For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Parallel translations
- WEB I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
- BSB Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
- ESV I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
- NKJV I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
- NASB I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died;
- NLT At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 describes being 'alive' before the law's full impact, but when the commandment came home, sin sprang to life and he died. Confronted by God's law, he saw himself spiritually condemned.
Overview
Paul recounts an experience of self-understanding many take as representing the encounter between a person and the convicting law. A former, untroubled sense of life gave way to spiritual death when the commandment exposed sin's true power. Christians differ on whether this depicts Paul's pre-conversion awakening or a representative experience, but all agree it shows the law's power to slay self-righteous confidence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Gal 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
- Rom 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- Jas 2:10–11For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- Rom 7:4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
- Gal 2:19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
- Rom 10:5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
- Rom 7:21–23I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
- Rom 7:6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
- Rom 7:11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
- Phil 3:5–6Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
- Rom 3:19–20Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- Luke 18:9–12And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
- Luke 15:29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
- Matt 19:20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
- Luke 10:25–29And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
- Matt 5:21–26Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
- Luke 18:21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
- Ps 40:12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
- Mark 7:8–13For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
- Matt 15:4–6For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 7:9 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.