King James Version

What Does Romans 7:3 Mean?

Romans 7:3 in the King James Version says “So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husba...” — study this verse from Romans chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”

Romans 7:3 · King James Version

Context

1

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?

2

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4

Wherefore, 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.

5

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. motions: Gr. passions

Read Romans 7 full chapter

Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress—The future passive chrēmatizō (χρηματίζω) means "she will be publicly labeled/divinely warned." Adultery (moichalis, μοιχαλίς) violates covenant fidelity, a repeated Old Testament metaphor for Israel's idolatry. Two simultaneous covenantal allegiances constitute spiritual adultery.

But if her husband be dead, she is free from that law—Eleuthera (ἐλευθέρα, "free") emphasizes liberation, a key Pauline theme (Galatians 5:1). Freedom comes through death's dissolution of the first covenant relationship, not through the law's relaxation. So that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man—The second marriage is morally legitimate because death terminated the first covenant. Similarly, believers' death with Christ allows union with the resurrected Christ without covenantal conflict.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Jewish law strictly prohibited adultery (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 22:22), and Roman law similarly condemned it as damaging to social order. Both cultures recognized remarriage after a spouse's death as entirely proper. Paul's analogy would resonate powerfully with his audience's understanding of covenantal faithfulness.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways might attempting to maintain allegiance to both law-righteousness and grace-righteousness constitute spiritual adultery?
  2. How does the death-before-remarriage sequence in this analogy illuminate the necessary order of dying to self before living to Christ?
  3. What would it look like to live in the freedom of your 'second marriage' to Christ without guilt from your former relationship to law-condemnation?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 29 words
ἄρα1 of 29

“So then”

G686

a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows)

οὖν2 of 29
G3767

(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly

ζῶντος3 of 29

“liveth”

G2198

to live (literally or figuratively)

τοῦ4 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀνδρὶ5 of 29

“her husband”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

μοιχαλίδα6 of 29

“adulteress”

G3428

an adulteress (literally or figuratively)

χρηματίσει7 of 29

“she shall be called”

G5537

to utter an oracle (compare the original sense of g5530), i.e., divinely intimate; by implication, (compare the secular sense of g5532) to constitute

ἐὰν8 of 29

“if”

G1437

a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty

γενομένην9 of 29

“she be married”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἀνδρὶ10 of 29

“her husband”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

ἑτέρῳ11 of 29

“to another”

G2087

(an-, the) other or different

ἐὰν12 of 29

“if”

G1437

a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty

δὲ13 of 29

“but”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἀποθάνῃ14 of 29

“be dead”

G599

to die off (literally or figuratively)

ὁ15 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀνδρὶ16 of 29

“her husband”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

ἐλευθέρα17 of 29

“free”

G1658

unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e., (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or lia

ἐστὶν18 of 29

“she is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ἀπὸ19 of 29

“from”

G575

"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)

τοῦ20 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

νόμου21 of 29

“that law”

G3551

law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat

τοῦ22 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

μὴ23 of 29

“no”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

εἶναι24 of 29

“is”

G1511

to exist

αὐτὴν25 of 29

“so that she”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

μοιχαλίδα26 of 29

“adulteress”

G3428

an adulteress (literally or figuratively)

γενομένην27 of 29

“she be married”

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἀνδρὶ28 of 29

“her husband”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

ἑτέρῳ29 of 29

“to another”

G2087

(an-, the) other or different

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Romans. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Romans 7:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Romans 7:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 20:14Matthew 5:32Mark 10:6-121 Timothy 5:11-14Leviticus 20:10John 8:3-5

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