Preface: Much of this chapter deals with Paul’s inner struggle. Several forms of law are mentioned as well, such as the Law of Moses, the law of sin, as well as others.

Bible Summary: You have died to the law. Is the law sin? No, sin produced death in me. I do not do what I want to do. My flesh serves the law of sin.

This should be the most extensive examination of Romans 7 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Brief Overview:

Outline of Chapter 7:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Brief Overview

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Romans 7 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Romans 7 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Romans 7

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel to Romans 7

         Introduction         The Principals of Romans 7

         Introduction         The Places of Romans 7

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Romans 7

         Introduction         Outlines and Summaries of Romans 7 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Romans 7 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Romans –)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      23              Jacob Wrestles with God—Genesis 32:24–32

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Romans 7 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Romans 7

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Romans 7

         Summary            A Brief Review of Romans 7

         Summary 

         Summary 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Romans 7

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Romans 7

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Romans 7

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Romans 7

——————————

An Introduction to Romans 7

I ntroduction: Romans 7

Whereas the law was mentioned twice in Romans 6 and thrice in Romans 5, it occurs a whopping 23 time in this chapter.

——————————

The general concepts of this verse are fairly easy to understand. Portions of the translation are moderately difficult.

Now, bear in mind that the law and the woman who might be an adulteress is not the subject of Paul’s discourse here. This is all by way of illustrating a larger point.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       I will use the Westcott-Hort Greek text as the basis for my English translation. I use that test primarily because e-sword has a nice module by Rob Wolfram which has the interlinear English text, Strong’s #’s, and the Greek morphology. The e-sword tab is IWH+P. I do not use their English text for my translation. Also, throughout, I take in consideration alternate readings.

As a young Christian, I was quite interested in the alternative readings. After many decades of study, I have found that, as with the Hebrew text, disputed readings rarely have any affect on the interpretation of a text (apart from perhaps a half-dozen fairly well-known alternate readings, like the end of the book of Mark).

I will compare the Greek text to English translations of the Latin and Syriac (= Aramaic) texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation and George Lamsa’s translation from the Syriac. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.).

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls are irrelevant, as they preceded the writing of the New Testament by over 200 years.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    Or, you keep on being ignorant, brothers, for [you all] knowing law, I keep on saying that the law keeps on ruling of the man to as far as a time he keeps on living. For the one under a (noble) man, a woman, while the (noble) man keeps on living, has been bound by law. Now, if died the (noble) man, has been made inoperative from the law, [from] the man. Consequently therefore, while living the (noble) man an adulteress she will be called if she might become to a man, another (of a different kind). Now, if has died the (noble) man, she keeps on being from the law from the [noble man]. It is not to her [to be called] an adulteress having become to a (noble) man another (of a different kind).

Complete Apostles’ Bible      Or do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those knowing the law), that the law rules over a man as long as he lives?

For the woman who is under a man has been bound by law to the living husband. But if the husband should die, she is released from the law of the husband.

So then, while the husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she becomes married to a different husband; but if her husband should die, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, having become married to a different husband.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) 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?

For the woman that hath an husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband: so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        .

Original Aramaic NT              Or do you not know, my brethren, for I speak to those who know The Written Law, that The Written Law has authority over a man as long as he lives,

As a woman is bound by the law to her lord as long as he lives? But if her husband is dead, she has been freed from The Written Law of her husband.

But if while her lord lives, she shall leave for another man, she becomes an adulteress to him, but if her lord should die, she has been freed from The Written Law, and she is not an adulteress if another man should have her.

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

English Translations:          I have included translations which I disagree with and footnotes that I do not necessarily agree with. If I believe that the author is too far from the truth, I may even address that at the footnote. However, nearly all of the correct commentary will be found following the Greek text box and the translation of each phrase.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

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? 

For the woman who has a husband is placed by the law under the power of her husband as long as he is living; but if her husband is dead, she is free from the law of the husband. 

So if, while the husband is living, she is joined to another man, she will get the name of one who is untrue to her husband: but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law, so that she is not untrue, even if she takes another man.

Bible in Worldwide English     My brothers, I am saying this to you people who know the law. Do you not know that the law is master over a person only while he lives?

A married woman belongs to her husband by law as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law that made her belong to her husband.

So if she belongs to another man while her husband is living, she commits adultery. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then if she belongs to another man, she does not commit adultery.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  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. It's like what the law says about marriage: A woman must stay married to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she is made free from the law of marriage. But if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, the law says she is guilty of adultery. But if her husband dies, she is made free from the law of marriage. So if she marries another man after her husband dies, she is not guilty of adultery.

God’s Word™                         Don't you realize, brothers and sisters, that laws have power over people only as long as they are alive? (I'm speaking to people who are familiar with Moses' Teachings.) For example, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, that marriage law is no longer in effect for her. So if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulterer. But if her husband dies, she is free from this law, so she is not committing adultery if she marries another man.

Good News Bible (TEV)         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. A married woman, for example, is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if he dies, then she is free from the law that bound her to him. So then, if she lives with another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is legally a free woman and does not commit adultery if she marries another man.

J. B. Phillips                           .

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

Radiant New Testament        .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible              .

Contemporary English V.       My friends, you surely understand enough about law to know that laws only have power over people who are alive. For example, the Law says that a man's wife must remain his wife as long as he lives. But once her husband is dead, she is free to marry someone else. However, if she goes off with another man while her husband is still alive, she is said to be unfaithful.

Goodspeed New Testament  .

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        I write to you, dear brothers and sisters, who are familiar with the law. Don’t you know that when a person dies, it ends his obligation to the law?  For example, a married couple is bound by the law to remain together until separated by death. But when one spouse dies, the other is released from the law of the marriage.  So then if a wife is joined to another man while still married, she commits adultery. But if her husband dies, she is obviously free from the marriage contract and may marry another man without being charged with adultery.

Plain English Version             .

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  My fellow believers, you know about laws. So you certainly know that people have to obey laws only while they are alive. For example, a woman must be faithful to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, she does not have to act any longer as if she were married. The law releases her from the marriage. So if she goes to another man while her husband is alive, she will be an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she no longer has to obey that law. Then if she marries another man, she will not be an adulteress.

Williams’ New Testament      Do you not know, brothers -- for I speak to those who are acquainted with the law -- that the law can press its claim over a man only so long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is freed from the marriage bond. So if she marries another man while her husband is living, she is called an adulteress, but if he dies, she is free from that marriage bond, so that she will not be an adulteress though later married to another man.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            Or are you unaware, brothers, (you see, I am speaking to people who know the law) that the law is a master of the person over as much time as he lives?

You see, the woman under a husband has been tied to the living husband by the law. But if the husband dies, she has been rendered useless from the law of the husband. So clearly, as the husband is living, she will be noticed as a cheating spouse if she becomes with a different man. But if the husband died, she is free out of the law, of the "for her not to be a cheating spouse when she becomes with a different man" kind.

