Romans 7:12 kjv
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:12 nkjv
Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
Romans 7:12 niv
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Romans 7:12 esv
So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Romans 7:12 nlt
But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
Romans 7 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 7:7 | For sin, indeed, was not in the world through the law; but sin, | Exposition of the Law's role |
| Romans 7:7 | when the commandment came, was | On sin's nature |
| Romans 3:31 | Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the | Faith and the Law |
| Deuteronomy 4:8 | And what great nation is there that has such statutes and right... | Perfection of God's Statutes |
| Deuteronomy 32:4 | He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice; A... | God's Justice and Perfection |
| Psalm 19:7 | The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The tes... | The Law's Spiritual Effect |
| Psalm 119:128 | Therefore all the precepts of the Lord concerning all... | Commands' Correctness |
| Proverbs 20:9 | Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pur... | Inherent Sinfulness |
| Isaiah 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness... | Distortion of Good and Evil |
| Matthew 5:17 | “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prop... | Jesus' View of the Law |
| Romans 3:20 | Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in H... | Law cannot Justify |
| Galatians 3:10 | For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse... | Law and Curse |
| 1 John 3:4 | Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. | Sin as Lawlessness |
| 1 Timothy 1:8 | But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, | Law used Lawfully |
| Leviticus 18:5 | You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which m... | Life through Obedience |
| Psalm 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mer... | God's Throne Attributes |
| Romans 2:13 | For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in the pres... | Doers of the Law |
| Philippians 2:15 | that you may be blameless and harmless, children of God wi... | Children of God Blamelessness |
| 2 Samuel 22:31 | As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is pure... | God's Word Purity |
| Acts 13:39 | And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all t... | Justification by Faith |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 12 Meaning
The law of God is intrinsically righteous and good. This verse emphasizes the moral perfection of God's commands. They are not the source of sin, but rather highlight the sinfulness of humanity's fallen nature by exposing wrong desires.
Romans 7 12 Context
This verse is found in the midst of Paul's discourse on the law and sin in Romans 7. He is wrestling with the paradox of experiencing God's good law and yet being unable to fulfill it, being enslaved by sin. The immediate context is Paul explaining that while the law itself is holy, just, and good, it served to expose his sin and lead to his death (v. 10-11). He clarifies that the law is not evil, but rather reveals the depth of human sinfulness. This passage speaks to the experience of a believer striving for righteousness through the law and finding themselves still under the power of sin, a struggle Paul attributes to the flesh.
Romans 7 12 Word Analysis
- "But" (de): A conjunction indicating a contrast or a transition. It connects the goodness of the law to its effect of revealing sin.
- "the law" (ho nomos): Refers to the Mosaic Law, but broadly encompasses God's revealed will and commandments. The definite article "the" indicates a specific, well-known entity.
- "is" (esti): A form of the verb "to be," stating a fundamental characteristic or essence.
- "holy" (hagios): Means set apart, pure, consecrated. It points to the moral perfection and divine origin of God's law.
- "just" (dikaios): Means righteous, fair, in accordance with what is right. It describes the law's alignment with God's righteous character.
- "good" (agathos): Denotes that which is intrinsically beneficial, morally excellent, and productive of good results.
Words-group analysis:
- "holy, just, and good": This powerful trio describes the inherent nature of God's law. It is not flawed or deficient in itself. The words highlight its moral purity, its fairness in its pronouncements, and its ultimate benevolent purpose from God's perspective, even though its application to sinful humanity in achieving salvation is limited.
Romans 7 12 Bonus Section
The concept of God's law being good is echoed in numerous Old Testament passages, like Psalm 19:7 ("The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul"). This establishes a continuity between the Old and New Testaments concerning God's ethical standard. Paul’s argument here anticipates and complements his teaching on justification by faith, where Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers, fulfilling the Law's demands on their behalf (Rom. 3:21-26). The inherent goodness of the Law also contrasts sharply with Gnostic or other philosophies that might devalue or dismiss divine law.
Romans 7 12 Commentary
Paul here emphatically states the perfect character of God's Law. It is not the fault of the commandments themselves that humanity cannot achieve righteousness through them. The Law is holy, reflecting God's holiness; it is just, aligning with His righteousness; and it is good, intending human flourishing and fellowship with God. The problem lies not in the Law, but in sinful humanity, which the Law accurately diagnoses by exposing sin and revealing the just penalty. Therefore, the Law is a pedagogue leading us to Christ for salvation.