Devine Scripture

Romans 7:12

What does Romans 7:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 7:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 7:12 means

Having tracked sin’s misuse of the commandment, Paul gives the law its due: “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.” This threefold affirmation clears God’s law of any stain. It reflects His character, defines right and wrong fairly, and aims at our good. If death follows, it is not because the law is corrupt but because we are. God’s holy standard remains unchanged and beautiful, even as it exposes and condemns what falls short. The verdict keeps us from blaming the light for revealing the darkness, and it protects the gospel from any charge that it belittles God’s revealed will.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But the law is holy, and its orders are holy, upright, and good.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

so that the law, indeed, <FI>is<Fi> holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Wherefore the law indeed is holy: and the commandment holy and just and good.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

So that the law indeed [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Context

Verse 12 concludes the first half of the chapter’s argument about law and sin, affirming the law’s holy character. This affirmation prepares for verse 13’s clarifying question about whether the good became death to Paul, and its answer: no, sin is to blame, and the law’s role is to make sin appear exceedingly sinful. After that, in verses 14–25, the focus shifts from the law’s function to the believer’s inner conflict with indwelling sin, showing why the law cannot sanctify even a renewed person without the grace provided in Christ.

v.11for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.

v.12This passage

v.13Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good;—that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 12:2

    And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

  • Romans 7:14

    For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

  • Romans 7:16

    But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.

  • Deuteronomy 10:12

    And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

  • Romans 3:31

    Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

  • Psalms 119:137

    Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments.

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