God’s Word Translation
Romans 7:3
3So if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulterer. But if her husband dies, she is free from this law, so she is not committing adultery if she marries another man.
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
1Don’t you realize, brothers and sisters, that laws have power over people only as long as they are alive? (I’m speaking to people who are familiar with Moses’ Teachings.) 2For example, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, that marriage law is no longer in effect for her. So if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulterer. But if her husband dies, she is free from this law, so she is not committing adultery if she marries another man. 4In the same way, brothers and sisters, you have died to the laws in Moses’ Teachings through Christ’s body. You belong to someone else, the one who was brought back to life. As a result, we can do what God wants. 5While we were living under the influence of our corrupt nature, sinful passions were at work throughout our bodies. Stirred up by the laws in Moses’ Teachings, our sinful passions did things that result in 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 20:14“Never commit adultery.
- Leviticus 20:10“If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife or with his neighbor’s wife, both he and the woman must be put to death for their adultery.
- Numbers 5:13and may have had sexual intercourse with another man without her husband’s knowledge. She may have kept it secret if there were no witnesses to accuse her and she wasn’t caught in the act.
- Deuteronomy 22:22If a man is caught having sexual intercourse with a married woman, both that man and the woman must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel.
- Matthew 5:32But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.
- Mark 10:6But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation.
- John 8:3The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone
- Ruth 2:13Ruth replied, “Sir, may your kindness to me continue. You have comforted me and reassured me, and I’m not even one of your own servants.”
- 1 Samuel 25:39When David heard Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who defended me against the insults of Nabal and kept me from doing wrong. The Lord has turned Nabal’s own wickedness back on him.” Then David sent men ⌞on his behalf⌟ to propose marriage to Abigail.
- 1 Timothy 5:11Don’t include younger widows ⌞on your list⌟. Whenever their natural desires become stronger than their devotion to Christ, they’ll 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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