Romans 7 10

Romans 7:10 kjv

And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

Romans 7:10 nkjv

And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.

Romans 7:10 niv

I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

Romans 7:10 esv

The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

Romans 7:10 nlt

and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 10 Meaning

Romans 7:10 conveys a deeply personal and theological paradox: the very commandment (the Mosaic Law), which was designed by God with the intention of leading humanity to a blessed life, was experientially discovered by the individual (Paul representing humanity) to instead bring about spiritual death. It highlights the Law's inherent goodness and God's benevolent purpose, juxtaposed with sin's perversion of that purpose, rendering the Law an instrument that reveals and ultimately condemns.

Romans 7 10 Context

Romans 7:10 is nestled within Paul's intricate argument concerning the Law, sin, and the Christian's new life in Christ. Chapters 6 and 7 explain that believers are freed from the dominion of sin and the Law's condemnation through their identification with Christ's death and resurrection. Before verse 10, Paul addresses Jewish believers' reverence for the Law, explaining that death (in Christ) ends their obligation to the Law as a means of justification (Rom 7:1-6). He then directly tackles the Law's purpose, notably to expose sin. Verses 7-9 set up verse 10 by explaining that Paul only recognized sin for what it was—transgression against God's holy standard—once the Law revealed it. Sin, dormant, sprang to life when confronted by the commandment, leading to "I died."

Historically and culturally, the Law (Torah) was central to Jewish identity and their covenant relationship with God. It was understood as God's gift, a guide to life, and the means to righteousness. Paul, himself a former Pharisee zealous for the Law, would have deeply understood this perspective. His argument in Romans 7, therefore, would have been counter-cultural to many of his original Jewish-Christian audience, clarifying that while the Law is holy and good, it cannot ultimately provide life due to humanity's inherent sinfulness. It served a crucial function—to expose sin and reveal the need for salvation—but not to save.

Romans 7 10 Word analysis

• and (καὶ - kai): Connects this verse directly to the preceding thought in verse 9, continuing the sequence of Paul's personal experience of the Law and sin. It signifies a continuation or a logical progression.
• the commandment (ἡ ἐντολὴ - hē entolē): Refers collectively to the Mosaic Law, the divine instructions and statutes given to Israel. While grammatically singular, it often encapsulates the entire Law or represents any specific command, like "you shall not covet" mentioned earlier in verse 7. It signifies God's divine will and moral standard.
• which was to bring life (ἡ εἰς ζωὴν - hē eis zōēn): Expresses God's original, benevolent intention for the Law. The Law, from God's perspective, contained the pathway to righteous living, communion with God, and a full, blessed life (Deut 30:19, Lev 18:5). Zōēn (life) here denotes more than mere physical existence; it refers to spiritual vitality, favor with God, and true well-being within the covenant relationship.
• I found (εὑρέθη μοι - heurethē moi): Literally "was found to me" or "I discovered for myself." This signifies a deeply personal, experiential realization rather than a mere intellectual understanding. It denotes the outcome of personal engagement and struggle with the Law. The dative moi (to me/by me) strongly emphasizes this subjective discovery.
• to be to bring death (αὕτη εἰς θάνατον - hautē eis thanaton): The stark, tragic counterpoint to its intended purpose. Hautē (this/itself) emphasizes the very same commandment that promised life now results in death. Thanaton (death) here refers primarily to spiritual death—separation from God, alienation from His life-giving presence, and the condemnation for sin, ultimately leading to eternal death without Christ.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the commandment which was to bring life": This phrase captures the divine origin and positive intent of the Law. It highlights that the Law is good and holy, given to guide humanity towards blessedness and eternal communion with God. This divine perspective underscores the goodness of God's revealed will, not suggesting any flaw in the Law itself.
• "I found to be to bring death": This second part of the verse reveals the actual experiential outcome for humanity under the Law due to the pervasive power of sin. It describes the devastating realization that the very means intended for life instead functioned as a death warrant, condemning because of inevitable transgression. The emphasis on "I found" suggests an awakening to the Law's true effect on sinful human beings. The paradox lies in God's perfect Law encountering imperfect human nature, leading to an inverse result of its intention.

Romans 7 10 Bonus section

• The Law as a Mirror: The verse underscores the function of the Law not primarily as a pathway to earn salvation but as a mirror reflecting the extent of human sinfulness. Just as a mirror reveals dirt but cannot remove it, the Law exposes sin without providing the means to overcome it.
• Catalytic Effect of the Law: The commandment acts as a catalyst. When it arrives, sin, previously dormant or unrecognized, is activated and made apparent, resulting in the realization of spiritual death. The Law's specific prohibitions provide clear lines that, once crossed, illuminate the inner workings of a sinful nature.
• Paradoxical Utility: While leading to death in this sense, this outcome is ironically essential for salvation. By demonstrating the Law's inability to give life and its power to condemn, it prepares the heart for the radical grace offered through Jesus Christ, who provides life and righteousness not through human effort, but through faith.
• God's Sovereignty and Design: Even in its paradoxical function of bringing death, the Law served God's sovereign plan. It was given to expose humanity's desperate need, effectively shutting people up "under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Gal 3:22).

Romans 7 10 Commentary

Romans 7:10 masterfully encapsulates the core dilemma of human existence under the Law apart from grace. Paul declares that God's commandment, pure and inherently good, was intended as a path to life and blessing. From Mount Sinai onward, God offered His Law as a covenant by which His people could live and prosper. However, Paul's "discovery" highlights the tragic reality: for a sinful humanity, the Law, rather than delivering life, proved to be an instrument of death. This is not because the Law is flawed—Paul explicitly denies this in verse 7 ("Is the law sin? By no means!")—but because sin uses the good Law to expose human failing and magnify transgression. The Law, through its righteous demands, revealed the "I" as inherently unrighteous and incapable of fulfilling God's perfect standard. This confrontation with the Law, meant to show the way to life, instead unveiled humanity's fallen nature and consequent condemnation, demonstrating its profound inability to achieve life through self-effort. Thus, the Law serves its divine purpose not by empowering self-salvation but by exposing the universal need for a Savior.