Amplified Bible
Romans 7:15
15For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].
Romans 7:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
- New International Version (NIV)I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
Context of Romans 7:15
13Did that which is good [the Law], then become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, in order that it might be revealed as sin, was producing death in me by [using] this good thing [as a weapon], so that through the commandment sin would become exceedingly sinful. 14We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am a creature of the flesh [worldly, self-reliant—carnal and unspiritual], sold into slavery to sin [and serving under its control]. For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. 16Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent). 17So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.
Read all of Romans 7Romans 7:15 word by word
ὃ γὰρ κατεργάζομαι οὐ γινώσκω· οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω τοῦτο πράσσω, ἀλλ᾽ ὃ μισῶ τοῦτο ποιῶ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- that whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I doκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
- I allowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- notοὐou · noG3756
- I wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- do Iπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- I hateμισέωmiseō · to hateG3404
- do Iποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
Cross-references for Romans 7:15
- Romans 14:22The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.
- Luke 11:48So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers, because they [actually] killed them, and you repair or build their tombs.
- Psalms 1:6For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
- Nahum 1:7The Lord is good, A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.
- 2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God [which He has laid] stands [sure and unshaken despite attacks], bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord stand apart from wickedness and withdraw from wrongdoing.”
- Romans 7:16Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent).
- 1 Kings 8:46“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the enemy’s land, [whether] far away or near;
- Psalms 19:12Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
- Psalms 65:3Wickedness and guilt prevail against me; Yet as for our transgressions, You forgive them [removing them from Your sight].
- Psalms 119:1How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins.
- Galatians 5:17For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
- Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.
- James 3:2For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].
- 1 John 1:7but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
- Romans 12:9Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.
Commentaries on Romans 7:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For, that which I do, I allow not, etc. - The first clause of this verse is a general assertion concerning the employment of the person in question in the state which the apostle calls carnal, and sold under sin. The Greek word which is here translated I do, means a work which the agent continues to perform till it is finished, and is used by the apostle, Philemon 2:12, to denote the continued employment of God's saints in his service to the end of their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For that which I do - That is, the evil which I do, the sin of which I am conscious, and which troubles me. I allow not - I do not approve; I do not wish it; the prevailing bent of my inclinations and purposes is against it. Greek, “I know not;” see the margin. The word “know,” however, is sometimes used in the sense of approving, Revelation 2:24, “Which have not known (approved) the depths of Satan;” compare Psalm 101:4, I will not know a wicked person.”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, the apostle found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him. The remaining evil of his heart is a real…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-25What then (see study note on 6:1): Paul has just spoken in strong terms about the law. Now he explains that God’s law is good. He does this to prevent people from thinking that the law itself is evil.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. For, &c.--better, "For that which I do I know not"; that is, "In obeying the impulses of my carnal nature I act the slave of another will than my own as a renewed man?" for, &c.--rather, "for not what I would (wish, desire) that do I, but what I hate that I do."Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 7:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Amplified Bible — © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
Commentaries