Romans 1:26

New Living Translation

That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women.

Revised Standard Version
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For this cause god gave them vp vnto shamfull lustes. For even their wemen did chaunge the naturall vse vnto the vnnaturall.

Hebrew Names Version
For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.

International Standard Version
For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions. Even their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.Leviticus 18:22-23; Ephesians 5:12; Jude 1:10;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature,

New Century Version
Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex and started having sex with other women.

Update Bible Version
For this cause God gave them up to immoral sexual passions of shame: for even their women changed the natural use into what is against nature:

Webster's Bible Translation
For this cause God gave them up to vile affections. For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

English Standard Version
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

World English Bible
For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Amen. Therefore God gave them up to vile affections; for even their women changed the natural use to that which is against nature: And likewise also the men,

Weymouth's New Testament
This then is the reason why God gave them up to vile passions. For not only did the women among them exchange the natural use of their bodies for one which is contrary to nature, but the men also,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Amen. Therfor God bitook hem in to passiouns of schenschipe. For the wymmen of hem chaungiden the kyndli vss in to that vss that is ayens kynde.

English Revised Version
For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:

Berean Standard Bible
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

Contemporary English Version
God let them follow their own evil desires. Women no longer wanted to have sex in a natural way, and they did things with each other that were not natural.

Amplified Bible
For this reason God gave them over to degrading and vile passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural [a function contrary to nature],

American Standard Version
For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:

Bible in Basic English
For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural:

Complete Jewish Bible
This is why God has given them up to degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural;

Darby Translation
For this reason God gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature;

Etheridge Translation
WHEREFORE Aloha delivered them up to passions of vileness: for their females changed the use of their nature, and to what is not natural were used.

Murdock Translation
For this cause, God gave them up to vile passions: for their females changed the use of their natures, and employed that which is unnatural.

King James Version (1611)
For this cause God gaue them vp vnto vile affections: for euen their women did change the naturall vse into that which is against nature:

New Life Bible
Because of this, God let them follow their sinful desires which lead to shame. Women used their bodies in ways God had not planned.

New Revised Standard
For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural,

Geneva Bible (1587)
For this cause God gaue them vp vnto vile affections: for euen their women did change the naturall vse into that which is against nature.

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore God has given them up to vile passions: for even their women have changed the natural use of their sex into that which is unnatural:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this cause, God gave them up unto dishonourable passions; for, even their females, exchanged away the natural use into that which is against nature, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For this cause, God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherefore God gaue them vp vnto shamefull lustes: For euen their women dyd chaunge the naturall vse, into that which is agaynst nature.

Good News Translation
Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts.

Christian Standard Bible®
For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

King James Version
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Lexham English Bible
Because of this, God gave them over to degrading passions, for their females exchanged the natural relations for those contrary to nature,

Literal Translation
Because of this, God gave them up to dishonorable passions, for even their females changed the natural use to that contrary to nature.

Young's Literal Translation
Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore God gaue the vp vnto shamefull lustes. For their wemen chaunged the naturall vse in to the vnnaturall:

Mace New Testament (1729)
amen. for this cause God gave them up to infamous passions: for even the sex perverted the instinct of nature:

THE MESSAGE
Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn't know how to be human either—women didn't know how to be women, men didn't know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.

New English Translation
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones,

New King James Version
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Because of their filth, God has turned 'em loose to do what they want, even though they bring shame upon themselves by it. Women use their natural sex appeal to do the appalling.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

Legacy Standard Bible
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. ²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. ²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. ²⁸ Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

gave them: Romans 1:24

vile: Genesis 19:5, Leviticus 18:22-28, Deuteronomy 23:17, Deuteronomy 23:18, Judges 19:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Ephesians 4:19, Ephesians 5:12, 1 Timothy 1:10, Jude 1:7, Jude 1:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:13 - General 1 Kings 15:12 - the sodomites 1 Kings 22:46 - the remnant 2 Kings 23:7 - the sodomites Psalms 81:12 - I gave Jeremiah 4:10 - surely Ezekiel 16:50 - and committed Romans 7:5 - motions Colossians 3:5 - inordinate 1 Thessalonians 4:5 - in the

Cross-References

Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:4
And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:6
Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth."

