(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Parallel translations
- WEB For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
- BSB For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
- NKJV (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
- NASB for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.
- NLT Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Sin existed before the Mosaic law, though it was not formally charged without law. Sin and its effects predate the giving of the law.
Overview
Paul notes that sin was present in the world from Adam to Moses, even though sin is 'not charged' as transgression where there is no explicit law. His point is that death still reigned in that period, showing sin's deadly presence apart from the law. This supports his argument that humanity's problem stems from Adam, not merely from breaking the Mosaic law.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Rom 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
- 1 Cor 15:56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
- 1 Jn 3:4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
- Gen 4:7–11If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
- Gen 38:7And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
- Gen 38:10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
- Gen 18:20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
- Gen 13:13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
- Gen 19:4But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
- Gen 6:11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
- Gen 6:5–6And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
- Gen 8:21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
- 1 Jn 3:14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
- Gen 19:32Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
- Gen 19:36Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 5:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.