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Monday, November 25th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Romans 7:1

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?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Death;   Justification;   Law;   Marriage;   Scofield Reference Index - Flesh;   Law of Moses;   The Topic Concordance - Adultery;   Law;   Marriage;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Law;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Divorce;   Rome;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Law;   Sin;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Law;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Dominion;   Predestination;   Romans, Book of;   Salvation;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Romans, Epistle to the;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adultery ;   Dominion;   Law;   Regeneration;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - How;   Law in the New Testament;   Pauline Theology;   Salvation;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
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.
Revised Standard Version
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?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
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?
Hebrew Names Version
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?
International Standard Version
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?
New American Standard Bible
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?
New Century Version
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.
Update Bible Version
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?
Webster's Bible Translation
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?
English Standard Version
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?
World English Bible
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?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
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?
Weymouth's New Testament
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?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
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?
English Revised Version
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?
Berean Standard Bible
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?
Contemporary English Version
My friends, you surely understand enough about law to know that laws only have power over people who are alive.
Amplified Bible
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?
American Standard Version
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?
Bible in Basic English
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?
Complete Jewish Bible
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?
Darby Translation
Are ye ignorant, brethren, (for I speak to those knowing law,) that law rules over a man as long as he lives?
Etheridge Translation
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 ?
Murdock Translation
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?
King James Version (1611)
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?
New Life Bible
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.
New Revised Standard
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?
Geneva Bible (1587)
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?
George Lamsa Translation
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?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
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?
Douay-Rheims Bible
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?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
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?
Good News Translation
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.
Christian Standard Bible®
Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters, don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives?
King James Version
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Lexham English Bible
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?
Literal Translation
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?
Young's Literal Translation
Are ye ignorant, brethren -- for to those knowing law I speak -- that the law hath lordship over the man as long as he liveth?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
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?
Mace New Testament (1729)
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?
THE MESSAGE
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.
New English Translation
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?
New King James Version
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?
Simplified Cowboy Version
Listen close, cowboys. I know you've heard about the Code. It only applies to people who are alive.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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?
Legacy Standard Bible
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?

Contextual Overview

1 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? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3 So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries. 4 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

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

Genesis 6:9
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.
Genesis 7:1
When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous.
Genesis 7:4
Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created."
Genesis 7:5
So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:6
Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth.
Genesis 7:7
He went on board the boat to escape the flood—he and his wife and his sons and their wives.
Genesis 7:8
With them were all the various kinds of animals—those approved for eating and for sacrifice and those that were not—along with all the birds and the small animals that scurry along the ground.
Genesis 7:9
They entered the boat in pairs, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah.
Genesis 7:10
After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth.
Genesis 7:11
When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth, and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky.

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.


 
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