Genesis 1:8
God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.

Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear." And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind."

Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals." And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:28
Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."

Genesis 1:29
Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.

Genesis 3:22
Then the Lord God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections,.... Because of their idolatrous practices, God left them to very dishonourable actions, sodomitical ones, both among the men and women:

for even the women did change the natural use into that which is against nature; either by prostituting themselves to, and complying with the "sodomitical" embraces of men, in a way that is against nature h; or by making use of such ways and methods with themselves, or other women, to gratify their lusts, which were never designed by nature for such an use: of these vicious women, and their practices, Seneca i speaks, when he says,

"libidine veto nec maribus quidem cedunt, pati natae; Dii illas Deoeque, male perdant; adeo perversum commentae, genus impudicitiae, viros ineunt:''

also Clemens Alexandrinus k has respect to such, saying,

"gunaikev andrizontai para fusin, gamou men ai te kai

γαμουσαι γυναικες.'

and such there were among the Jews, whom they call חמסוללות זו בזו

נשים l, and whom the priests were forbidden to marry.

h Vid. R. Sol Jarchi in Gen. xxiv. 16. i Epist. 95. k Paedagog. l. 3. p. 226. l T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 65. 2. Piske Tosaph. ib. artic. 266. Yevamot, fol. 76. 1. & Piske Tosaph. ib. art. 141. Maimonides in Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 4. & Hilchot Issure Bia, c. 21. sect. 8, 9.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this cause - On account of what had just been specified; to wit, that they did not glorify him as God, that they were unthankful, that they became polytheists and idolaters. In the previous verses he had stated their speculative belief. He now proceeds to show its practical influences on their conduct.

Vile affections - Disgraceful passions or desires. That is, to those which are immediately specified. The great object of the apostle here, it will be remembered, is to shew the state of the pagan world, and to prove that they had need of some other way of justification than the law of nature. For this purpose, it was necessary for him to enter into a detail of their sins. The sins which he proceeds to specify are the most indelicate, vile, and degrading which can be charged on man. But this is not the fault of the apostle. If they existed, it was necessary for him to charge them on the pagan world. His argument would not be complete without it. The shame is not in specifying them, but in their existence; not in the apostle, but in those who practiced them, and imposed on him the necessity of accusing them of these enormous offences. It may be further remarked, that the mere fact of his charging them with these sins is strong presumptive proof of their being practiced. If they did not exist, it would be easy for them to deny it, and put him to the proof of it. No man would venture charges like these without evidence; and the presumption is, that these things were known and practiced without shame. But this is not all. There is still abundant proof on record in the writings of the pagan themselves, that these crimes were known and extensively practiced.

For even their women ... - Evidence of the shameful and disgraceful fact here charged on the women is abundant in the Greek and Roman writers. Proof may be seen, which it would not be proper to specify, in the lexicons, under the words τριζὰς ὄλισβον trizas olisbon, and ἑταιρίστης hetairistēs. See also Seneca, epis. 95; Martial, epis. i. 90. Tholuck on the State of the pagan World, in the Biblical Repository, vol. ii.; Lucian, Dial. Meretric. v.; and Tertullian de Pallio.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. For this cause God gave them up, c.] Their system of idolatry necessarily produced all kinds of impurity. How could it be otherwise, when the highest objects of their worship were adulterers, fornicators, and prostitutes of the most infamous kind, such as Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, Venus, &c.? Of the abominable evils with which the apostle charges the Gentiles in this and the following verse I could produce a multitude of proofs from their own writings but it is needless to make the subject plainer than the apostle has left it.