Romans 6:20

ὅτε γὰρ δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
ὅτε
G3753 CONJ
hote
at which (thing) too, i.e., when
  • when whenever, while, as long as
γὰρ
G1063 CONJ
gar
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
  • for
δοῦλοι
G1401 N-NPM
doulos
a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
  • a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
    • a slave
      • "metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men"devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
    a servant, attendant
ἦτε
G2258
ēn
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
  • I was, etc.
τῆς
G3588 T-GSF
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
ἁμαρτίας
G266 N-GSF
hamartia
a sin (properly abstract)
  • equivalent to 264
    • to be without a share in
      • "to miss the mark"to err, be mistaken"to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong"to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
    that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act"collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many
ἐλεύθεροι
G1658 A-NPM
eleutheros
unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e., (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability)
  • freeborn
    • in a civil sense, one who is not a slave
      • "of one who ceases to be a slave, freed, manumitted
    free, exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation"in an ethical sense: free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law
ἦτε
G2258
ēn
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
  • I was, etc.
τῇ
G3588 T-DSF
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
δικαιοσύνῃ
G1343 N-DSF
dikaiosynē
equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification
  • in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
    • the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
      • "integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
    in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due

ὅτε γὰρ δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ
20
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Cross References

Romans 6:16

οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτοὺς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν δοῦλοί ἐστε ᾧ ὑπακούετε ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον ἢ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην
16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

John 8:34

ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν δοῦλός ἐστιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας
34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Romans 6:19
Read Romans 6
Romans 6:21