Romans 7:13

Romans 7:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
• New International Version (NIV)Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

Context of Romans 7:13

11Sin, taking the opportunity provided by this commandment, deceived me and then killed me. 12So the laws in Moses’ Teachings are holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good. Now, did something good cause my death? That’s unthinkable! Rather, my death was caused by sin so that sin would be recognized for what it is. Through a commandment sin became more sinful than ever. 14I know that God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin. 15I don’t realize what I’m doing. I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate.

Romans 7:13 word by word

τὸ οὖν ἀγαθὸν ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος; μὴ γένοιτο, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία, διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον, ἵνα γένηται καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• that which is goodὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that which is goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• God forbidμήmē · notG3361
• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• it might appearφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• workingκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• ·κατάkata · according toG2596
• exceedingὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• sinfulἁμαρτωλόςhamartōlos · sinfulG268

Cross-references for Romans 7:13

• Romans 8:3It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature.
• Galatians 3:21Does this mean, then, that the laws given to Moses contradict God’s promises? That’s unthinkable! If those laws could give us life, then certainly we would receive God’s approval because we obeyed them.
• Romans 7:8But sin took the opportunity provided by this commandment and made me have all kinds of wrong desires. Clearly, without laws sin is dead.
• Romans 5:20The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more.
• James 1:13When someone is tempted, he shouldn’t say that God is tempting him. God can’t be tempted by evil, and God doesn’t tempt anyone.

Commentaries on Romans 7:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? - This is the question of the Jew, with whom the apostle appears to be disputing. "Do you allow the law to be good, and yet say it is the cause of our death?" The apostle answers: - God forbid! , by no means: it is not the law that is the cause of your death, but sin; it was sin which subjected us to death by the law, justly threatening sin with death: which law was given that sin might appear - might be set…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Was then that which is good … - This is another objection which the apostle proceeds to answer. The objection is this, “Can it be possible that what is admitted to be good and pure, should be changed into evil? Can what tends to life, be made death to a man?” In answer to this, the apostle repeats that the fault was not in the Law, but was in himself, and in his sinful propensities. Made death - Romans 7:8, Romans 7:10. God forbid - Note, Romans 3:4. But…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 There is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin, which is necessary to repentance, and therefore to peace and pardon, but by trying our hearts and lives by the law. In his own case the apostle would not have known the sinfulness of his thoughts, motives, and actions, but by the law. That perfect standard showed how wrong his heart and life were, proving his sins to be more numerous than he had before thought, but it did not contain any…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. 12-1312-13. Wherefore--"So that." the law is--"is indeed" good, and the commandment--that one so often referred to, which forbids all lusting. holy, and just, and good.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 7:13

• Depravity of Man
• Good and Evil
• Justification
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Captivity
• Concupiscence
• Condescend
• Consent
• Delight
• Member
• Mind

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