Romans 7:15

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, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate. 16But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. 17But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.

Romans 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 you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves.
• Luke 11:48So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs!
• Psalms 1:6Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.
• Nahum 1:7The Lord is good – indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
• 2 Timothy 2:19However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”
• Romans 7:16But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good.
• 1 Kings 8:46“The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their own land, whether far away or close by.
• Psalms 19:12Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.
• Psalms 65:3Our record of sins overwhelms me, but you forgive our acts of rebellion.
• Psalms 119:1How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 7:20For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.
• Galatians 5:17For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
• 1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
• Romans 12:9Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling 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

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

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Captivity
• Concupiscence
• Condescend
• Consent
• Delight
• Member
• Mind
• Occasion
• Revive

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