Christian Standard Bible
Romans 7:3
3So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.
Romans 7:3 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Romans 7:3
1Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives? 2For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress. 4Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death.
Read all of Romans 7Romans 7:3 word by word
ἄρα οὖν ζῶντος τοῦ ἀνδρὸς μοιχαλὶς χρηματίσει, ἐὰν γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου τοῦ μὴ εἶναι αὐτὴν μοιχαλίδα γενομένην ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Soἄραara · thereforeG686
- thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- whileζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- husbandὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- she be marriedγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- toἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
- anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- she shall be calledχρηματίζωchrēmatizō · to announceG5537
- an adulteressμοιχαλίςmoichalis · adulterousG3428
- butδέde · thenG1161
- be deadἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
- she isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- freeἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- that lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- sheαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- noμήmē · notG3361
Cross-references for Romans 7:3
- Exodus 20:14Do not commit adultery.
- Leviticus 20:10“If a man commits adultery with a married woman — if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife — both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
- Numbers 5:13and sleeps with another, but it is concealed from her husband, and she is undetected, even though she has defiled herself, since there is no witness against her, and she wasn’t caught in the act;
- Deuteronomy 22:22“If a man is discovered having sexual relations with another man’s wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.
- Matthew 5:32But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
- Mark 10:6But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.
- John 8:3Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center.
- Ruth 2:13“My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted and encouraged your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.”
- 1 Samuel 25:39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults and restrained his servant from doing evil. The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.” Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him.
- 1 Timothy 5:11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry
Commentaries on Romans 7:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3So then, if, while her husband liveth - The object of the apostle's similitude is to show that each party is equally bound to the other; but that the death of either dissolves the engagement. So - she is no adulteress, though she be married to another - And do not imagine that this change would argue any disloyalty in you to your Maker; for, as he has determined that this law of ordinances shall cease, you are no more bound to it than a woman is to a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3So then if - compare Matthew 5:32. She shall be called - She will be. The word used here ́ chrēmatiseiis often used to denote being called by an oracle or by divine revelation. But it is here employed in the simple sense of being commonly called, or of being so regarded.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3These verses are not an allegory, in which every part of the story has a separate theological meaning. Paul uses a simple illustration to make two main points: Death can free a person from the law. Ending one relationship can allow a person to start a new one. Paul applies this example in 7:4.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. if her husband be dead--"die." So Ro 7:3.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 7:3
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
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