Romans 7 3

Romans 7:3 kjv

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Romans 7:3 nkjv

So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

Romans 7:3 niv

So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

Romans 7:3 esv

Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

Romans 7:3 nlt

So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 3 Meaning

This verse clarifies that a woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband, and is no longer an adulteress if she marries another man.

Romans 7 3 Context

In Romans chapter 7, Paul is exploring the relationship between the Law and believers, particularly how the Law's power operates. He uses the illustration of marriage to explain that the Law of Moses had a binding claim over individuals as long as the law was in effect. This verse serves as a pivot, explaining that through death to the Law, one can be freed from its dominion, just as a widow is free from the marital bond. This is crucial for understanding how believers are no longer under the Law's condemnation. The immediate context in Romans 6 deals with freedom from sin through union with Christ, and chapter 8 discusses life in the Spirit. This verse bridges these ideas by illustrating release from one binding authority (the Law, like a husband) and the potential to be united with another (Christ, like a new husband).

Romans 7 3 Word Analysis

• δέ (de): But (A conjunctive particle, often indicating a transition or contrast, here marking a shift in the argument. It connects this verse logically to the previous one.)

• γάρ (gar): for (A causal conjunction, providing the reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It explains why a wife is freed.)

• γυναικί (gunaiki): to a woman (Dative singular of γυνή (gunē), meaning woman or wife. Refers to a female in relation to marriage.)

• κείμενος (keimenos): bound (Perfect passive participle of κεῖμαι (keimai), meaning to lie, be laid, or be appointed. In this context, it signifies being obligated or legally tied to someone. It suggests a state of being established in a certain relationship.)

• νόμῳ (nomō): by the law (Dative singular of νόμος (nomos), meaning law, statute, ordinance. Here, it refers to the Mosaic Law. The dative case indicates the means or instrument by which she is bound.)

• ἄνδρος (andros): of a husband (Genitive singular of ἀνήρ (anēr), meaning man or husband. The genitive case indicates possession or relationship, showing the husband to whom she is bound.)

• ἀνδρός (andros): of the husband (Genitive singular of ἀνήρ (anēr). Reinforces the specific individual husband. The repetition emphasizes the particularity of the bond.)

• ζῶντος (zontos): living (Genitive singular of ζάω (zaō), meaning to live. The genitive case modifies ἀνδρός, specifying that the husband is alive. This is the crucial condition for the bond.)

• ὅταν (hotan): when (A conjunction meaning whenever, when. It introduces a temporal clause that sets the condition for release.)

• ἀποθάνῃ (apothanē): he dies (Third person singular subjunctive of ἀποθνήσκω (apothnēskō), meaning to die, perish. The subjunctive mood indicates a condition or possibility.)

• δεσμεύει (desmeuei): binds (Third person singular indicative of δεσμεύω (desmeuō), meaning to bind, tie up, imprison. This verb emphasizes the restraining power of the law in the context of marriage. It is a strong word suggesting restriction.)

• αὐτήν (autēn): her (Accusative singular feminine pronoun, referring back to γυναικί. It is the direct object of the verb, showing who is bound.)

• τοῦ νόμου (tou nomou): of the law (Genitive singular of ὁ νόμος (ho nomos). It clarifies that the binding is from the law, showing the source of the obligation.)

• τοῦ ἀνδρὸς (tou andros): of the husband (Genitive singular of ὁ ἀνήρ (ho anēr). This further specifies the legal relationship from which release is sought.)

• καθαρισθῇ (katharisthē): is released/freed (Third person singular aorist passive subjunctive of καθαρίζω (katharizō), meaning to cleanse, purify, set free. It signifies being acquitted or released from an obligation, being made legally free.)

• τοῦ νόμου (tou nomou): from the law (Genitive singular of ὁ νόμος (ho nomos). This case shows separation or release from the law.)

• τοῦ ἀνδρὸς (tou andros): of the husband (Genitive singular of ὁ ἀνήρ (ho anēr). It again specifies the specific relationship being severed. It highlights that the release is from the bond to the husband by operation of the law.)

• Word Group Analysis: "bound by the law of her husband" (νόμῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς, Nomō tou andros): This phrase vividly captures the legal and relational tie created by marriage under the Old Testament Law. The husband represents the authority of the Law in this analogy. The wife is under his legal jurisdiction.

• Word Group Analysis: "released from the law of her husband" (καθαρισθῇ... τοῦ νόμου τοῦ ἀνδρός, Katharisthē... tou nomou tou andros): This parallel phrase illustrates the liberation that occurs upon the husband's death. It's not a violation but a natural consequence of the termination of the bond, meaning the obligation ceases.

Romans 7 3 Bonus Section

The concept of death dissolving marriage bonds was recognized in Roman law and is a reasonable understanding of Old Testament principles as well, even if not as explicitly detailed for women as this analogy suggests. The verse also anticipates the detailed discussion in the subsequent verses concerning the believer's death to sin through baptism into Christ's death, and how this severance from the Law (the old "husband") allows for a new union with Christ (the new "husband"). The imagery highlights that the believer is not free to disregard all obligations, but rather to transition from one governing relationship under a binding system to another. This freeing from the Law's condemnatory power does not equate to antinomianism (lawlessness), but to liberation for a new life.

Romans 7 3 Commentary

This verse employs a powerful legal analogy common in Roman society and within the framework of the Mosaic Law. Marriage created a permanent, legally binding union. The Law of Moses dictated the terms of this union. Paul uses this illustration to show that the Law of Moses itself bound believers, much like a wife was bound to her husband. The critical point is that the bond is dissolved not by any action of the wife, but by the death of the husband. Similarly, believers are "married" to the Law in the sense that they were obligated to its commands and penalties. However, through Christ's death, believers have died to the Law. Therefore, the Law, like a deceased husband, loses its binding power over them. This frees them to be united with Christ. The consequence is crucial: if she remarries after her husband's death, she does not commit adultery. This is directly applicable to the believer, who, freed from the Law's dominion through Christ's death, can be joined to Christ without violating any preceding obligation. This illustrates the freedom found in Christ, not a lawlessness, but a release from the condemning power of the Law to live under the new covenant.