Romans 1:32 says that people who practice sinful things both know that such behavior deserves judgment and yet not only keep doing it but also applaud others who do the same. The verse describes a hardened conscience, where knowing the right thing does not lead to changed behavior. Paul wrote it in his letter to the church in Rome, a mixed congregation of Jewish and Gentile believers, to show that every person has access to God’s standard and is accountable to it.
Who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32 (WEB)
What Romans 1:32 Means
The phrase “who, knowing the ordinance of God” points to a knowledge that people already have. Paul is not describing ignorance. He means that the basic moral law of God is written on the human heart and can be recognized by anyone who thinks honestly about it. The word “ordinance” refers to a decree or righteous requirement, something God has established as true about how life should be lived.
The next part, “that those who practice such things are worthy of death,” states the consequence that this law carries. Paul is speaking of spiritual death, separation from God, and the judgment that follows from persistent rebellion. The verse does not explain how any individual will be judged, and it does not say that every wrong act is instantly punished. It names the principle that sin has real and serious consequences.
The final clause, “not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them,” describes a second layer of corruption. Doing wrong is one thing, but celebrating or endorsing it in others is a deeper step away from God. The verse warns that a person can become so comfortable with sin that they start defending it and encouraging it, which is a sign of a seared conscience rather than simple weakness.
The Context of Romans 1:32
The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul, most likely around the middle of the first century, to a church he had not yet visited. Its opening chapters build a case that all people, Gentile and Jew alike, stand under sin and need God’s righteousness through faith in Christ. Chapter 1 begins by describing how humanity has suppressed the truth that God has revealed through creation, which leads to a downward spiral of wrongdoing.
Just before verse 32, Paul lists a long catalog of vices, from sexual immorality and envy to slander, pride, and a lack of natural affection. Verse 32 is the climax of that list, showing that the problem is not only a long string of bad actions but a settled attitude that rejects God’s law and celebrates those who break it. Reading the verse within this sequence shows why Paul includes the phrase about approval: it explains how a whole culture can slide into widespread sin while still feeling justified.
Key Phrases in Romans 1:32
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God…
(WEB)
This verse states that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. It places the problem Paul described in chapter 1 within the wider reality of human sin, showing that no one stands above the need for grace.
Romans 5:8
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(WEB)
Here Paul reveals that God demonstrated his love while we were still sinners. This answers the hopelessness implied by Romans 1:32 and shows that the judgment it describes is met by the sacrificial love of Christ.
A Short Prayer From Romans 1:32
Lord, you have written your righteous ways on my heart, and I confess that I have sometimes known what is right and still chosen what is wrong. Search me and show me any place where I have grown comfortable with sin or quietly approved of what harms others. Give me a tender conscience that responds quickly to your truth, and give me the courage to stand apart from anything that dishonors you. Thank you that your mercy meets people who have strayed, and that your grace can turn hearts back toward life. Amen.