Romans 7 23

Romans 7:23 kjv

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7:23 nkjv

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7:23 niv

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

Romans 7:23 esv

but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Romans 7:23 nlt

But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 23 Meaning

Romans 7:23 describes an internal conflict within an individual, where a discernible principle of sin operates within the physical body ("members"). This principle actively opposes the divine law understood by the mind and endeavors to bring the individual into subjugation, making them a captive to sin, which resides in the physical members. It portrays a deep struggle between the knowing will and the indwelling power of sin.

Romans 7 23 Context

Romans chapter 7 addresses the role of the Mosaic Law in relation to sin and the believer. Paul argues that the Law is good and spiritual, but it cannot deliver humanity from sin; rather, it highlights and even amplifies sin's power. Verses 7-13 establish the Law's function in exposing sin, making the "I" aware of its transgressions. Verses 14-25 then delve into the profound internal struggle experienced by an individual who understands the Law's goodness and desires to obey God but finds an overwhelming power of sin ("the flesh") preventing consistent obedience. This specific verse (7:23) summarizes the grim reality of this inner war, setting the stage for the glorious deliverance proclaimed in chapter 8 through the Holy Spirit. Historically, it reflects the struggle of fallen humanity, intensified in an awakened conscience, striving for righteousness but constantly thwarted by indwelling sin. It is not necessarily a polemic but a frank confession of human limitation under the Law.

Romans 7 23 Word analysis

• But: Greek: Alla (ἀλλὰ). Indicates a strong contrast or opposition. It signals a shift from Paul's intellectual understanding of the Law's goodness to the stark reality of his experience.
• I see: Greek: Blepo (βλέπω). To perceive, discern, observe. Not merely a physical sight but an intellectual and experiential recognition or apprehension of something.
• another law: Greek: Heteron nomon (ἕτερον νόμον). Heteron implies "another of a different kind" (cf. allos meaning "another of the same kind"). Here, nomos means a principle or ruling power, distinct from God's holy Law. This "law" is an internal, active force, the law of sin, which dictates a different course of action than the mind desires.
• in my members: Greek: En tois melesin mou (ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου). Refers to the physical parts of the body (limbs, organs). This emphasizes that the "law of sin" is not a purely abstract concept but rooted in the physical being, manifesting through bodily appetites and inclinations.
• waging war: Greek: Antistrateuomenon (ἀντιστρατευόμενον). A vivid military term meaning "to fight against," "to make war upon," or "to engage in battle against." It portrays an active, aggressive, and continuous conflict, not a passive or occasional disagreement.
• against the law of my mind: Greek: Ton nomon tou noos mou (τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου). The "law of my mind" refers to the individual's intellectual faculty, conscience, and inner being that comprehends and assents to God's good Law. The battle is internal, between what the mind knows is right and the desires originating from the members.
• making me captive: Greek: Aichmalotizonta me (αἰχμαλωτίζοντά με). A powerful military metaphor meaning "to take as a prisoner of war," "to capture and lead away as a slave." This signifies absolute subjugation and loss of freedom, emphasizing the compelling power of sin.
• to the law of sin: Greek: Tō nomō tēs hamartias (τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας). The destination of the captivity is to this opposing principle or power, the very nature of sin that seeks to rule.
• that is in my members: Greek: Tou ontos en tois melesin mou (τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου). Reiteration for emphasis, underscoring that this law of sin operates directly through and is intricately tied to the physical parts of the human body.

Words-group analysis:

• "another law in my members": Highlights the distinction from God's Law and places the source/manifestation of this opposing principle firmly within the physical body and its desires. This "law" acts as a governing rule.
• "waging war against the law of my mind": Depicts the relentless, active opposition between the inner desire for righteousness (understood by the mind) and the powerful pull of sin. It's an internal battlefield.
• "making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members": Finalizes the description of the conflict, demonstrating the overwhelming victory of sin in the human condition apart from divine intervention, reducing the "I" to a prisoner enslaved by sin through the physical self.

Romans 7 23 Bonus section

The intense military imagery employed by Paul (strateuomenon - waging war, aichmalotizonta - taking captive) underscores the ferocity and absolute nature of this internal battle. It's not a skirmish but a total war, leading to literal enslavement. This personal "I" in Romans 7 is often debated: is it Paul before conversion, Paul as a struggling believer, or an unregenerate person brought to conviction by the Law? Regardless of the specific interpretation, the verse accurately describes the universal experience of inner conflict with sin, either in its pre-deliverance manifestation or the ongoing struggle against remaining sin even in a regenerate believer. The Greek term nomos is flexible; here, it clearly transcends merely a written code to signify an active principle or ruling power. This understanding helps us grasp that sin is not just a series of wrong actions but an indwelling force seeking dominion.

Romans 7 23 Commentary

Romans 7:23 profoundly expresses the deep-seated reality of sin's power within a person who intellectually affirms God's good Law but lacks the internal power to perfectly obey it. It portrays an individual aware of the moral good and desiring it ("the law of my mind"), yet consistently overridden and overcome by an insidious, powerful "law of sin" operating through their physical "members" (the flesh). This isn't just about committing individual sins, but about a reigning principle of sin that actively "wages war," acting like an occupying army, and ultimately taking the person "captive." The struggle highlights humanity's moral bankruptcy and inability to achieve righteousness through self-effort or reliance on the Law alone. It is the cry of a soul under the weight of an unconquered evil power, revealing the necessity for external divine intervention and empowerment. This understanding forms the crucial bridge to Romans chapter 8, where deliverance through the Holy Spirit is revealed. The verse provides a stark confession that while the spirit might be willing, the flesh is weak, driving one to despair and an eventual longing for a rescuer.