Common English Bible           .

Len Gane Paraphrase           Don't you know brothers (I'm speaking to those who know the law) how the law has authority over people as long as they are alive? Consider, the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law of her husband. So then, if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be pronounced as an adulteress, but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress even if she is married to another man.

A. Campbell's Living Oracles Do you not know, brethren, (for I speak to them who know law,) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound, by law, to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is released from the law of her husband. If, then, indeed, while her husband lives, she be married to another, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from the law; so that she is not an adulteress, though married to another husband.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament Surely, Brothers, you know (for I am speaking to men who know what Law means) that Law has power over a man only as long as he lives. For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband while he is living; but, if her husband dies, she is set free from the law that bound her to him. If, then, during her husband's lifetime, she unites herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but, if her husband dies, the law has no further hold on her, nor, if she unites herself to another man, is she an adulteress.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton           .

Free Bible Version                 Brothers and sisters, (I’m speaking here to people who know the law*), don’t you see that the law has authority over someone only while they’re alive? For example, a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he’s alive, but if he dies, she’s released from this legal obligation to him. So if she lives with another man while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery. However, if her husband dies and then she marries another man, she wouldn’t be guilty of adultery.

International Standard V        Now We are Released from the Law

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?

For a married woman is bound by the Law to her husband while he is living, but if her husband dies, she is released from the Law concerning her husband. So while her husband is living, she will be called an adulterer if she lives with another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from this Law, so that she is not an adulterer if she marries another man.

Lexham Bible                         .

Montgomery NT                     Surely, brothers, you know (for I am speaking to those who know what law means) that law governs a person only during his lifetime? For a married woman who has a husband is bound by law to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then, if during her husband lifetime, she unites herself with another man, she will be counted an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the Law, so that she is no adulteress, even if she unites herself with another man.

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      .

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      .

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    . controls

Urim-Thummim Version         Know you not brethren, (for I speak to them that know the Law,) how that the Law has dominion over a human being as long as he lives? For the woman that has a husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is discharged from the Law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she will be called an adulteress: but if her husband is dead, she is free from that Law; so that she is no adulteress, though she is married to another man.

Weymouth 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? A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her husband is dead she is no longer under the old prohibition, and even though she marries again, she is not an adulteress.

Wikipedia Bible Project          Do you not understand (here I am talking to people who know the law ) that the law has authority over someone as long as they are alive? For example, a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he is alive, but when he dies, she is released from this legal obligation to him. So if while her husband is alive she gave herself to another man, she is called unfaithful, but if her husband died and she went with another man, she would not be guilty of adultery.

Worsley’s New Testament    .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)     .

The Heritage Bible                 .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Hebraic Roots Bible               Do you not know, brethren, (for I speak to them who know the Torah), that the Torah has authority over a person for as long as he lives?

Just as the married woman is bound by the Torah to the living husband; but if the husband dies, she is set free from the Law of her husband.

So then, if the husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she should be married to another man. But if the husband dies, she is free from the Law, so as for her not to be an adulteress by becoming another man's wife.

Holy New Covenant Trans.    Brothers, surely you know (because I am talking to those who understand the law) that the law only rules over a person for as long as he lives. A married woman is bound to her husband by the law for as long as he lives but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. Therefore, if she were married to a different man while her real husband is still alive, God would call her an adulteress. However, if her husband dies, she is free from the law of marriage. She would not be an adulteress if she got married to a different man later.

The Scriptures 2009              Or do you not know, brothers – for I speak to those knowing the Torah – that the Torah rules over a man as long as he lives?  For the married woman has been bound by Torah to the living husband, but if the husband dies, she is released from the Torah concerning her husband.  So then, while her husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress if she becomes another man’s. But if her husband dies, she is free from that part of the Torah, so that she is not an adulteress, having become another man’s.

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...or [You*] (not) understand Brothers [to] [you*] knowing for law [I] speak for The Law rules the man to whom time [He] lives The for Married Woman [to] the living man has been bound [by] law if but may die The Man [She] has been released from the law [of] the man then so living the man Adulteress will call if [She] may become [to] man another if but may die The Man Free [She] is from the law the+ not to be her adulteress becoming [to] man another...

Alpha & Omega Bible            (Paul struggled with sin) 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?

FOR THE MARRIED WOMAN IS BOUND BY LAW TO HER HUSBAND WHILE HE IS LIVING; BUT IF HER HUSBAND DIES, SHE IS RELEASED BY THE LAW CONCERNING THE HUSBAND. †(Actually, the law doesn't disappear, but rather the law itself releases her from her dead husband that she may marry again.)

SO THEN, IF WHILE HER HUSBAND IS LIVING SHE IS JOINED TO ANOTHER MAN, SHE SHALL BE CALLED AN ADULTERESS; BUT IF HER HUSBAND DIES, SHE IS FREE BY THE LAW, SO THAT SHE IS NOT AN ADULTERESS THOUGH SHE IS JOINED TO ANOTHER MAN.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Or are yous ignorant brothers? For I speak to those knowing the Law, certainly-of-what, the Law dominates over a man for as long a time as he lives.

For a woman under- her -husband, has been obligated to the law of her husband, he living, but if- her husband -shall die-away, she has been accordingly-released from the law of her husband.

So consequently, if- her husband is living, -shall come to be with another man, she will be designated as an adulteress, but if- the husband -shall die-away, she is freed from his law, she is not to be an adulteress, coming to be with another husband.

Concordant Literal Version    Or are you ignorant, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know law), that the law is lording it over a man for as much time as he is living?

For a woman in wedlock is bound to a living man by law. Yet if the man should be dying, she is exempt from the law of the man."

Consequently, then, while the man is living, she will be styled an adulteress if she should be becoming another man's, yet, if the man should be dying, she is free from the law, being no adulteress on becoming another man's."

exeGeses companion Bible   ANALOGY OF MARRIAGE

Or know you not, brothers,

for I speak to them who know the torah,

how that the torah overlords a human

as long time as he lives?

For the woman under man

is bound to her man by the torah;

but whenever the man dies,

she is inactivated from the torah of her man.

So whenever,

while her man lives she becomes to another man,

she is oracled as an adulteress:

and whenever her man dies,

she is liberated from that torah;

so that she is no adulteress,

though she becomes to another man.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Do you not have da’as, Achim b'Moshiach, for I speak to those who know the Torah, that the Torah exercises marut (authority, rule) over a man so long as he lives?

For the agunah (woman whose husband’s whereabouts are unknown) is bound by the Torah to her husband while he lives; but in the case that her husband’s death can be confirmed, she is no longer an agunah and is released from the Torah of her husband.

