Romans 7:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
ἄρα
So then
G686
ἄρα
So then
Strong's:
G686
Word #:
1 of 29
a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows)
οὖν
G3767
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χρηματίσει
she shall be called
G5537
χρηματίσει
she shall be called
Strong's:
G5537
Word #:
7 of 29
to utter an oracle (compare the original sense of g5530), i.e., divinely intimate; by implication, (compare the secular sense of g5532) to constitute
ἐὰν
if
G1437
ἐὰν
if
Strong's:
G1437
Word #:
8 of 29
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
γενομένην
she be married
G1096
γενομένην
she be married
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
9 of 29
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἐὰν
if
G1437
ἐὰν
if
Strong's:
G1437
Word #:
12 of 29
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐλευθέρα
free
G1658
ἐλευθέρα
free
Strong's:
G1658
Word #:
17 of 29
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
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
19 of 29
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμου
that law
G3551
νόμου
that law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
21 of 29
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
no
G3361
μὴ
no
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
23 of 29
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
αὐτὴν
so that she
G846
αὐτὴν
so that she
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
25 of 29
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
γενομένην
she be married
G1096
γενομένην
she be married
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
27 of 29
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways might attempting to maintain allegiance to both law-righteousness and grace-righteousness constitute spiritual adultery?
- How does the death-before-remarriage sequence in this analogy illuminate the necessary order of dying to self before living to Christ?
- 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?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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.