Romans 7:9 kjv
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:9 nkjv
I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
Romans 7:9 niv
Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
Romans 7:9 esv
I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
Romans 7:9 nlt
At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,
Romans 7 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 3:20 | no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law | Law reveals sin |
| Rom 2:12,14 | Gentiles who do not have the law do good by nature; some show that the work of the law is written on their hearts | Conscience and natural law |
| 1 Cor 15:56 | The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law | Law and sin's power |
| Gal 3:21 | For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would indeed by by law. | Law cannot give life |
| Gal 3:24 | So the law was our guardian until Christ came | Law as tutor |
| Gal 3:10 | Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. | Perfection of the law |
| John 15:22 | If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sinned; but now they have no excuse for their sin. | Christ and sin |
| John 16:8 | And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment | Holy Spirit and conviction |
| Lev 18:5 | Keep my decrees and my laws, by which a person must live if they are to live by them. I am the Lord. | Life through obedience |
| Deut 30:19 | choose life, so that you and your descendants may live | Obedience for life |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. | Obedience paramount |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus and the Law |
| Rom 7:11 | For the command, which was intended to bring life, actually brought death. | Commandment and death |
| Rom 7:7 | 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. | Law exposes sin |
| Ps 38:3-10 | My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear... My heart pounds, my strength fails me... | Personal confession of sin |
| Acts 20:24 | But my life is worthless to me unless I complete my course and the mission that the Lord Jesus has given me. | Life in purpose |
| Rom 6:14 | For sin shall not be master over you, since you are not under law, but under grace. | Grace over law |
| 1 Cor 6:13 | Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both. | Physical vs. spiritual |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. | Christ's work |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 9 Meaning
Paul explains that in a state before truly understanding God's law, he was alive. This "aliveness" wasn't spiritual vitality, but a simple existence, unhindered by the conscious recognition of sin. When God's commandment became known, the nature of this existence changed. Instead of bringing life, the commandment exposed the reality of sin, revealing it to be truly sinful. This revelation led to Paul's spiritual death.
Romans 7 9 Context
In Romans 7, Paul is addressing the complex relationship between the believer, the Law of Moses, and sin. He uses a vivid analogy of marriage to illustrate that believers are freed from the bondage of the Law when they are united with Christ, who has died and risen. He emphasizes that the Law itself is not sinful but holy, just, and good. However, when someone attempts to live by the Law, it activates sin in their life, leading to their spiritual demise. Paul contrasts this with life in the Spirit, which empowers believers to overcome sin's dominion.
Romans 7 9 Word Analysis
'humōs (ὡς): Thus; so; in this manner; as. It indicates a result or consequence, connecting the previous thought to this statement.
de (δὲ): But; and. A conjunction used to introduce a contrast or a continuation of a thought. Here it contrasts the state of being "alive" with what happened afterward.
ēzhn (ἤτην): I was living; I was alive. Imperfect tense, indicating a continuous state in the past. This refers to his condition before the clear understanding of the Law's full implication.
autós (αὐτός): I. Emphatic pronoun, drawing attention to the subject, Paul.
oudamos (οὐδαμῶς): In no way; not at all. Intensifies the negation.
blapsen (ἔβλαψεν): Hurt; injure; harm. Refers to the negative impact or consequence.
mê (μὴ): Not. A common Greek negative particle.
Group Analysis:
- "ēn de ēzēn autos oudamos blapsen" (ἤην δὲ ἔζων αὐτὸς οὐδαμῶς ἔβλαψεν) - "but I was alive, and myself was in no way harmed." This phrase describes his past condition. He experienced a form of life, unaware of its sinfulness or the Law's damning power. The state was not one of spiritual death, but an ignorance of true spiritual peril.
Romans 7 9 Bonus Section
This verse is pivotal in understanding the "prisoner" analogy that follows in Romans 7. The Law, in its exposure of sin, acted like a lock, confining Paul under its judgment. This highlights that mere adherence to rules does not grant true righteousness or life. Genuine life and freedom from sin’s dominion are found only through Christ, as subsequent verses and chapters in Romans demonstrate (Rom 7:24-25; 8:1-2). The principle is echoed in 1 John 3:4, "Sin is lawlessness," underscoring the Law's role in defining and revealing sin.
Romans 7 9 Commentary
Paul illustrates a critical point about the Law’s function. Before understanding the Law’s true demands, he perceived himself as living. He was functioning, perhaps even considered righteous by his own standards. However, the divine Law, when understood in its totality, exposed his sinfulness. This awareness, rather than invigorating his life, revealed its fatal flaw. The Law was not the source of sin, but the diagnostic tool that exposed sin’s grip and consequences. This exposure led to what Paul terms "spiritual death"—an awareness of his condemnation under the Law. It's a transition from unawareness of guilt to the crushing realization of it, leading to a state of bondage and alienation from God before Christ's intervention.