Romans 7 12

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 verses

Romans 7 12 Meaning

Romans 7:12 profoundly declares the divine and flawless nature of God's Law and its specific precepts. It unequivocally states that the Law, in its entirety and its individual components, is morally pure, set apart (holy), perfectly aligned with God's justice and standards (righteous), and intrinsically beneficial or excellent (good). This assertion is crucial to Paul's argument, emphasizing that the Law itself is not the source of sin or evil but rather a perfect reflection of God's character and will, designed for human flourishing, even though fallen humanity is unable to perfectly obey it.

Romans 7 12 Context

Romans chapter 7 presents a profound theological discussion about the believer's relationship to the Mosaic Law after receiving Christ. Paul uses the analogy of a woman freed from her first husband by his death to marry another to illustrate that believers have died to the Law's condemning power through Christ's death, allowing them to belong to Him and bear fruit for God (7:1-6). The pivotal declaration of verse 12 emerges directly from Paul addressing the potential misconception, posed in 7:7, "Is the Law sin?" Paul explains in verses 7-11 that the Law, rather than being sinful, served to expose sin's true nature, making it "exceedingly sinful." Verse 12 is an emphatic defense of the Law's intrinsic moral goodness and divine origin. It sets the stage for the intense struggle described in verses 14-25, where Paul details how the Law, despite its goodness, highlights humanity's bondage to sin, thereby revealing the need for a deliverer. Historically, this clarification was crucial for Paul's diverse audience, including Jewish believers who revered the Torah and Gentile believers who needed to understand the Law's proper, though now superseded, function in God's redemptive plan.

Romans 7 12 Word analysis

• So then, (Greek: Hōste, ὥστε) - A transitional particle. It serves to draw a logical conclusion or inference from the preceding argument, summarizing and establishing a premise for the next point. It links Paul's demonstration of sin's deceptive work through the Law (7:7-11) to the Law's true, positive nature.
• the Law (Greek: Ho nomos, ὁ νόμος) - Refers specifically to the Mosaic Law, the Torah given by God to Israel. It denotes God's divinely revealed covenant instructions, not merely abstract principles.
• is holy, (Greek: Hagios, ἅγιος) - Implies divine origin and purity. It is set apart from all that is common, defiled, or sinful. It reflects God's own perfect character and is free from any moral fault.
• and the commandment (Greek: Kai hē entolē, καὶ ἡ ἐντολή) - Refers to specific precepts or individual injunctions within the larger body of the Law. It emphasizes that the qualities apply not only to the Law as a whole but also to its particular aspects.
• is holy (Greek: Hagios, ἅγιος) - Reinforces the sacredness and moral purity, directly echoing the earlier attribution to the Law as a whole. The repetition emphasizes certainty and distinctness.
• and righteous (Greek: Kai dikaios, καὶ δίκαιος) - Conforms perfectly to God's standard of justice and moral rectitude. It reveals what is inherently right and what is wrong according to God's own nature.
• and good. (Greek: Kai agathos, καὶ ἀγαθός) - Denotes intrinsic moral excellence and inherent benefit. It is not merely "not bad," but profoundly beneficial and desirable in its ultimate purpose.

• "So then, the Law is holy": This opening phrase draws a conclusion, clearly affirming the Law's divine origin and its untainted moral perfection. It ensures no one misunderstands Paul's previous statements about sin utilizing the Law.
• "the commandment is holy and righteous and good": This expansion details the excellent nature of the Law's individual precepts. The repetition of "holy" underscores its purity. The additions of "righteous" and "good" further qualify and commend the Law, indicating its adherence to divine justice and its beneficial design, firmly placing its essence within God's own perfect character. This cumulative description builds an undeniable affirmation of the Law's flawless quality.

Romans 7 12 Bonus section

The strong affirmation of the Law's holiness, righteousness, and goodness in this verse is pivotal because it underscores that the gospel does not abolish or denigrate God's moral standards. Instead, it reveals the only way (through Christ and the Spirit) to genuinely address our failure to meet those standards and to enable a life that increasingly reflects them. Paul, as a former Pharisee, meticulously upholds the Law's divine honor while also clarifying its distinct, albeit now subordinate, role within God's redemptive plan. The qualities attributed to the Law here – hagios, dikaios, agathos – are, in essence, the very attributes of God, establishing the Law as a pure reflection of His nature and a revelation of His character to humanity.

Romans 7 12 Commentary

Romans 7:12 stands as Paul's unequivocal affirmation of the divine, inherent goodness of God's Law, crucial to preventing any misinterpretation that the Law itself is sinful or flawed. It counters the notion that the Law contributes to evil; rather, it originates from a holy God, mirroring His own holiness, righteousness, and inherent goodness. The problem lies not with the Law, which perfectly reflects God's will and defines moral excellence, but with fallen humanity's inability to live up to its pure demands due to the power of sin. The Law's function is thus revelatory: it perfectly exposes the depth of human sinfulness, driving individuals to recognize their profound need for grace and a Savior beyond what their own efforts at keeping the Law can provide. It's a standard of perfection that reveals our imperfection.