Accordingly she will be named no'eh-fet (adulteress) if, while her husband lives, she becomes another man's. But if her ba'al (husband) dies, she is free from the Torah, so that she is no no'ehfet (adulteress) if she becomes another man's.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   Or, do you not know, brothers, (I am talking to people who know how law works) that the law has authority over a person only as long as he lives? [Note: It is not clear whether this refers to Roman law or the Law of Moses]. For a married woman is legally bound to her husband for as long as he lives. But, when he dies, she is released from the marriage contract. So, if she lives with another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulteress [i.e., a person who is sexually unfaithful to their mate]. But if her husband dies, she is legally free to marry another man without committing adultery.

Benjamin Brodie’s trans.       Or are you ignorant, brethren, (for I am communicating to those [legalists] who know [are misapplying] the law), that the law lords it over mankind for as long a time as he lives?

For a wife under the authority of her husband [sin nature] stands permanently bound by the law [as marriage counselor] to her husband as long as he is living. But if the husband [old sin nature] should die [by divorce or physical death], she is released by the law [marriage counselor] from the husband.

Consequently, therefore, while her husband [sin nature] is living, she will be classified as an adulteress, if she has become intimate with another of a different kind of man [illegitimacy]; but if her husband [sin nature] has died, she is free from the law [as marriage counselor], so that that same one is not an adulteress, even though she has become married to another husband [Jesus Christ] of a different kind [spiritual as opposed to carnal].

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             Or are you continuing to be ignorant (are you remaining without experiential knowledge and insight), brothers (= fellow covenant members) – for I am speaking to those having intimate experiential knowledge of Law (= those who understand Torah) – that the Law (or: culture; Torah) continuously performs as lord (owner; master) of the man for as long as he is living?

For instance, the married woman (the woman under subjection to a husband or to an adult male) has been bound and remains tied up by Law and custom to the living husband (or: has been wrapped up and stands tied to law [= Torah; or: custom] by the living man). Yet if the husband may die, she has been released from employment and stands idle (or: has been brought down to living without labor and rendered inactive; she is discharged and brought down to unproductivity, being idled down) away from the husband’s law (or: from pertaining to the law [= Torah] and custom of the adult man).

Consequently (or: Accordingly), then, [with the] continued living of the husband, she will be dealing as an adulteress (or: bear the title “adulteress”) if she should become [attached] to, or [a lover] for, or [involved] with a different man (or: husband); but if the husband may die, she is free (she exists in a state of freedom) from the Law [= Torah], not to be an adulteress, pertaining to her becoming [a wife] for (or: to) a different man (or: husband).

P. Kretzmann Commentary    .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         Released from the Law through Death

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? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband. Therefore as a result, if she belongs to another man while [*Here “while ” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is living”) which is understood as temporal] her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she [*Here “if ” is supplied as a component of the participle (“belongs”) which is understood as conditional] belongs to another man.

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. Or are ye ignorantˎ brethren,—

<For |unto them that understand^d law| am I speaking>

    That ||the law|| hath lordship over a man |as long as he liveth|?

For ||the marriedʹ woman|| |unto her livingʹ husband| is bound by lawe;

    But <if her husband have diedʹ>

She hath received a full release from the law of her husband.

Hence then <her husband being aliveʹ>

||An adulteress|| shall she be called—|If she become another man’s|,

    But <if the husband have diedʹ> she is |free| from the law;

So that she is not an adulteressˎ though she become another man’s.

^d Or: “acknowledge.”

The Spoken English NT         I suppose you know, my brothers and sisters, that the Law only has jurisdiction over a person as long as they’re alive. (I’m talking here to those who know the Law.)

For example, a married woman is bound by law to her living husband. But if the husband dies, the Law releases her from her husband. So while her husband is alive, she’ll be accused of breaking her marriage vows^a if she goes to another man. But if her husband dies, she’s freed from that law. She won’t be breaking her vows^b if she goes to be with another man.

a.Lit. “she will be called a breaker of her marriage vows” (traditionally: “an adulteress”).

b.Traditionally: “she won’t be being an adulteress.”

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     More about law
Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know law), that the law has authority over someone only as long as he lives? For example, a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if the man should die, she is released from the law about the husband. So then, if she should ‘marry’ another man while her husband is living, she will be labeled an adulteress; but if the husband should die, she is free from that law, not being an adulteress if she marries another man.

WEB — Messianic Edition       .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  .

Analytical-Literal Translation  Do you_p fail to understand, brothers [and sisters] (for I speak to [ones] knowing [the] Law), that the Law is lord of [or, has power over] the man as long a time [as] he is living?

For the married woman has been bound by law to the living husband, but if the husband dies, she has been released from the law of the husband.

So, consequently, the husband being alive, she will be called an adulteress if she becomes [joined] to a different man; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law, [so as] not to be an adulteress, having become [joined] to another man..

Berean Literal Bible                Or are you ignorant brothers (for I speak to those knowing the law), that the law rules over the man for as long as the time he is alive? 

For the married woman is bound by law to the living husband; but if the husband should die, she is cleared from the law of the husband. 

So then, if she is to another man, the husband being alive, she will be called an adulteress; but if the husband should die, she is free from the law, so as for her not to be an adulteress, having been to another man.

Bill Puryear translation           Or are you ignorant, brethren (surely I am communicating to those who know the Law) that the Law rules over mankind for as long a time as he lives?

For the wife under the authority of her husband has been bound to her husband by law while he is living, but if the husband has died, she has been released by the law from her husband.

So then, while her husband is living, if she has become married to another man, she shall be classified ‘an adulteress’. But if her husband has died, she is free from that law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she has become married to another man.

C. Thomson updated NT        .

Charles Thomson NT             . operation

Context Group Version          Or are you (pl) 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? For the woman that has a man is bound by law to the man while he lives; but if the man dies, she is discharged from the law of the man. So then if, while the man lives, she is [joined] to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the man dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is [joined] to another man.

English Standard Version      .

Far Above All Translation       .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

James Allen translation          .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal New Testament           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  Or are you° ignorant, brethren (for* I am speaking to those knowing the law), that the law has lordship over a man inasmuch time as he is living?

For* the woman in wedlock has been bound by the law to the living husband, but if the husband dies, she has been done-away-with {i.e.: discharged} from the law of the husband.

Therefore consequently*, if the husband is living, if she becomes joined to a different man, she will be divinely-called, an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, for her not to be an adulteress, even if she had become joined to a different man.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

New Matthew Bible                .

NT (Variant Readings)           .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

R. B. Thieme, Jr. translation  For are you ignorant, brethren, (for I communicate to those who know the law,) that the [Mosaic] law lords it over man for as long a time as he lives.

For the wife under the authority of her husband has been bound to her husband by law while he is living. But if the husband has died [by death or divorce], she has been released by the Law from her first husband.

So then if, while her husband is living, she has become intimate with another man, she shall be [impersonally] classified as an adulteress; but if her husband has died [or divorced] she is freed from that law; so that she is not an adulteress, though she has become married to another man.

