Devine Scripture

Romans 7:3

What does Romans 7:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 7:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 7:3 means

Paul draws out the moral logic of the example. If a woman joins another man while her husband lives, she bears the charge of adultery, because the binding legal claim remains in force. But if the husband dies, she is free from that law, and union with another man is not adultery. The emphasis is on death as the decisive change-agent in a lawful bond. This shows that to be joined to another after a binding claim has ended is not unfaithfulness. The point is not to argue about divorce, but to show that death rightly dissolves a claim, clearing the way for a new, legitimate union without moral blame.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So if, while the husband is living, she is joined to another man, she will get the name of one who is untrue to her husband: but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law, so that she is not untrue, even if she takes another man.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

so, then, the husband being alive, an adulteress she shall be called if she may become another man's; and if the husband may die, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress, having become another man's.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband: so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

so then, the husband being alive, she shall be called an adulteress if she be to another man; but if the husband should die, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress, though she be to another man.

Context

Having set up the legal premise (verse 1) and begun the marriage example (verse 2), verse 3 finishes the illustration by contrasting unlawful and lawful unions based on whether death has occurred. This prepares the reader to understand the spiritual application in verse 4: believers have undergone a death that changes their legal standing toward the law, so that a new union is proper and fruitful. The next verse will move from illustration to theology, stating plainly how the believer’s relation to the law has changed through Christ’s body and what purpose that new union serves.

v.2For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

v.3This passage

v.4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.

Cross references

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

  • Ruth 2:13

    Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.

  • Matthew 5:32

    but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

  • Mark 10:6

    But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them.

  • 1 Timothy 5:11

    But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;

  • Exodus 20:14

    Thou shalt not commit adultery.

  • Leviticus 20:10

    And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

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