the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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King James Version
Romans 7:1
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Listen close, cowboys. I know you've heard about the Code. It only applies to people who are alive.
Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is master over a person as long as he lives?
Is it not clear, my brothers (I am using an argument to those who have knowledge of the law), that the law has power over a man as long as he is living?
Are ye ignorant, brethren, (for I speak to those knowing law,) that law rules over a man as long as he lives?
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives?
Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth?
Brethren, do you not know--for I am writing to people acquainted with the Law--that it is during our lifetime that we are subject to the Law?
Know ye not, brethren (for I speake to them that knowe the Lawe) how that the Lawe hath dominion ouer a man, as long as he liueth?
Or are you ignorant, brothers, (for I speak to those knowing Law), that the Law lords it over the man for as long a time as he lives?
Knowe ye not brethren (for I speake vnto them that knowe the lawe) how that ye lawe hath power vpon a man as longe as he lyueth?
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to Jews acquainted with the law) that the law hath authority over a man, till it be abrogated?
You shouldn't have any trouble understanding this, friends, for you know all the ins and outs of the law—how it works and how its power touches only the living. For instance, a wife is legally tied to her husband while he lives, but if he dies, she's free. If she lives with another man while her husband is living, she's obviously an adulteress. But if he dies, she is quite free to marry another man in good conscience, with no one's disapproval.
Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction [to rule] over a person as long as he lives?
Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?
Do you not know, brethren--for I am speaking to those who know the law--that the law is binding on a person only during his life?
Remember ye not brethren (I speake to them yt know the lawe) how that the lawe hath power over a man as longe as it endureth?
Or are you ignorant, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Are ye ignorant, brethren -- for to those knowing law I speak -- that the law hath lordship over the man as long as he liveth?
Brothers and sisters, all of you understand the law of Moses. So surely you know that the law rules over people only while they are alive.
Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives?
Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?
My friends, you surely understand enough about law to know that laws only have power over people who are alive.
Surely you know, brothers — for I am speaking to those who understand Torah — that the Torah has authority over a person only so long as he lives?
Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?
Knowe yee not, brethren, (for I speake to them that knowe the Lawe) that the Lawe hath dominion ouer a man as long as he liueth?
DO you not know, my brethren, I speak to them who know the law, that the law has authority over a person as long as he lives?
Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
Don't you realize, brothers - for I am speaking to people who know the law - that the law can press its claims over a person only as long as he is alive?
BUT know you not, my brethren, for to those who know the law I speak, that the law has authority over a man as long as he liveth ?
Or do ye not know, my Brethren.-(for I am speaking to them that know the law,)- that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as he is alive?
Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don't you know that the law applies only while a person is living?
Christian brothers, I am sure you understand what I am going to say. You know all about the Law. The Law has power over a man as long as he lives.
Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?
Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only during that person's lifetime?
Or are ye ignorant, brethren, - for unto them that understand the law am I speaking, that, the law, hath lordship over a men as long as he liveth?
Know you not, brethren (for I speak to them that know the law) that the law hath dominion over a man as long as it liveth?
Or do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is master of a person for as long a time as he lives?
Knowe, ye not brethre (for I speake to the that knowe the lawe) how that the law hath power ouer a ma, as long as he lyueth?
Brothers and sisters, you all understand the Law of Moses. So surely you know that the law rules over people only while they are alive.
Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
Certainly you will understand what I am about to say, my friends, because all of you know about law. The law rules over people only as long as they live.
Britheren, whethir ye knowun not; for Y speke to men `that knowen the lawe; for the lawe hath lordschip in a man, as long tyme as it lyueth?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Know: Romans 6:3
brethren: Romans 9:3, Romans 10:1
them that: Romans 2:17, Romans 2:18, Ezra 7:25, Proverbs 6:23, 1 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 4:21
the law: Romans 7:6, Romans 6:14
a man: Or, person, either man or woman; בםטסשנןע [Strong's G444] and homo having this extent of signification.
Reciprocal: Mark 10:9 - General
Cross-References
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Know ye not, brethren,.... The apostle having asserted, Romans 6:14, that the believing Romans were "not under the law"; which he knew would be displeasing to many, and excepted to by them, especially the Jews that were among them, who though they believed in Christ, yet were zealous of the law, takes it up again, and explains and defends it. That they were the Jewish converts at Rome he here particularly addresses, appears partly from his calling them "brethren", for they were so according to the flesh, as well as in a spiritual relation, and this he rather mentions to soften their resentments, and conciliate their minds to him; and partly from the words included in a parenthesis,
for I speak to them that know the law; not the law of nature, but the law of Moses, as the Jews did, being trained up in the knowledge of it; to these he appeals, saying, "know ye not", for the truth of a principle or maxim he afterwards improves, which they could not be ignorant of,
how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he, or "it",
liveth; for the word "liveth" may refer either to man or to the law. The law may be said to live, when it is in full force, and to be dead, when it is abrogated and disannulled; now whilst it lives, or is in force, it has dominion over a man; it can require and command obedience of him, and in case of disobedience can condemn him, and inflict punishment on him: and this power it has also as long as the man lives who is under it, but when he is dead it has no more dominion over him; then "the servant is free from his master", Job 3:19; that is, from the law of his master; and children are free from the law of their parents, the wife from the law of her husband, and subjects from the law of their prince. This is so clear a point that none can doubt of it. The Jews have a saying d, that
"when a man is dead, he becomes חפשי מן תורה ומן המצות, free from the law, and from the commands.''
