Romans 6:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For this cause do not let sin be ruling in your body which is under the power of death, so that you give way to its desires;
Webster's Revision
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts of it.
World English Bible
Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:
Definitions for Romans 6:12
Clarke's Romans 6:12 Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore reign - This is a prosopopoeia, or personification. Sin is represented as a king, ruler, or tyrant, who has the desires of the mind and the members of the body under his control so that by influencing the passions he governs the body. Do not let sin reign, do not let him work; that is, let him have no place, no being in your souls; because, wherever he is he governs, less or more: and indeed sin is not sin without this. How is sin known? By evil influences in the mind, and evil acts in the life. But do not these influences and these acts prove his dominion? Certainly, the very existence of an evil thought to which passion or appetite attaches itself, is a proof that there sin has dominion; for without dominion such passions could not be excited. Wherever sin is felt, there sin has dominion; for sin is sin only as it works in action or passion against God. Sin cannot be a quiescent thing: if it do not work it does not exist.
That ye should obey it in the lusts thereof - Αυτῃ εν ταις επιθυμιαις αυτου. This clause is wanting in the most ancient and reputable MSS. and in the principal versions. Griesbach has left it out of his text; and Professor White says, Certissime delenda: "These words should certainly he expunged" they are not necessary to the apostle's argument; it was enough to say, Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it. If it be there it will reign there; and its reign supposes, necessarily, the subjection of that in which it reigns. A king reigns when his laws are enforced, and the people obey them. When there is no executive government there is no reign. There may be a royal shadow there, but there is no king.
Barnes's Romans 6:12 Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore - This is a conclusion drawn from the previous train of reasoning. The result of all these considerations is, that sin should not be suffered to reign in us.
Reign - Have dominion; obtain the ascendency, or rule.
In your mortal body - In you. The apostle uses the word "mortal" here, perhaps, for these reasons,
(1) To remind them of the tendency of the flesh to sin and corruption, as equivalent to "fleshly," since the flesh is often used to denote evil passions and desires (compare Romans 7:5, Romans 7:23; Romans 8:3, Romans 8:6); and,
(2) To remind them of their weakness, as the body was mortal, was soon to decay, and was therefore liable to be overcome by temptation. Perhaps, also, he had his eye on the folly of suffering the "mortal body" to overcome the immortal mind, and to bring it into subjection to sin and corruption.
That ye should obey it - That sin should get such an ascendency as to rule entirely over you, and make you the slave.
In the lusts thereof - In its desires, or propensities.
Wesley's Romans 6:12 Bible Commentary
6:12 Let not sin reign even in your mortal body - It must be subject to death, but it need not be subject to sin.