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Romans 7:7

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¶ What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

What {G5101} shall we say {G2046} then {G3767}? Is the law {G3551} sin {G266}? God forbid {G3361}{G1096}. Nay {G235}, I had {G1097} not {G3756} known {G1097} sin {G266}, but {G1508} by {G1223} the law {G3551}: for {G1063}{G5037} I had {G1492} not {G3756} known {G1492} lust {G1939}, except {G1508} the law {G3551} had said {G3004}, Thou shalt {G1937} not {G3756} covet {G1937}.

Therefore, what are we to say? That the Torah is sinful? Heaven forbid! Rather, the function of the Torah was that without it, I would not have known what sin is. For example, I would not have become conscious of what greed is if the Torah had not said, “Thou shalt not covet.”

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

Commentary

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Cross-References

  • Romans 3:20 (13 votes)

    Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

  • Exodus 20:17 (9 votes)

    Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.

  • Romans 4:15 (8 votes)

    Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression.

  • Deuteronomy 5:21 (6 votes)

    Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour's.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:56 (6 votes)

    The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.

  • Romans 13:9 (5 votes)

    For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Romans 7:8 (4 votes)

    But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead.