36 reminds believers that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life; suffering and persecution are real possibilities, just as they were for early Christians and Old Testament saints. This verse challenges the notion of a gospel without cost. However, it is crucial to read this verse in the context of what follows: the declaration that in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37). The suffering is real, but it does not negate God's love or his ultimate victory for those in Christ. It calls believers to endurance and faith, knowing that their trials are seen by God and do not separate them from His love.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 44:22

    Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

  • Isaiah 53:7

    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:30

    And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

  • 2 Corinthians 4:10

    Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:11

    For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:9

    For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

  • Acts 8:32

    The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
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