Romans 7 13

Romans 7:13 kjv

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Romans 7:13 nkjv

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7:13 niv

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Romans 7:13 esv

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Romans 7:13 nlt

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commands for its own evil purposes.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 13 Meaning

The verse explains that the law itself did not cause death. Instead, sin, using the law as a means, brought about death. This highlights sin as the ultimate agent of death, while the law serves as the context or tool through which sin's deadly nature is revealed. It is not the prohibition but the act of sinning that leads to condemnation.

Romans 7 13 Context

Romans chapter 7 describes the complex relationship between believers, the law, and sin. Paul is demonstrating that the Mosaic Law, while holy and good, cannot save us from sin's power. Instead, it reveals our sinfulness. He uses the analogy of a married woman being bound to her husband by law; when the husband dies, she is free to marry another. Similarly, through Christ's death and resurrection, believers are freed from the law's condemnation. This verse specifically addresses a potential objection: that the law itself is evil because it leads to death. Paul clarifies that it's not the law's fault, but sin's malicious exploitation of the law that results in death for the individual. This is part of Paul's larger argument about justification by faith, showing that the law highlights our need for Christ's salvation.

Romans 7 13 Word Analysis

• $\omega$ (hina): "in order that." Introduces purpose or result.
• $\phi \alpha \nu \epsilon \rho \omega \theta \eta$ (phanerothe): "be made manifest," "be revealed," "become evident." Passive voice, aorist tense, subjunctive mood. It indicates an event that was brought to light.
• $\eta \alpha \mu \alpha \rho \tau \imath \alpha$ (hamartia): "sin." The direct subject causing the revelation of sin.
• $\delta \imath \alpha$ (dia): "through," "by means of." Preposition indicating the agency or instrument.
• $\tau o v$ (tou): "the" (genitive singular masculine article).
• $\nu o \mu o v$ (nomou): "law." Genitive case, functioning as the instrument through which sin works.
• $\alpha \pi o \theta \alpha \nu \omega$ (apothano): "die," "to be put to death." Second person singular, aorist subjunctive of $\alpha \pi o \theta \nu \eta \sigma \kappa \omega$ (apothnesko). It denotes a complete cessation of life, emphasizing the finality of death as a consequence.
• $\epsilon \gamma \omega$ (ego): "I." First person singular pronoun, the subject experiencing the death.

Word Group Analysis:

• "hina phanerothe he hamartia": This phrase means "that sin might be made manifest." It’s crucial to understand that the purpose here isn't God's ultimate goal for sin to be exposed, but rather how sin operates within the framework of the law. Sin is the active agent making itself evident.
• "dia tou nomou": This translates to "through the law." It positions the law as the medium, the context, or the facilitator, but not the cause of sin's manifestation. The law acts as a revealing agent by exposing what sin truly is and its destructive power.
• "hina apothano ego": This clause states "that I might die." It points to the final, deadly outcome of sin's work through the law upon the individual. The passive form in the implied original thought points to death being an active consequence inflicted by sin.

Romans 7 13 Bonus Section

This verse speaks to the principle that God's commands highlight our inability to achieve righteousness on our own. It reinforces the doctrine of original sin and total depravity, where human nature, post-fall, is inclined towards rebellion against God's will. The law exposes this inherent sinfulness. Paul’s argument is building towards the solution presented in Christ, who not only died for our sins but also fulfilled the law's righteous requirements, thereby satisfying its demands on our behalf and freeing us from its penalty. This underscores the transition from the old covenant (Law) to the new covenant (Grace through Christ).

Romans 7 13 Commentary

The law, holy as it is, cannot be blamed for death. The blame lies squarely with sin. Sin's deceptive nature uses God's perfectly good law to achieve its deadly goal. The commandment prohibiting certain actions, instead of deterring sin, actually provoked it, as seen in Adam's fall. When sin is identified and its power recognized through the law, the ultimate consequence—death—becomes undeniably clear. This emphasizes that death is the direct result of sinful activity, not an inherent flaw in God's divine order. The believer, under Christ, is freed from the law's condemning power, but the revelation of sin's severity through the law remains a vital aspect of understanding our salvation.