7:9 7:9

Romans 7:10

7:11 7:11

Bible Versions

And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.
And {G2532} the commandment {G1785}, which {G3588} was ordained to {G1519} life {G2222}, I {G3427} found {G2147}{G3778} to be unto {G1519} death {G2288}.
and I died. The commandment that was intended to bring me life was found to be bringing me death!
So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.
and the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death:

In Romans 7:10, the Apostle Paul continues his profound discourse on the relationship between the Law and sin, a central theme in his epistle to the Romans. This verse captures a crucial paradox: the very Law that God intended for good and to lead to life, Paul discovered, ultimately led to death for him under the power of sin.

Context

This verse is part of Paul's deeply personal and theological exploration in Romans Chapter 7, where he describes the internal struggle between the desire to do good and the pervasive power of sin. He has just explained that believers are dead to the Law through Christ's body, so they might be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead (Romans 7:4). The Law itself is not the problem; rather, it's sin, which uses the Law to expose and condemn. Paul's struggle is a vivid illustration of humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through legalistic observance alone.

Key Themes

  • The Law's Holy Purpose: The commandment was "ordained to life." This emphasizes that God's Law was given with a good intention—to guide humanity toward righteous living, blessing, and a flourishing relationship with Him. It was meant to define life, not to cause death.
  • Sin's Perversion of the Law: Despite its good purpose, Paul "found [it to be] unto death." This is because sin seized the opportunity presented by the Law. As Paul explains in Romans 7:8, "sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence." The Law, by revealing what is forbidden, inadvertently stimulated the sinful nature, making sin evident and increasing guilt, ultimately leading to spiritual death (Romans 6:23).
  • Human Inability and the Need for Grace: This verse highlights humanity's inherent weakness and inability to perfectly obey God's Law without divine intervention. It underscores the futility of seeking salvation or righteousness through self-effort and legalism, pointing instead to the absolute necessity of God's grace found in Jesus Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "commandment" is entolē (ἐντολή), referring specifically to a divine precept or the Mosaic Law. The phrase "ordained to life" translates eis zōēn (εἰς ζωήν), indicating its intended purpose was to lead to life. Conversely, "unto death" is eis thanaton (εἰς θάνατον), signifying its eventual outcome for fallen humanity. This stark contrast underscores the tragic effect of sin on humanity's relationship with God's perfect standard.

Reflection and Application

Romans 7:10 serves as a powerful reminder that while God's standards are holy and good (Romans 7:12), our sinful nature prevents us from fulfilling them. The Law acts like a mirror, reflecting our imperfections and revealing our desperate need for a Savior, rather than being a path to salvation itself. For believers today, this verse reinforces the truth that our righteousness comes not from our own adherence to rules, but from faith in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the Law and offers us new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. It encourages us to rest in God's grace and to understand that our struggle with sin is overcome not by more strenuous effort under the Law, but by embracing the freedom and power offered in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 18:5

    Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:7

    But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away:

  • Romans 10:5

    For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

  • Galatians 3:12

    And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

  • Ezekiel 20:11

    And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them.

  • Ezekiel 20:21

    Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

  • Luke 10:27

    And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
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