d T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 30. 1. Niddah, fol. 61. 2. & T. Hieros. Kilaim, fol. 32. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Know ye not - This is an appeal to their own observation respecting the relation between husband and wife. The illustration Romans 7:2-3 is designed simply to show that as when a man dies, and the connection between him and his wife is dissolved, his Law ceases to be binding on her, so also a separation has taken place between Christians and the Law, in which they have become dead to it, and they are not now to attempt to draw their life and peace from it, but from that new source with which they are connected by the gospel, Romans 7:4.
For I speak to them ... - Probably the apostle refers here more particularly to the Jewish members of the Roman church, who were qualified particularly to understand the nature of the Law, and to appreciate the argument. That there were many Jews in the church at Rome has been shown (see Introduction); but the illustration has no exclusive reference to them. The Law to which he appeals is sufficiently general to make the illustration intelligible to all people.
That the law - The immediate reference here is probably to the Mosaic Law. But what is here affirmed is equally true of all laws.
Hath dominion - Greek, Rules; exercises lordship. The Law is here personified, and represented as setting up a lordship over a man, and exacting obedience.
Over a man - Over the man who is under it.
As long as he liveth - The Greek here may mean either “as he liveth,” or” as it liveth,” that is, the law. But our translation has evidently expressed the sense. The sense is, that death releases a man from the laws by which he was bound in life. It is a general principle, relating to the laws of the land, the law of a parent, the law of a contract, etc. This general principle the apostle proceeds to apply in regard to the Law of God.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER VII.
The law has power over a man as long as he lives, 1.
And a wife is bound to her husband only as long as he lives,
2, 3.
Christian believers are delivered from the Mosaic law by Christ
Jesus, and united to God, 5-7.
By the law is the knowledge of sin, 8.
But it gives no power over it, 9-11.
Yet it is holy, just, and good, 12.
How it convinces of sin, and brings into bondage, 13-24.
No deliverance from its curse but by Jesus Christ, 25.
NOTES ON CHAP. VII.
The apostle having, in the preceding chapter, shown the converted Gentiles the obligations they were under to live a holy life, addresses himself here to the Jews who might hesitate to embrace the Gospel; lest, by this means, they should renounce the law, which might appear to them as a renunciation of their allegiance to God. As they rested in the law, as sufficient for justification and sanctification, it was necessary to convince them of their mistake. That the law was insufficient for their justification the apostle had proved, in chapters iii., iv., and v.; that it is insufficient for their sanctification he shows in this chapter; and introduces his discourse by showing that a believing Jew is discharged from his obligations to the law, and is at liberty to come under another and much happier constitution, viz. that of the Gospel of Christ, Romans 7:1-4. In Romans 7:5 he gives a general description of the state of a Jew, in servitude to sin, considered as under mere law. In Romans 7:6 he gives a summary account of the state of a Christian, or believing Jew, and the advantages he enjoys under the Gospel. Upon Romans 7:5 he comments, from Romans 7:7-25, and upon Romans 7:6 he comments, Romans 8:1-11.
In explaining his position in Romans 7:5 he shows:
1. That the law reaches to all the branches and latent principles of sin, Romans 7:7.
2. That it subjected the sinner to death, Romans 7:8-12, without the expectation of pardon.
3. He shows the reason why the Jew was put under it, Romans 7:13.
4. He proves that the law, considered as a rule of action, though it was spiritual, just, holy, and good in itself, yet was insufficient for sanctification, or for freeing a man from the power of inbred sin.
For, as the prevalency of sensual appetites cannot wholly extinguish the voice of reason and conscience, a man may acknowledge the law to be holy, just, and good, and yet his passions reign within him, keeping him in the most painful and degrading servitude, while the law supplied no power to deliver him from them, Romans 7:14-24, as that power can only be supplied by the grace of Jesus Christ, Romans 7:25. See Taylor.
Verse Romans 7:1. For I speak to them that know the law — This is a proof that the apostle directs this part of his discourse to the Jews.
As long as he liveth? — Or, as long as It liveth; law does not extend its influence to the dead, nor do abrogated laws bind. It is all the same whether we understand these words as speaking of a law abrogated, so that it cannot command; or of its objects being dead, so that it has none to bind. In either case the law has no force.
