Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Original Language Analysis
ὥστε
Wherefore
G5620
ὥστε
Wherefore
Strong's:
G5620
Word #:
1 of 26
so too, i.e., thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow)
ἀδελφοί
brethren
G80
ἀδελφοί
brethren
Strong's:
G80
Word #:
2 of 26
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμῳ
to the law
G3551
νόμῳ
to the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
8 of 26
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
διὰ
by
G1223
διὰ
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
9 of 26
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σώματος
the body
G4983
σώματος
the body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
11 of 26
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
that
G1519
εἰς
that
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
14 of 26
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γενέσθαι
should be married
G1096
γενέσθαι
should be married
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
16 of 26
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐκ
from
G1537
ἐκ
from
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
20 of 26
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ἐγερθέντι
even to him who is raised
G1453
ἐγερθέντι
even to him who is raised
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
22 of 26
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
καρποφορήσωμεν
we should bring forth fruit
G2592
καρποφορήσωμεν
we should bring forth fruit
Strong's:
G2592
Word #:
24 of 26
to be fertile (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.Isaiah 54:5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.Romans 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.Romans 7:6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.Ephesians 2:15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;Galatians 5:18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.Colossians 1:22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:Romans 6:22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Galatians 3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Historical Context
Paul wrote to believers struggling with the relationship between Jewish law and Christian faith. His argument—that Christ's death dissolved the law's condemning jurisdiction—was revolutionary. This wasn't antinomianism (lawlessness) but explanation of the new covenant's superior ability to produce genuine godliness through Spirit-empowerment rather than external legal compulsion.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing your death to the law 'by the body of Christ' change how you approach obedience and holiness?
- What 'fruit' in your life might still be works-righteousness (law-produced) rather than Spirit-produced fruit from union with Christ?
- In what ways does understanding this sequential pattern (death to law, then marriage to Christ) help you rest in positional rather than performance-based acceptance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ—Ethanatōthēte (ἐθανατώθητε, "were put to death") is aorist passive, indicating a completed action done to believers. Through union with Christ's crucified body (dia tou sōmatos tou Christou), believers died to law's jurisdiction. This isn't gradual sanctification but positional identification with Christ's death (Galatians 2:20).
That ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead—The purpose clause (eis to) shows the goal: union with the resurrected Christ. Death to law precedes life in Christ. That we should bring forth fruit unto God—Karpophoreō (καρποφορέω, "bear fruit") contrasts with bearing "fruit unto death" (v. 5). Union with the risen Christ produces life-giving works, impossible under law's condemning ministry.