Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
- BSB So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
- NKJV Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
- NASB So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
- NLT But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
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
Paul affirms that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, righteous, and good. The problem is never with God's law but with sinful humanity.
Overview
Having shown how sin abuses the law, Paul defends the law's true character in the strongest terms. The law reflects God's own holy, righteous, and good nature. This vindication prepares the way for Paul's deeper analysis of the conflict between God's good law and indwelling sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 1:8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
- Ps 119:137Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
- Ps 19:7–12The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- Rom 7:14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
- Ps 119:172My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
- Rom 3:31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
- Neh 9:13Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
- Deut 4:8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
- Ps 119:140Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Rom 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- Ps 119:86All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
- Rom 7:16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
- Deut 10:12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
- Ps 119:38Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 7:12 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.