R. B. Thieme, Jr. trans2         Are you ignorant brethren for I communicate to those who know the Mosaic Law, lords it over mankind for a long a time as he lives. For the married woman, the wife, under the authority of a noble man her husband, stands bound or tied by the Mosaic Law and duty under authority to a noble man her husband while he is still living but potentially if from Salvation Adjustment to the Justice of God, the husband has died to her through physical death or rejection, separation resulting in divorce, she has been released by the law from her first husband. Consequently Therefore, if, maybe it will happen and maybe not, while her husband her noble man is living and she belongs to him, and she has become intimate with another admired man mentally and physically in fornication, she shall be classified as an adulteress, but if, maybe it will happen and maybe not, her husband has actually died through death or divorce, then she is independent not bound and freed from that law with the result that consequently, logically, she the same one divorced from her husband, ie through Retroactive Positional Truth, is not classified as an adulteress though she has become married to another man ie Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ through Current Positional Truth.

Revised Geneva Translation  .

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Translation           .

World English Bible                .

Worrell New Testament         .

The gist of this passage: 

1-3

Translation: Or [do] you keep on being ignorant, [my] brothers,...

As we study this, bear in mind that Paul is setting up an analogy. Even though he speaks about marriage in these first three verses, that is not Paul’s primary topic. He is using marriage and the Law to illustrate something. In both cases, the woman does the same thing. She runs off with another man. Now, if her husband is alive, that is wrong to do; but if her husband is not alive, then she is free to do that.

Although some commentators and translators say, we don’t know if Paulo is addressing all the believers in Rome or just the Jewish ones; and we do not know if he is talking about Roman law of the Mosaic Law. Well, point in fact, we do. Even though we are all brothers in Christ, Jew and gentile alike, and even though Paul has already used this term brothers to refer to all believers in Rome (Romans 1:13), here, he is speaking to His Jewish brothers and are unsure of the Law. In fact, Paul calls them ignorant, which is a bit of an insult for the Jews there, because they tend to pride themselves on their intellect.

In the next phrase, Paul tells them, I am speaking to those who know the Law (Romans 7:1b; ESV). Unless the Roman congregation is filled with lawyers, Paul must be speaking to the Jewish believers, who do know that Law says, even though they appear to be ignorant of it.

The gentile believers in Rome should still be able to follow Paul’s logic and argument here, even though they are not Jews and not necessarily familiar with the Mosaic Law.

Translation: ...despite knowing [the] Law [lit., for you (all) keep on knowing (the) Law]?

The people to whom Paul is addressing keep on knowing the Law. Is he addressing only the lawyers in Rome? Certainly not, he is addressing the Jews who know that Mosaic Law.

Romans 7:1a-b Or [do] you keep on being ignorant, [my] brothers, despite knowing [the] Law [lit., for you (all) keep on knowing (the) Law]?

There are both Jews and gentiles in the church at Rome (there may be a number of local churches, but this letter is addressed to all of them). Paul’s language is reasonably polite here, but this is almost an insulting remark, implying, how can you continue being ignorant if you know the Law? In order to address their ignorance (the ignorance of the Jewish believers in Rome), Paul is going to give them an illustration. Almost everyone enjoys illustrations which involve a married man and woman.

Translation: I continue saying that the Law keeps on having dominion over the man for as long a time as he continues living.

Paul makes a statement which should be the most obvious thing anyone has ever said. The law applies to you as long as you are alive. The Law of Moses (and, in fact, any other law on earth) does not apply to you after you have died.

Romans 7:1 Or [do] you keep on being ignorant, [my] brothers, despite knowing [the] Law [lit., for you (all) keep on knowing (the) Law]? I continue saying that the Law keeps on having dominion over the man for as long a time as he continues living. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Paul says, “You Jews seem to be ignorant of the Law despite the fact that you know the Law. Well then, let’s start out with a basic principle that I think that we can all agree to: when you are alive, you are under Law; when you are dead, you are no longer under any earthly Law.

Now, if you remember all of the things that Paul said in the previous chapters—particularly as they related to retroactive positional truth—then you can see where he is going with this. Remember, he has told these people that they identify with Jesus in His death and burial (which is retroactive positional truth). With this little reminder, you ought to be able to think to yourself, “Okay, I think I know where Paul is going with this.”

Translation: For the woman, [being] married [lit., under a (noble) man], while [her] husband continues living, has been bound by law.

Now Paul gives the example. He starts talking about a woman who is married, and all of a sudden, everyone in the congregation is interested in this one.

Being married is the adjective hupandros (ὕπανδρος) [pronounced HOOP-an-dross], which you may figure out, even though this word only occurs once in the New Testament. It is compound word made up of hupó (ὑπό) [pronounced hoop-OH], which means, under, underneath, beneath. Strong’s #5259. What is this woman under or beneath? Anêr (ἀνήρ) [pronounced ah-NAIR], which means, man, male; noble man; adult male; husband. Strong’s #435. So this is a woman who is under the authority of a (noble) man, which means, she is married to this man.

While her husband is alive, she continues being bound to him by the Mosaic Law.

Translation: Now if [her] husband has died, [this dominion] has been rendered inoperative from the law [and from] the man.

Now, if her husband died, then his dominion over her no longer exists. The Law does not apply to this man or to his marriage because he is dead.

Romans 7:2 For the woman, [being] married [lit., under a (noble) man], while [her] husband continues living, has been bound by law. Now if [her] husband has died, [this dominion] has been rendered inoperative from the law [and from] the man. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

A married woman continues being bound to her husband as long as he is alive. However, if he dies, then the Mosaic Law no longer has any control over the situation. You might say that he is dead to the Law.

Translation: Consequently therefore, while [her] husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she might become [intimate with] another man.

Now, if this woman steps out on her husband while he is alive, she is an adulteress. The Law is absolutely clear on that.

Translation: Now if [her] husband has died, she keeps on being free from the law [and from] [her husband].

On the other hand, if her husband has died, then the woman keeps on being free from the Law and from her husband. The Law no longer applies. The Law becomes inoperative or non-functioning with regards to their marriage because the husband is dead.

Translation: It is not for her [to be called] an adulteress, having become [intimate] with another husband. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Now, if this woman picks up and marries another man, even if this is two hours after her first husband is buried, she is not under the Law. The Law has nothing to say about the woman and her subsequent relationships with men. She can date other men; she can marry another man; and she is not an adulteress for doing so (obviously, if she has sex with a man outside of marriage, she is fornicating; but that is not what we are studying here).

Romans 7:3 Consequently therefore, while [her] husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she might become [intimate with] another man. Now if [her] husband has died, she keeps on being free from the law [and from] [her husband]. It is not for her [to be called] an adulteress, having become [intimate] with another husband. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

As long as a woman’s noble man is alive, then she is under the Law with regards to that marriage. However, once he dies, the Law no longer applies.

