Romans 7:7 kjv
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:7 nkjv
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
Romans 7:7 niv
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
Romans 7:7 esv
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
Romans 7:7 nlt
Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "You must not covet."
Romans 7 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 3:20 | Law cannot justify | Shows law's role |
| Romans 5:13 | Sin not imputed where no law | Connects sin and law |
| Romans 6:14 | Sin not to have dominion | Law's implication |
| 1 Corinthians 15:56 | Sting of death is sin, power is law | Law's relationship to sin |
| Galatians 3:19 | Law given because of transgressions | Law reveals sin |
| 1 Timothy 1:8 | Law is good if used lawfully | Law's positive intent |
| Psalm 38:3 | No soundness in my flesh because of sin | Personal impact of sin |
| Psalm 73:27 | Those far from you will perish | Spiritual distance and sin |
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | Lovers of money not satisfied | Covetousness illustration |
| Isaiah 43:27 | Your first father sinned | Origin of sin |
| Jeremiah 17:9 | Heart is deceitful, desperately sick | Inner nature of sin |
| Mark 7:21-23 | Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts | Source of sin within man |
| John 15:25 | Hated me without a cause | Antagonism to God’s law |
| Romans 2:14-15 | Gentiles showing work of the law | Conscience and law |
| Romans 4:15 | Law brings wrath | Law's judgment aspect |
| Romans 8:2 | Law of Spirit set free from law of sin | Contrast in liberation |
| 1 John 2:16 | Lust of eyes, lust of flesh, pride | Forms of covetousness |
| 1 John 3:4 | Sin is lawlessness | Definition of sin |
| Exodus 20:17 | You shall not covet | The commandment itself |
| Deuteronomy 5:21 | Ten Commandments repeated | Authority of the commandment |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 7 Meaning
The core meaning of Romans 7:7 is that the law itself is not sinful, but rather the law reveals sin. Without the prohibition provided by the commandment "You shall not covet," the desire to covet would not be understood as sinful. The law exposes the sinful nature of humanity.
Romans 7 7 Context
In Romans chapter 7, Paul is exploring the believer's relationship with the Mosaic Law after being justified by faith in Christ. He uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate how believers are freed from the law's condemnation. In verse 7, Paul anticipates an objection: if the law is spiritual and good, then did God's law somehow cause sin? Paul clarifies that the law's purpose is not to originate sin, but to reveal its presence and nature. The chapter addresses the ongoing struggle with sin even in the life of a believer.
Romans 7 7 Word Analysis
- Ti oun (Therefore): A logical conclusion drawn from the preceding argument or from a presumed objection.
- ou phaimi (I do not say): Paul is emphatically rejecting a potential misinterpretation.
- auto (it): Refers back to the Law of Moses.
- hamartia (sin): A violation of God's law; missing the mark.
- me genoito (may it not happen/God forbid): A strong expression of repudiation.
- alla (but/rather): Introduces the correct understanding.
- legei (I say/it says): Refers to Paul's assertion about the Law.
- touto (this): Refers to the commandment that follows.
- gnosis (knowledge): Understanding.
- ti (what): Questioning.
- enebas (I would have known/recognized): Paul asserts he would have been ignorant of coveting as sin without the law.
- egomen (I would have known/recognized): The imperfect tense suggests a past state of ignorance.
- ouk epithumia (not desire/coveting): The specific prohibition.
- paronomosas (sinful): Identifying desire as sinful.
- nomos (law): The divine commandment.
- exechei (it works/produces): The law acts as a trigger for the realization of sin.
- enebas (I would have known/recognized): This word group emphasizes that the law brings awareness.
- ouk epithumia (not desire/coveting): This word group highlights the specific prohibition that awakens the concept of sin.
- nomos (law) enebas (I would have known/recognized) paronomosas (sinful): The Law's role is not to be the source of sin, but the revealer of its sinful nature when it forbids a desire.
Romans 7 7 Bonus Section
The phrase "sin, apart from the law, is dead" (7:8) in the broader context emphasizes that sin becomes a recognized, culpable offense in the light of the Law. When a prohibition exists, the act of transgressing that prohibition defines it as sin and incurs guilt. This also underscores the power of sin to manipulate and work through forbidden desires. The understanding here aligns with the concept of "original sin," where the inherited fallen nature of humanity manifests sin even before the formal promulgation of divine law for specific actions. The Law does not create the desire but gives it an object and a character that is recognized as transgression.
Romans 7 7 Commentary
Paul argues that the Law of God is holy, righteous, and good. However, human flesh is weak and sinful. The Law, by commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong, highlights our sinful condition. The commandment, "You shall not covet," was never intended to be the source of covetousness. Instead, it exposes the inherent sinfulness within us that desires what is forbidden. Without the boundary of the commandment, the sin of coveting would likely remain unacknowledged. Therefore, the Law's true function is to convict us of sin and drive us to Christ, who is the solution to sin.