Romans 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Original Language Analysis
χωρὶς
without
G5565
χωρὶς
without
Strong's:
G5565
Word #:
4 of 16
at a space, i.e., separately or apart from (often as preposition)
νόμου
the law
G3551
νόμου
the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
5 of 16
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
ἐλθούσης
came
G2064
ἐλθούσης
came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
7 of 16
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐντολῆς
when the commandment
G1785
ἐντολῆς
when the commandment
Strong's:
G1785
Word #:
10 of 16
injunction, i.e., an authoritative prescription
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Romans 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.Romans 10:5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.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.Romans 7:11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.Romans 7:4Wherefore, 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.Galatians 2:19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Historical Context
Whether Paul references his personal experience at Bar Mitzvah age (13, when Jewish boys assume Torah responsibility) or uses Adam-language for humanity's pre-law existence, the point remains: law's arrival brought death-consciousness, not life-production. This wasn't law's fault but humanity's fallen condition exposed by law's holy light.
Questions for Reflection
- Can you identify a time when God's commands revealed spiritual death rather than producing spiritual life in your experience?
- How does this verse explain why religious people often feel condemned rather than liberated by increasing biblical knowledge?
- What's the difference between law revealing your need for Christ versus law becoming your functional savior?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For I was alive without the law once—Ezōn (ἔζων, "I was living") likely refers to Paul's pre-Bar Mitzvah childhood before taking personal responsibility for Torah observance, or more broadly to humanity's pre-Sinai existence. The sense of being "alive" was illusory self-righteousness, unaware of sin's death-sentence.
But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.—Anezēsen (ἀνέζησεν, "sprang to life/revived") depicts sin awakening like a dormant beast. Apethanon (ἀπέθανον, "I died") describes experiential awareness of spiritual death—the collision between God's righteous standard and human inability. The commandment intended to produce life instead revealed death (v. 10), not due to law's defect but humanity's corruption. This mirrors Genesis 3's pattern: God's command highlighted rebellion, bringing death.