Romans Chapter 6 · Verse 9
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Original Language Analysis
εἰδότες
Knowing
G1492
εἰδότες
Knowing
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
1 of 12
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
2 of 12
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἐγερθεὶς
being raised
G1453
ἐγερθεὶς
being raised
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
4 of 12
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
ἐκ
from
G1537
ἐκ
from
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
5 of 12
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
θάνατος
death
G2288
θάνατος
death
Strong's:
G2288
Word #:
9 of 12
(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Revelation 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.Hebrews 7:25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Romans 5:14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's permanent victory over death assure you in your daily walk and future hope?
- What 'dominion' of death (fear, despair, meaninglessness) still affects your life contrary to union with risen Christ?
- How should the reality that death has 'no more dominion' over Christ (and you in Him) change your priorities?
Analysis & Commentary
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more—eidotes 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.