But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Parallel translations
- WEB But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
- BSB But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
- NKJV But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.
- NASB But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
- NLT 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.
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 seized the commandment as an opportunity and stirred up all kinds of coveting; apart from law, sin lies dormant. The very prohibition provokes the rebellious heart.
Overview
Paul personifies sin as exploiting the commandment to arouse forbidden desire. The law does not create sin but provides the occasion through which indwelling sin reveals its rebellious nature. 'Apart from the law, sin is dead' means sin lies comparatively inactive and unexposed without the commandment to provoke it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rom 7:11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
- 1 Cor 15:56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
- Rom 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
- Jas 1:14–15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
- Rom 7:13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
- Rom 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
- Rom 7:17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
- John 15:24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
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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 7:8 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
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