What Does Romans 5:6 Mean in the King James?
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Anointed One’s death reaches you while you are powerless, before strength or reverence can become your credentials.
THE MEANING
The verse meets you while you are still without strength and before reverence marks your life. The Anointed One dies for you in that condition; the moment of meeting does not wait until you become powerful or worthy.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You have to become strong and reverent before God will act for you.
THE ROOT
ἀσθενῶν
asthenōn
GROWS FROM
σθεν-
sthen-
Strength, might, vigor; the opening a- in this word marks their absence.
This word family can describe weakness and bodily illness, so “without strength” names incapacity, not a failure to try hard enough. The verse places the Anointed One’s action in that very condition.
ALSO GROWS
astheneia: weakness, infirmity, illness
ἀσθένεια
The same word family can name a condition that leaves someone with diminished strength.
astheneō: to be weak or ill
ἀσθενέω
The related verb describes being in the state Romans names, not having already overcome it.
ἀσεβῶν
asebōn
GROWS FROM
σεβ-
seb-
Revere or hold in reverence; the opening a- marks its absence.
“ungodly” in this verse is asebōn. The word points to those lacking reverence, not to people who have already made themselves worthy. The verse says the Anointed One dies for them in that state.
ALSO GROWS
sebomai: to revere, worship
σέβομαι
It carries the positive reverence whose absence the word “ungodly” names.
eusebeia: reverence, devotion
εὐσέβεια
This related word makes the contrast visible: the verse’s recipients lack the very quality this word describes.
THE PATTERN
Power and love reach the powerless before they can produce strength or worth.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.THE THREAD
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Romans uses ἀσθενῶν (asthenōn, “without strength”); 2 Corinthians uses the same ἀσθεν- (asthen-, “weakness”) word family for “weakness” and “infirmities.” The shared root lets weakness remain plainly named while power rests there.
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