5:21a–b

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness: The phrase so that introduces the purpose of grace abounding all the more (5:20c). The purpose is that grace will reign.

Paul included a comparison to sin reigning in this purpose clause. In some languages it is more clear or more natural to have the comparison to sin after. For example:

so that grace might reign through righteousness, like/as sin reigned in death,

5:21a

sin reigned: This clause speaks of sin as if it were a person. It indicates that all people sin. Some languages can translate the figure of speech literally and people will understand the correct meaning. For example:

sin ruled (Good News Translation)

But some languages must translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

sin had power over ⌊all who lived⌋

See how you translated reigned in 5:14.

in death: Here this phrase is a figure of speech. It indicates that sin was like a king in the land of death. Some languages can translate the figure of speech literally and people will understand the correct meaning.

But some languages must translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

in ⌊the land of⌋ death
-or-
in ⌊this world of⌋ death

5:21b

grace might reign: This clause speaks of grace as if it were a person. It indicates that God is kind to all people. Some languages can translate the figure of speech literally and people will understand the correct meaning. For example:

grace will/might rule

But some languages must translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

grace will have power over ⌊all who lived⌋

through righteousness: This phrase refers to God making believers righteous. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by means of righteousness (Good News Translation)
-or-
by making people right with him (New Century Version)

5:21c

to bring eternal life: When God declares believers righteous, the result is eternal life. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

and resulting in eternal life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This means that we will have eternal life (Contemporary English Version)

through Jesus Christ our Lord: Believers receive righteousness and eternal life because of what Jesus did for them.

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