Romans 7:1–3 Or [do] you keep on being ignorant, [my] brothers, despite knowing [the] Law [lit., for you (all) keep on knowing (the) Law]? I continue saying that the Law keeps on having dominion over the man for as long a time as he continues living. For the woman, [being] married [lit., under a (noble) man], while [her] husband continues living, has been bound by law. Now if [her] husband has died, [this dominion] has been rendered inoperative from the law [and from] the man. Consequently therefore, while [her] husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she might become [intimate with] another man. Now if [her] husband has died, she keeps on being free from the law [and from] [her husband]. It is not for her [to be called] an adulteress, having become [intimate] with another husband. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Romans 7:1–3 Are you, my brothers, ignorant of the Law despite knowing the Law? The Law has dominion over a man when he is alive, but not hafter he has died. For instance, a woman married to a man is bound to that man by the Law; however, once he has died, the Law no longer applies to their marriage. So if this woman takes up with another man while her husband is alive, she is correctly designated an adulteress. However, after her husband died, she is free to marry another man. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

We need to keep in mind that Romans 7:1–3 set up the analogy; and vv. 4–6 apply this analogy.

There is a real struggle to translate this passage and then to interpret it. Although the translations do not appear to be dramatically different, the interpretations are varied.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    Therefore, brothers, of me: and you (all) were put to death to the Law through the body of the Christ, in order to become to you (all) to another (of a different kind) to [Someone] having been awakened out from deaths, that we might bear fruit of the God. For when we were in the flesh, the sufferings of the sins, the (sufferings) on account of the Law, [it] had been working in the members of us to bring forth fruit by the death. Even now, we have been rendered idle from the Law, having died in which we were being held firmly, so that to keep on serving us in a newness of Spirit and not in an oldness of writing.

Complete Apostles Bible        Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we might bear fruit to God.

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

But now we were released from the law, having died in that to which we were held fast, so that we should serve as slaves in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ: that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead that we may bring forth fruit to God.

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

But now we are loosed from the law of death wherein we were detained; so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter..

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        .

Original Aramaic NT              And now, my brethren, you also have died to The Written Law with the body of The Messiah that you would be for another, The One who arose from the dead, that you would yield fruit to God.

When we were in the flesh, the diseases of sin, which are by The Written Law, worked diligently in the members that we might yield fruit to death.

But now we have been exempted from The Written Law, and we are dead to that which had controlled us, so that we shall serve from now on in the newness of The Spirit and not in the Old Order Scriptures.*

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         .

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             In the same way, my brothers, you were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, even to him who came again from the dead, so that we might give fruit to God. 

For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death. 

But now we are free from the law, having been made dead to that which had power over us; so that we are servants in the new way of the spirit, not in the old way of the letter.

Bible in Worldwide English     In the same way my brothers, you died when Christ died. And you are free from the law. Now you belong to another person. You belong to the one who has been raised from death. Because of that, we are able to do what God wants us to do.

One time we lived in the way our bodies wanted to live. The law made us think about doing wrong things. And we did things that made us die.

But now we have been made free from the law. We died, and so we are no longer slaves to the one who was our master. Now we are slaves to God in our new life. This new life is ruled by the Spirit. We do not work for the old written law.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  In the same way, my brothers and sisters, your old selves died and you became free from the law through the body of Christ. Now you belong to someone else. You belong to the one who was raised from death. We belong to Christ so that we can be used in service to God. In the past we were ruled by our sinful selves. The law made us want to do sinful things. And those sinful desires controlled our bodies, so that what we did only brought us spiritual death. In the past the law held us as prisoners, but our old selves died, and we were made free from the law. So now we serve God in a new way, not in the old way, with the written rules. Now we serve God in the new way, with the Spirit.

God’s Word™                         In the same way, brothers and sisters, you have died to the laws in Moses' Teachings through Christ's body. You belong to someone else, the one who was brought back to life. As a result, we can do what God wants. While we were living under the influence of our corrupt nature, sinful passions were at work throughout our bodies. Stirred up by Moses' laws, our sinful passions did things that result in death. But now we have died to those laws that bound us. God has broken their effect on us so that we are serving in a new spiritual way, not in an old way dictated by written words.

Good News Bible (TEV)         That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the Law is concerned, you also have died because you are part of the body of Christ; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of God. For when we lived according to our human nature, the sinful desires stirred up by the Law were at work in our bodies, and all we did ended in death. Now, however, we are free from the Law, because we died to that which once held us prisoners. No longer do we serve in the old way of a written law, but in the new way of the Spirit.

J. B. Phillips                           .

The Message                         .

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    .

Radiant New Testament        .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Version          .

Contemporary English V.       That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God. When we thought only of ourselves, the Law made us have sinful desires. It made every part of our bodies into slaves who are doomed to die. But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.

Goodspeed New Testament  .

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        So, my dear brothers and sisters, the same principle applies to your relationship with God. For you died to your first husband, the law, by being co-crucified with the body of the Messiah. So you are now free to “marry” another—the one who was raised from the dead so that you may now bear spiritual fruit for God.  When we were merely living natural lives, the law, through defining sin, actually awakened sinful desires within us, which resulted in bearing the fruit of death.  But now that we have been fully released from the power of the law, we are dead to what once controlled us. And our lives are no longer motivated by the obsolete way of following the written code, so that now we may serve God by living in the freshness of a new life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Plain English Version             .

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  In the same way, my brothers and sisters, when you died with the Messiah on his cross, the law of God could no longer control you. You were free to join the Messiah, so that you might honor God. You can do this because you are alive again. God has joined you to the Messiah, and he has raised the Messiah from the dead. When we were doing what our evil thoughts told us to do, when we learned God's law, we wanted to sin more and more. So we did evil things that would lead God to separate us from him forever. But now God has freed us from having to obey law of Moses— it is as though we have died, and the law can no longer tell us what to do. God has done this for us so that we may worship him in a new way that the Spirit shows us, rather than in the old way that the law required.

Williams’ New Testament      So, my brothers, you too in the body of Christ have ended your relation to the law, so that you may be married to another husband, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were living in accordance with our lower nature, the sinful passions that were aroused by the law were operating in the parts of our bodies to make us bear fruit that leads to death. But now we have been freed from our relation to the law; we have ended our relation to that by which we once were held in bonds, so that we may serve in a new spiritual way and not in the old literalistic way.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            In such a way, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of the Anointed King for the "for you to become with a different one" thing, the One who got up from the dead, so that we might carry fruit for God. You see, when we were in the physical body, the hardships of the sins (the hardships through the law) were active in our body parts for the "to carry fruit for the death" thing. But right now, we were rendered useless from the law after dying (in which we were being held down) in such a way for us to be slaves in newness of spirit and not the outdated nature of a document.

Common English Bible           .

