Romans 7:24
What does Romans 7:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 7:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 7:24 means
“Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?” Feeling the weight of repeated captivity, Paul does not look inward for one more technique; he looks upward for a rescuer. “Body of this death” points to our mortal condition as a base of operations for sin’s law. The cry is honest and helpless, yet it is also hopeful—it expects a Someone, not a something. This is the turning point: confession of misery paired with a question for salvation. Awareness of the depth of our plight prepares us to value the Deliverer God provides.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
KJV
King James Version · 1611O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949How unhappy am I! who will make me free from the body of this death?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862A wretched man I <FI>am<Fi> ! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890O wretched man that I [am]! who shall deliver me out of this body of death?
Context
After describing the warring laws and captivity (verse 23), verse 24 expresses the emotional and spiritual crisis: misery under sin’s power and longing for rescue. This is the pivot from diagnosis to deliverance. The next verse will give the answer—thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ our Lord—and summarize the reality that, even with that hope, the mind serves God’s law while the flesh still reflects the law of sin. Thus the chapter closes with both realism about the struggle and confidence in God’s provision.
v.23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
v.24This passage
v.25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 119:131
I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.
- Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
- Romans 8:26
And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
- Colossians 2:11
in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
- Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- 2 Timothy 4:18
The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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