Romans 7:8

Romans 7:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
• New International Version (NIV)But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Context of Romans 7:8

6But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. 7Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.

Romans 7:8 word by word

ἀφορμὴν δὲ λαβοῦσα ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς κατειργάσατο ἐν ἐμοὶ πᾶσαν ἐπιθυμίαν· χωρὶς γὰρ νόμου ἁμαρτία νεκρά·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• sinὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• takingλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• occasionἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• wroughtκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• all manner ofπᾶςpas · allG3956
• concupiscenceἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498

Cross-references for Romans 7:8

• Romans 7:11Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.
• Romans 4:15For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
• Romans 5:20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
• James 1:14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
• John 15:22They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
• 1 Corinthians 15:56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

Commentaries on Romans 7:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Sin, taking occasion by the commandment - I think the pointing, both in this and in the 11th verse, to be wrong: the comma should be after occasion, and not after commandment. But sin taking occasion, wrought in me by this commandment all manner of concupiscence. There are different opinions concerning the meaning of the word , which we here translate occasion. Dr. Waterland translates the clause, Sin, taking Advantage. Dr. Taylor contends that all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But sin - To illustrate the effect of the Law on the mind, the apostle in this verse depicts its influence in exciting to evil desires and purposes. Perhaps no where has he evinced more consummate knowledge of the human heart than here. He brings an illustration that might have escaped most persons, but which goes directly to establish his position that the Law is insufficient to promote the salvation of man. Sin here is personified. It means not a real…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. 8Sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment: The word opportunity is a military term for a position seized in enemy territory that becomes a base of operations (see 7:11). By expressing God’s demands, the commandments provoke rebellion within people controlled by sin. God's commandments become a chance for sin to achieve its harmful goals. apart from the law, sin is dead: The law, by plainly expressing God’s will, makes people more accountable…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-87-8. What ... then? Is the law sin? God forbid!--"I have said that when we were in the flesh the law stirred our inward corruption, and was thus the occasion of deadly fruit: Is then the law to blame for this? Far from us be such a thought." Nay--"On the contrary" (as in Ro 8:37; 1Co 12:22; Greek). I had not known sin but by the law--It is important to fix what is meant by "sin" here. It certainly is not "the general nature of sin" [Alford, &c.], though…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 7:8

• Death
• Justification
• Lasciviousness

In the dictionaries

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

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