Len Gane Paraphrase           Therefore my brothers, you also were made dead to the law by the body of Christ, so you could be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, and may bring forth fruit for God. When we were in the flesh, sinful passions, [brought out] by the law, worked in every part of our bodies to produce death. But now we are severed from the law being dead to what we were restrained by, so that we would serve by a renewed spirit not by an obsolete writing.

A. Campbell's Living Oracles Thus, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law, by the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, who rose from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, our sinful passions which were through the law, wrought effectually in our members, to bring forth fruit to death. But now, having died with Christ, we are released from the law, by which we were held in bondage; so that we may serve God in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

NT for Everyone                     .

20^th Century New Testament And so with you, my Brothers; as far as the Law was concerned, you underwent death in the crucified body of the Christ, so that you might be united to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that our lives might bear fruit for God. When we were living merely earthly lives, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were active in every part of our bodies, with the result that our lives bore fruit for Death. But now we are set free from the Law, because we are dead to that which once kept us under restraint; and so we serve under new, spiritual conditions, and not under old, written regulations.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

An Understandable Version   .

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

Free Bible Version                 In the same way, my friends, you’ve become dead to the law through the body of Christ, and so now you belong to someone else—Christ, who was raised from the dead so that we could live a productive life* for God. While we were controlled by old nature, our sinful desires (as revealed by the law) were at work within us and resulted in death. But now we’ve been set free from the law, and have died to what kept us in chains, so that we can serve in the newness of the spirit and not the old letter of the law.

International Standard V        In the same way, my brothers, through the Messiah’s [Or Christ’s] body you also died as far as the Law is concerned, so that you may belong to another person, the one who was raised from the dead, and may bear fruit for God. For while we were living according to our human nature, [Lit. our flesh] sinful passions were at work in our bodies [Lit. members] by means of the Law, to bear fruit resulting in death. But now we have been released from the Law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old writings.

Lexham Bible                         .

Montgomery NT                     So also, my brother, you were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ; that you should be joined to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were unspiritual, the sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were ever active in every part of our bodies, leading us to bear fruit unto death. But now we have been released from the Law, because we are dead to that in which we were held; so that we are now in thralldom in new and spiritual conditions, and not under the old written code.

NIV, ©2011                             .

Riverside New Testament      . inoperative

Leicester A. Sawyer’s NT      So, my brothers, you have also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you should be married to another, to him that was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful affections operated through the law in our members to bear fruit to death; but now we are released from the law by which we were held having died, that we should serve [God] in newness of spirit, not in the old age of a writing.

The Spoken English NT         .

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         Therefore my brethren, you also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is resurrected from the dead, that we should bear fruit unto Elohim. For when we were in the flesh, the afflictions of sins that were by the Law, did work in our members to bear fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the Law (that in death in which we were held); that we should now serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Weymouth New Testament    So, my brethren, to you also the Law died through the incarnation of Christ, that you might be wedded to Another, namely to Him who rose from the dead in order that we might yield fruit to God. For whilst we were under the thraldom of our earthly natures, sinful passions-- made sinful by the Law--were always being aroused to action in our bodily faculties that they might yield fruit to death. But seeing that we have died to that which once held us in bondage, the Law has now no hold over us, so that we render a service which, instead of being old and formal, is new and spiritual.

Wikipedia Bible Project          In the same way my friends you have become dead to legal obligations through dying in the body of Christ, and now you are “married” to someone else—he who was raised from the dead that we might be effective for God. While we were under the control of our old nature, our sinful desires (as revealed by the law) were at work within us and resulted in death. But now we have been released from these legal obligations, and have died to what bound us, so that we can obey in the newness of the spirit and not the old letter of the law.

Worsley’s New Testament    .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  .

The Heritage Bible                 .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Hebraic Roots Bible               So that, my brothers, you also were made dead to the Law through the body of Messiah, for you to become another's, to the One raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit to YAHWEH. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death. But now we have been set free from the penalty of the Torah, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.

Holy New Covenant Trans.    So, my brothers, you also died to the law through Christ’s body. You can marry someone else — the one who was raised from death — so that you can produce fruit for God. When we were controlled by our human nature, the sinful desires which came through the law were working in our bodies. We produced fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law. We died to what bound us before so that we can serve with a new spirit, not by following a strict code.

The Scriptures 2009              . Held by

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...that Brothers [of] me and You* are killed [to] the law through the body [of] the christ to the+ to become you* [to] another the [man] from [men] dead being raised that [We] may produce {someone} [for] the god when for [We] were in the flesh The Sufferings [of] the offenses The [Things] through the law worked in the parts [of] us to the+ {them} to produce the death now but [We] are released from the law Dying in whom [We] were held that to serve us in newness [of] spirit and not {us to serve} [in] antiquity [of] writing...

Alpha & Omega Bible            THEREFORE, MY BRETHREN, YOU ALSO PUT TO DEATH [dependence upon the fleshly parts of the] LAW THROUGH THE BODY OF CHRIST, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE JOINED TO ANOTHER, TO HIM WHO WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BEAR FRUIT FOR THEOS (The Alpha & Omega).

FOR WHILE WE WERE IN THE FLESH, THE SINFUL PASSIONS, WHICH WERE BY THE [letter of the] LAW, WERE AT WORK IN THE MEMBERS OF OUR BODY TO BEAR FRUIT FOR DEATH.

BUT NOW WE HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM [the letter of] THE LAW, HAVING DIED TO THAT BY WHICH WE WERE BOUND, SO THAT WE SERVE IN NEWNESS OF THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN OLDNESS OF THE LETTER. †(You cannot serve in a newness of the Spirit of a law that does not exist. There still remains the original spiritual principal of the law. The spiritual principle was always "Love your heavenly Father first, love all people, do right by everyone, live righteously." To do away with the letter of the law does nothing to remove these eternal spiritual principals. Therefore, the first commandment is still intact as well as all Ten Commandments including the Holy Day of the 7th day of the week, plus the other Holy Day Festivals, plus tithes. How can we say that we love Jesus and love fellow mankind if we withhold our tithes from our Creator and do not help the church and the needy? How can we say that we Love Jesus if we do not obey all of His Commandments that included foot washing, taking communion on Passover Day, etc? Paul never taught that all law is done away. In Fact, Paul continued to keep the 7th Day & all of the Holy Day Festivals. Paul's problem was not with the existence of law. He was against being overly legalistic about the law and not understanding the spiritual principles which must govern our keeping of the Commandments. Of course, He also recognized that the old covenant temporary ceremonial ritual laws such as unclean meats, sacrifices & circumcision were COMPLETELY replaced by The Blood of JESUS. The flesh of the law is dead but the spirit of the law lives on. The original spiritual principal behind each & every law is still intact. We still have need to rest & worship every 7th Day, Saturday & we are still commanded to do so. But we are also free to kindle a fire to stay warm & cook, as the spirit of the law never was to kill us or burden us. There is no need for animal sacrifices, circumcision & clean/unclean meats other than halal. But there remains a need for tithes & annual Holy Days such as Passover & Tabernacles.) [Kukis note: we are not under the Sabbath day restrictions.]

