King James Version
What Does Romans 7:9 Mean?
“For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
Context
7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid . Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. lust: or, concupiscence
8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(9) **I was alive**.—The state of unconscious morality, uninstructed but as yet uncondemned, may, compared with that state of condemnation, be regarded as a state of “life.”
**Revived.**—The English version well represents the meaning of the original, which is not that sin “came to life,” but that it “came to life *again.”* Sin is lurking in the heart from the first, but it is dormant until the Commandment comes; then it “revives.”
**I died.**—Became subject to the doom of eternal death.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
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 7:9 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 7:9
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge