Romans 7:1 kjv
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Romans 7:1 nkjv
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
Romans 7:1 niv
Do you not know, brothers and sisters?for I am speaking to those who know the law?that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives?
Romans 7:1 esv
Or do you not know, brothers ? for I am speaking to those who know the law ? that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?
Romans 7:1 nlt
Now, dear brothers and sisters ? you who are familiar with the law ? don't you know that the law applies only while a person is living?
Romans 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 6:3-4 | Died with Christ, buried and raised with Him. | Union with Christ's death/resurrection |
| Galatians 2:19 | Died to the law. | Legal death of the believer |
| Galatians 3:25 | No longer under a guardian. | Freedom from law's dominion |
| Galatians 5:4 | Fallen from grace. | Independence from law |
| Colossians 2:14 | Abolished the law. | Christ fulfilling/disarming law |
| Colossians 2:20 | Died with Christ from the elements of the world. | Separation from legalistic demands |
| Hebrews 7:18-19 | Previous command set aside for a better hope. | Law's insufficiency |
| 1 Peter 3:18 | Died for sins once for all. | Efficacy of Christ's death |
| John 8:36 | If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. | True freedom in Christ |
| Acts 13:39 | Justified from all things. | Law's inability to justify |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | New creation in Christ. | Transformation through union |
| Romans 8:2 | Law of the Spirit set you free from law of sin/death. | Freedom from sin's power via Spirit |
| Ephesians 2:15 | Abolished in his flesh the enmity. | Christ resolving conflict with law |
| Romans 3:20 | No one justified by works of the law. | Law's inability to provide righteousness |
| Romans 4:15 | Law brings wrath. | Law's accusatory role |
| John 1:17 | Law given through Moses, grace and truth through Jesus. | Contrast law and Christ's provision |
| Romans 7:6 | Served in the old way of written code. | Distinction between old and new |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. | Christ bearing the law's penalty |
| 1 Corinthians 15:56 | Sting of death is sin, power of sin is the law. | Law empowering sin's penalty |
| John 1:16 | From His fullness we have received. | Grace upon grace from Christ |
| Philippians 3:9 | Righteousness from God through faith. | True source of righteousness |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 1 Meaning
The verse states that believers are dead to the law through the body of Christ. This union with Christ in his death has severed the believer's relationship with the Mosaic Law as a means of obtaining righteousness or life. The law is no longer their master.
Romans 7 1 Context
Romans chapter 7 explores the believer's new relationship with God after being freed from sin through Christ. Chapter 6 establishes that believers are no longer slaves to sin. Chapter 7, starting with verse 1, clarifies that this freedom also extends to their relationship with the Mosaic Law. The law, which is holy and good, highlighted sin and brought condemnation because of humanity's sinful nature. By dying with Christ, believers have been released from the legal obligations and the condemnatory power of the law. This understanding is crucial for appreciating the believer's liberty and their new life in the Spirit, which is further developed in chapter 8.
Romans 7 1 Word Analysis
- "Know" (Gk: oida): This refers to an experiential and deep knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. It's a settled, certain understanding.
- "Brothers" (Gk: adelphoi): A term of endearment and equality used by Paul for fellow believers, emphasizing their shared spiritual family in Christ.
- "I speak" (Gk: lalo): To communicate, to utter words. Here, it signifies Paul's intention to explain a profound spiritual truth.
- "To those knowing" (Gk: eidotsin): Again, emphasizing a conscious understanding. Paul is addressing those who already have some comprehension of the things he's about to explain.
- "Law" (Gk: nomon): Refers specifically to the Mosaic Law, the stipulations and commandments given by God to Israel.
- "That" (Gk: hoti): Introduces the fact or truth that the law has dominion.
- "Has dominion" (Gk: kurieuei): To rule over, to exercise authority or lordship. This highlights the law's controlling power.
- "So long as" (Gk: eph' hoso): Indicates a duration or the condition under which the law's dominion lasts.
- "He" (Gk: autos): Refers to the person.
- "Lives" (Gk: zaei): To be alive, to have life.
- "The living" (Gk: zōnti): Those who are presently alive.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Know, brothers, that to those knowing law...": This opening emphasizes a shared, understood reality among believers concerning the governing principles of the law.
- "...law has dominion so long as he lives.": This establishes the principle that the law's authority is contingent upon the subject's life. When that life ends in relation to the law's requirement, the dominion ceases.
- "...so long as he lives.": The focus is on the lifespan in relationship to the legal authority. The life here is the continuing subjection to the law's rule.
Romans 7 1 Bonus Section
This verse functions as a foundational premise for Paul’s argument that follows in Romans 7. It’s like setting the legal groundwork before building the case for liberation. The phrase "has dominion" (kurieuei) carries a sense of inescapable authority. Understanding that death (specifically Christ's death, through faith) breaks this legal dominion is pivotal to understanding the liberty believers have in the new covenant. The principle can be illustrated in human legal systems: if a debt is fully paid, the creditor's claim is extinguished. Similarly, Christ’s death on our behalf has satisfied the law’s demands against us, ending its claim of dominion.
Romans 7 1 Commentary
Paul addresses believers, presuming they understand basic principles of law. He establishes that any governing authority (like the law) only has power over someone while that person is alive under its jurisdiction. This is a general legal principle. The significance for the believer is that their union with Christ in His death has, from a legal standpoint, severed their life from the law's domain. The law no longer has ruling authority over them because their "life" under the law ended when Christ died. They are now alive unto God, in Christ, not under the law's dominion. This principle highlights freedom from condemnation and obligation through Christ's finished work.