King James Version

What Does Romans 16:24 Mean?

Romans 16:24 in the King James Version says “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” — study this verse from Romans chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Romans 16:24 · KJV

Grace

Context

22

I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

23

Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

24

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began ,

26

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen—Hē charis tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou meta pantōn hymōn. Amēn (ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν. ἀμήν). This benediction duplicates 16:20b and is absent from the earliest manuscripts (P46, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus), suggesting scribal addition to match Paul's other letters' conclusions. However, the KJV includes it, following later Byzantine manuscripts.

Hē charis (ἡ χάρις, the grace) is Paul's signature benediction—unmerited favor, the sum of the gospel. Tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou (τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, of our Lord Jesus Christ) uses the full title: kyrios (Lord—deity, authority), Iēsous (Jesus—humanity, Savior), Christos (Christ—Messiah, anointed one). Meta pantōn hymōn (μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν, with all of you) extends grace universally—every believer included. Amēn (ἀμήν, truly) seals the prayer. Whether original or added, the sentiment is authentically Pauline: grace bookends Romans (1:7, 'grace to you'; 16:24, 'grace be with you').

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Historical & Cultural Context

Scribal practices sometimes harmonized endings: copyists familiar with Pauline benedictions (1 Corinthians 16:23; Galatians 6:18; Philippians 4:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:28) may have added this to Romans for liturgical completeness. The verse's absence from Alexandrian manuscripts (3rd-4th century) suggests it wasn't original, but its presence in Byzantine tradition (5th century+) shows early acceptance. Textual criticism weighs external evidence (manuscripts) and internal evidence (style, theology). Here, external evidence favors omission, but the benediction is theologically sound—a fitting, if redundant, conclusion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does 'grace' (<em>charis</em>) as Romans' final word summarize the letter's entire message—from 'grace to you' (1:7) to 'grace be with you' (16:24)?
  2. What does the full title 'our Lord Jesus Christ' (<em>kyrios Iēsou Christou</em>) emphasize about Jesus' identity and our relationship to Him?
  3. How should textual disputes (verse's absence from early manuscripts) affect our reading—can we still benefit from verses that may not be original?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 11 words
Ἡ1 of 11
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

χάρις2 of 11

“The grace”

G5485

graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart

τοῦ3 of 11
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Κυρίου4 of 11

“Lord”

G2962

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

ἡμῶν5 of 11

“of our”

G2257

of (or from) us

Ἰησοῦ6 of 11

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

Χριστοῦ7 of 11

“Christ”

G5547

anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

μετὰ8 of 11

“be with”

G3326

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)

πάντων9 of 11

“all”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

ὑμῶν10 of 11

“you”

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

ἀμήν11 of 11

“Amen”

G281

properly, firm, i.e., (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Romans. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Romans 16:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Test Your Knowledge

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