Romans 7 8

Romans 7:8 kjv

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Romans 7:8 nkjv

But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Romans 7:8 niv

But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.

Romans 7:8 esv

But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

Romans 7:8 nlt

But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 8 Meaning

Romans 7:8 illuminates how the divinely given Law, while good and holy, was exploited by sin in fallen humanity. Sin, here often personified as an active power, utilized the very prohibitions of the Law (specifically "You shall not covet") as an occasion or launching pad to stir up, produce, and magnify every conceivable kind of forbidden desire within the individual. Prior to the Law's explicit command, sin's potency and pervasiveness were not fully manifest or recognized; it was "dead" in the sense of being dormant or inoperative in producing conscious transgression, but the Law awakened it to its full, active, and condemning force.

Romans 7 8 Context

Romans chapter 7 is a pivotal section where the Apostle Paul clarifies the purpose and function of the Mosaic Law for both Jewish and Gentile believers. Prior to this verse, Paul addresses the concern that the Law might be sin itself (Rom 7:7), directly refuting it. Instead, he argues that the Law is holy, just, and good (Rom 7:12), but it served to reveal and exacerbate the pervasive nature of sin within humanity. Romans 7:8 specifically elaborates on how the Law functions in this manner, showing that it does not cause sin, but rather exposes sin's power and amplifies its corrupting effect in the sinful human heart. Paul's "I" in this section is widely understood as representative of the universal human experience under the Law, an unregenerate person, or a person under conviction, illustrating the Law's inability to provide righteousness and instead driving humanity to a realization of their utter need for God's grace through Christ. The chapter paves the way for the deliverance found in Romans 8.

Romans 7 8 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλά – alla): A strong adversative conjunction, it marks a stark contrast, introducing an explanation that clarifies how sin operated in relation to the Law, not that the Law itself was sinful.
• sin (ἡ ἁμαρτία – hē hamartia): This term often refers to the indwelling power or principle of sin that actively works within human beings, not merely individual acts. It denotes the inherent human propensity towards rebellion against God.
• taking opportunity (ἀφορμήν λαβοῦσα – aphormēn labousa): Literally, "having taken a base of operation" or "a starting point." Aphormē often denotes a strategic advantage or a pretext. Here, sin exploits the Law as a spring-board to launch its activities.
• through the commandment (διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς – dia tēs entolēs): The preposition dia signifies "through" or "by means of." This emphasizes that the Law is the instrument sin used, not its source. The commandment, while good, became a channel for sin's destructive activity.
• produced in me (κατειργάσατο ἐν ἐμοί – kateirgasato en emoi): The verb kateirgasato is strong, meaning "worked out, accomplished, produced fully or completely." It highlights sin's effective and comprehensive internal operation within the "me" (the individual, typically referring to human experience under the Law).
• all kinds of coveting (πᾶσαν ἐπιθυμίαν – pasan epithymian): Pasan means "all" or "every kind," indicating the comprehensive and varied nature of illicit desires. Epithymia (coveting, lust, strong desire) carries a negative connotation in this context, referring to sinful longings ignited by the Law's prohibition.
• For apart from the law (χωρὶς γὰρ νόμου – chōris gar nomou): Chōris means "without" or "separate from." This phrase provides the reason for sin's activity through the Law, establishing the condition under which sin acts differently.
• sin is dead (ἁμαρτία νεκρά – hamartia nekrā): "Dead" here does not mean non-existent, but rather dormant, inoperative, or not actively manifesting its full condemnatory power. Without the Law's specific prohibition, sin is not truly exposed as transgression or seen in its utter sinfulness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment: This powerful phrase unpacks the spiritual paradox: sin, an active malevolent force, seized the very structure of God's holy Law—intended for good—as a platform. The Law, by forbidding, provided sin with a target and a means to actively incite rebellion.
• produced in me all kinds of coveting: This describes the profound internal effect. The single prohibition against coveting unleashed a torrent of diverse forbidden desires within the human heart. This demonstrates the deep-seated, pervasive corruption of fallen humanity that can pervert even good commands into fuel for sin.
• For apart from the law, sin is dead: This provides the crucial explanation. Without the explicit light and boundaries of the Law, sin lies dormant. It exists as a predisposition, but its power to clearly manifest as punishable transgression, to create full awareness of guilt, or to demonstrate its utter offensiveness, is significantly muted or "dead." The Law "awakens" sin to its full, condemning life.

Romans 7 8 Bonus section

• The Law as a Mirror: The teaching in this verse further establishes the Law's function as a mirror (James 1:23-25). It does not cleanse, but rather reflects back the sinfulness within. In Romans 7:8, the Law reflects not just the existence of sin but its ability to seize an advantage, its "strategy" in intensifying illicit desires.
• Anthropological Implications: This verse delves into human nature, revealing the innate resistance to God's commands after the Fall. It suggests that merely knowing what is right does not guarantee doing what is right; in fact, it can inadvertently trigger an opposite response from a heart still enslaved to sin. This is a foundational aspect of Pauline theology concerning the fallen human condition.
• Contrast to Regeneration: The experience described in this verse (sin being awakened by the Law) is sharply contrasted with the experience of the regenerate believer, who, empowered by the Spirit (Rom 8), is enabled to live according to the Law's righteous requirements from the heart. The Law's work in chapter 7 shows what the Law cannot do for sinful humanity; Romans 8 shows what God does through the Spirit in new humanity.

Romans 7 8 Commentary

Romans 7:8 articulates a critical insight into the relationship between the divine Law and human sinfulness. The Law, despite being holy and righteous, functions paradoxically as an intensifier of sin. It acts not as a cause of sin, but as a catalyst. When God’s command says "do not," the inherent rebelliousness within fallen humanity is aroused, turning the latent desire into an active craving for precisely what is forbidden. This phenomenon reveals the radical depravity of the human heart, where sin uses a good standard to magnify its power and make its true nature known. Apart from such clear prohibitions, sin remains like a beast slumbering, its destructive power unmanifested and unjudged to its full extent. The verse emphasizes that the Law's true role is not to grant life but to expose the depth of our spiritual death, demonstrating humanity's desperate need for a different kind of power for righteousness, one found in Christ.For instance, before a specific rule against cheating is made explicit in a competition, some participants might not perceive certain advantages as wrong. But once the rule is stated, for those with a corrupt heart, the very prohibition can make finding ways to circumvent it a more intense, almost attractive challenge, showcasing sin's ingenuity in defiance.