Awful Scroll Bible                   So-as my brothers, yous also are being died to the Law, through the body of the Anointed One, for yous to come about to another, He being raised up out of the dead, in order that, we may bear-fruit to God.

For, as-when we were from-within the flesh, the sufferings of missing-the-mark, that by the means of the Law, were themselves working-from-within our members to bear-fruit to death.

But now, we are being accordingly-released from the Law, dying-away a dying-away by-within that which was being held- us -down, so-as we were to enslave by-within the Newness of the Breath, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Concordant Literal Version    So that, my brethren, you also were put to death to the law through the body of Christ, for you to become Another's, Who is roused from among the dead, that we should be bearing fruit to God."

For, when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, operated in our members to be bearing fruit to Death."

Yet now we were exempted from the law, dying in that in which we were retained, so that it is for us to be slaving in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter."

exeGeses companion Bible   So my brothers,

you also are deathified to the torah

through the body of the Messiah;

to become to another

- to him who rose from the dead,

so that we bear fruit to Elohim.

For when we were in the flesh,

the sufferings of sins, through the torah,

energized in our members to bear fruit to death.

But now we are inactivated from the torah,

being dead wherein we were held;

to serve in newness of spirit

and not in the antiquity of the scribing.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

Orthodox Jewish Bible           So then, Achim b'Moshiach, you also were put to death in relation to the Torah through the basar of Moshiach (TEHILLIM 16:9-10 ), in order that you might become another's, bound to Moshiach who was given Techiyah (Resurrection) from the Mesim, so that we might bear p'ri for Hashem.

For when we were in the basar (in the fallen condition of the old humanity), through the Torah, the ta'avat besarim, the sinful passions (i.e., Chet Kadmon’s yetzer harah of the fallen human condition) were working in our natural capacities, so as to bear p'ri for mavet (death) [cf. Ro 4:15].

But now we have become niftar (freed, deceased) from the dominating ownership of the Torah, having died to that by which we were confined, so that we might serve in the Ruach Hakodesh of hitkhadshut and newness and not in the yoshen (oldness) of chumra (legalism, strict adherence to the letter of the law) (Ro 2:29).

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

An Understandable Version   Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law [i.e., were released from its binding requirements] through the body of Christ [Note: This seems to refer to Christ’s death on the cross, but some think it refers to becoming a part of the church], so that you could belong to someone else, [namely] to Christ, who was raised from the dead in order that we might live spiritually productive lives for God. For when we were in the flesh [i.e., before conversion], our sinful desires, aroused by [the restrictions of] the Law of Moses, worked in our bodies to produce activity that led to [spiritual] death. But now that we have died to what controlled us and have been released from [the requirements of] the Law of Moses [i.e., under the Gospel age], we serve [God] in a new way [directed] by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some take “Spirit” here to be “spirit” and see it as describing the inner person], and not in the old way [directed] by the written Law of Moses.

Brodie’s Expanded Trans.     Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die [through the baptism of the Spirit] to the law [as the marriage counselor] through the person of Christ [2nd husband], so that you might belong [at the point of salvation] to another of a different kind [spiritual as opposed to carnal husband], to Him [Jesus Christ] who was raised up [resurrected] from deaths [both spiritual & physical], so that we might bear fruit [spiritual production from the 2nd marriage] unto God.

For while we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, operated in our members so that we produced fruit associated with spiritual death [carnal production from our 1st marriage].

But now we have been released [by divorce or physical death] from the law, having died to that [1st marriage] by which we were bound [under the authority of the sin nature], so that we might serve Him [Jesus Christ] as slaves with a newness of Spirit [the Holy Spirit as our new marriage counselor] and not with the old letter [the law as our old marriage counselor].

The Expanded Bible              .

Jonathan Mitchell NT             So that, my brothers (= fellow covenant-believers), you folks also were made dead to the Law (or: were put to death by the Law [=Torah] and with the Law), through the body of the Christ, [proceeding] into the situation to become [the wife] for (or: to; in; with) a different One – in (to; for) the One being roused and raised forth from out of the midst of dead folks – to the end that we may bear fruit by God (or: produce a harvest in, for, to and with God).

For when we [= Adam/Israel] were existing within the flesh (or: = in the old alienated Adamic existence, with the flesh sacrifices and markers of the Law), the effects, impressions, emotions and impulses from the experiences, passions and suffering of the failures (the sins; the deviations which caused misses of the target) – the things through means of the Law [the Torah] – were continually operating (working within; energizing and effecting) within our members into the condition to produce fruit by Death (in death; to death; for Death).

But now (at the present time), we [= Israel] are (or: were instantly) rendered inactive (brought down to living without labor, released from employment, made unproductive; discharged) away from the Law (= the Torah; [some MSS add: of Death]), dying within that in which we were constantly being held down (held in possession and detained), so that it is [for] us to be habitually performing as slaves within newness of spirit (a newness pertaining to spirit and has its source in the Breath-effect; freshness and new quality of attitude) and not in oldness (obsoleteness; outdatedness) of Letter (or: not in outwornness of what is written).

P. Kretzmann Commentary    .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         So then, my brothers, you also were brought to death with respect to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For when we were in the flesh, sinful desires were working through the law in our members, to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we [*Here “because ” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have died”) which is understood as causal] have died to that by which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter of the law.

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Passion Translation        .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. Soˎ thenˎ my brethren ||ye also|| were made dead unto the law through the body of the Christ,

    To the end ye might become^f another’s—

||His who |from among the dead| was raised||,

    In order that we might bring forth fruit unto God.

For <when we were in the flesh> ||the susceptibilities^g of sins which were through the law|| used to be energized in our membersˎ unto the bringing forth of fruit unto death;

But ||now|| we have received full release from the lawˎ by dying [in that] wherein we used to be held fast,

    So that we should be doing service—

In newness of spiritˎ

And not in obsoleteness of letter.

^f Or: “with the result of your becoming.”

^g Or: “feelings.”

The Spoken English NT         Brothers and sisters, here’s my point. You too have died in relation to the Law. Through the body of Christ, you were to be joined to another-to him who rose from among the dead. Why? So we will bear fruit for God!

After all, when we were living in the flesh, because of the Law, the consequences of our sins worked their way through the members of our bodies. And the ultimate result of that was going to be death.^c

But now we’ve been released from the Law: we’ve died in relation to the thing that had bound us. So now^d we serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old way of the letter.

c.This is a complicated sentence. More literally, it is: “For when we were in the flesh, the consequences [or “passions”] of our sins, which are because of the Law, worked their way in our members towards fruit-bearing in death.”

d.Lit. “As a result.”

