King James Version

What Does Romans 6:9 Mean?

Romans 6:9 in the King James Version says “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. — study this verse from Romans chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Romans 6:9 · KJV


Context

7

For he that is dead is freed from sin. freed: Gr. justified

8

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no moreeidotes hoti Christos egertheis ek nekrōn ouketi apothnēskei (εἰδότες ὅτι Χριστὸς ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν οὐκέτι ἀποθνῄσκει). The perfect participle egertheis (having been raised) indicates permanent state: Christ remains in resurrection life. Ouketi (no longer, no more) emphasizes the finality—Christ's death was once-for-all (ephapax, though that word appears in v. 10). Death hath no more dominion over him (thanatos autou ouketi kyrieuei, θάνατος αὐτοῦ οὐκέτι κυριεύει)—kyrieuei (lords over, exercises mastery) is the same verb used of sin's dominion (v. 14).

Christ conquered death itself, stripping it of legal authority. His resurrection is qualitatively different from resuscitations (Lazarus died again); Christ's resurrection inaugurates the age to come. The theological implication: since believers are united to Christ, death no longer has final dominion over them either—they share Christ's victory. This grounds assurance: the same resurrection power that raised Christ operates in believers (Ephesians 1:19-20), guaranteeing both present sanctification power and future bodily resurrection.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient paganism had many myths of dying and rising gods (Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis), but these were seasonal fertility cycles, not historical events or permanent conquests of death. Jewish expectation awaited eschatological resurrection, but Christ's resurrection as 'firstfruits' (1 Corinthians 15:20) was unprecedented. Death was personified in Jewish literature (Hosea 13:14) as an enemy power; Christ's resurrection breaks death's tyranny. Early Christian preaching emphasized Christ's resurrection as God's vindication of Jesus and proof of His Messiahship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Christ's permanent victory over death assure you in your daily walk and future hope?
  2. What 'dominion' of death (fear, despair, meaninglessness) still affects your life contrary to union with risen Christ?
  3. How should the reality that death has 'no more dominion' over Christ (and you in Him) change your priorities?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
εἰδότες1 of 12

Knowing

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

ὅτι2 of 12

that

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

Χριστὸς3 of 12

Christ

G5547

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

ἐγερθεὶς4 of 12

being raised

G1453

to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from

ἐκ5 of 12

from

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

νεκρῶν6 of 12

the dead

G3498

dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)

οὐκέτι7 of 12
G3765

not yet, no longer

ἀποθνῄσκει8 of 12

dieth

G599

to die off (literally or figuratively)

θάνατος9 of 12

death

G2288

(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)

αὐτοῦ10 of 12

him

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

οὐκέτι11 of 12
G3765

not yet, no longer

κυριεύει12 of 12

dominion over

G2961

to rule


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 6:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Romans 6:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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