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death to the law through the body¹ of the Christ so as to belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead—so that we should produce fruit to God. Because when we were in the flesh,² the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our body parts to produce fruit to death. But now we have been released from the law, having died to what was gripping us, so as to slave in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter.³

(1) This refers to His physical body, and probably to the death of that body.

(2) ‘In the flesh’ contrasts with ‘in Christ’ and probably refers to the natural/old man.

(3) We are slaves in any case. What is in view is a change of owner.

WEB — Messianic Edition       .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  In the same way, my brethren, you also were made dead to the marriage law of the Old Covenant by the body of Christ in order for you to be married to another, Who was raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God.  For as long as we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, were working within our own members to bring forth fruit unto death.  But now we have been released from the law because we have died to that in which we were held so that we might serve in newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Analytical-Literal Translation  Accordingly, brothers [and sisters], you_p also were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ, for you_p to become [joined] to another, to the One having been raised up from [the] dead, so that we should bear fruit to God.

For when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, the ones [aroused] through the Law, were working in our body parts [in order] to bear fruit to death.

But now we were released from the Law, having died in [that] by which we were held, with the result that we serve as slaves in newness of spirit [or, of [the] Spirit] and not in oldness of letter.

Berean Literal Bible                .

Bill Puryear translation           Therefore, my brethren, you also were put to death with reference to the Law by the body of Christ, with the result that you belong to another, to the One who has been raised up from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to the benefit of God.

For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions [trends or impulses], which [were] through the Law, were effective in our members, resulting in fruit-bearing in the sphere of [spiritual] death.

But now we have been freed from the Law by having died to that by which we were bound [our first marriage to the sin nature], with the result that we might serve in a new [marriage] by the Spirit, and not in the old [marriage] by the letter.

C. Thomson updated NT        .

Charles Thomson NT             So you also, my brethren, are become dead to the law by means of the body of the Christ, that you may be for another, who is raised from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which subsisted under the law, exerted their energy in our members to bring forth fruit to death: but we are now set free from the law by the death of that by which we were holden, so that we may serve with a new spirit, and not by the old letter.

Context Group Version          Therefore, my brothers, you (pl) also were made dead to the law through the body of the Anointed; that you (pl) should be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring out fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the disgraceful passions, which were through the law, worked in our members to bring out fruit to death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held, in order to serve us as slaves in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

English Standard Version      . captive

Far Above All Translation       . Defined

Green’s Literal Translation    .

James Allen translation          .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal New Testament           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  So-then my brethren, you° were also slain to the law through the body of Christ; *that* you° should become joined to a different one, that is to the one who was raised up from the dead, in-order-that we should bear-fruit to God.

For* when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions were working in our members through the law, *that* they might bear-fruit to death.

But now we have been done-away-with {i.e.: were discharged} from the law, having died in which we were being held; so-as for us to be enslaved in newness of the spirit and not in oldness of the writing.

New American Standard        .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

New Matthew Bible                .

NT (Variant Readings)           .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

R. B. Thieme, Jr. translation  Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die [or, to be divorced] with reference to the law by the human body of the Christ; with the result that you might belong to another [the second husband, Christ], to the one who has been raised up from deaths [spiritual and physical], in order that we might bear fruit to the God.

For while were in the flesh [OSN], the sinful [impulses or] trends which through the law were effective in our members, resulting in the production of fruit associated with spiritual death.

But now we have been released from the law [as a marriage counselor], through having died to that by which we were bound [1^st marriage to the old sin nature]; that we might serve in a new marriage by the Spirit, not in the old marriage by the letter [the Mosaic Law].

R. B. Thieme, Jr. trans2         Therefore, my brother believers in the Royal Family of God, you also are in fact made to die; because of the Baptism of God the Holy Spirit and Retroactive Positional Truth, having been divorced from the first husband the Old Sin Nature positionally; with reference to the Mosaic Law your marriage counselor of the first marriage to the Old Sin Nature, by the human body of the Christ with the result that you might, at Salvation Adjustment to the Justice of God and Current Positional Truth, instantly become intimate with or belong to another, even to the one that has been raised up from deaths in order that we might bear fruit to the God in glorification of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ at Maturity Adjustment to the Justice of God reaching Super-Grace. For while we were in the flesh, under the sovereignty of the Old Sin Nature, the first husband from physical birth to Salvation Adjustment to the Justice of God; the sinful trends or impulses which through the law were effectively or operatively understood to be sin in our members, resulted in the production of fruit associated with Spiritual Death. But now we have been released from association with or divorced from the law as a marriage counselor through or by having died to that by which we were bound, the marriage to the Old Sin Nature, for the purpose of serving or so that we might serve as a slave under absolute authority in a new incorruptible marriage by means of God the Holy Spirit the new marriage counselor and not in the old marriage by means of the letter the Mosaic Law.

Revised Geneva Translation  .

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      . Loosed

Webster’s Translation           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 to God. 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 to death: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead by which we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

World English Bible                .

Worrell New Testament         .

The gist of this passage: 

4-6

Translation: Therefore my brothers, even you (all) were put to death to the Law through the body of the Christ,...

As we go through this passage, keep the previous passage in your mind, as this is what has set us up. Paul, in the first three verses, did not decide, “Hey, let me talk about marriage for awhile, then I will get back to the main topics of the believer, the law, the Spirit and the modus operandi of the believer.” Paul was on topic in the first three verses, setting up an analogy.

Romans 7:1–3 Or [do] you keep on being ignorant, [my] brothers, despite knowing [the] Law [lit., for you (all) keep on knowing (the) Law]? I continue saying that the Law keeps on having dominion over the man for as long a time as he continues living. For the woman, [being] married [lit., under a (noble) man], while [her] husband continues living, has been bound by law. Now if [her] husband has died, [this dominion] has been rendered inoperative from the law [and from] the man. Consequently therefore, while [her] husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she might become [intimate with] another man. Now if [her] husband has died, she keeps on being free from the law [and from] [her husband]. It is not for her [to be called] an adulteress, having become [intimate] with another husband. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Now, here is the point, Paul says. You were all put to death to the law through (or by means of) the body of Christ. So, to set the analogy, the woman is dead to her first husband; we (believers in the Church Age) are dead to the Law. Therefor, we are not being unfaithful to God by abandoning the Law (for not living under the Law). The woman cannot be unfaithful to a husband who has died; and we cannot be unfaithful to God, as we were separated by the Law through death.

Now this death was accomplished through the body of Christ. Jesus had to become true humanity in order to die for our sins. God could not die for our sins; God could not have any contact with our sins. Nor can God be confined to one place in order to be crucified. So God had to become flesh (John 1:1–3, 14), because in the flesh, Jesus could be confined to the Roman cross (as a man) and receive the judicial imputation of our sins.

Because Jesus kept the Law perfectly, and paid for our sins, our relationship to God is through Jesus—through the humanity of Jesus. It is not through the keeping of the Mosaic Law.