Devine Scripture

Romans 7:8

What does Romans 7:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 7:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 7:8 means

“Sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting.” The commandment, good as it is, becomes a launchpad for indwelling sin. Tell a rebellious heart “Do not,” and it rouses to desire the forbidden. Apart from the law sin is “dead”—not absent, but inactive and unrecognized. When God’s command confronts us, sin stirs, showing its vigor by opposing what is good. This explains why holiness cannot be produced by law alone: the law defines the good, but it cannot change the heart that resists it. The problem is not the light, but the darkness within responding against the light.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin is dead.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin is dead.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But sin, taking its chance through that which was ordered by the law, was working in me every form of desire: because without the law sin is dead.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Thou shalt not covet;' and the sin having received an opportunity, through the command, did work in me all covetousness--for apart from law sin is dead.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but sin, getting a point of attack by the commandment, wrought in me every lust; for without law sin [was] dead.

Context

Verse 8 explains the dynamic hinted at in verse 7: law reveals sin, and sin reacts against law. Paul personifies sin as a power seizing opportunity. This frames the paradox that follows in verses 9–11, where Paul reflects on how the commandment that promised life became an instrument of death, not by fault in the law, but by sin’s deceptive nature. The argument drives toward verse 12’s affirmation of the law’s holiness and verse 13’s conclusion about sin’s exposure as exceedingly sinful.

v.7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

v.8This passage

v.9And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;

Cross references

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

  • John 15:22

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

  • Romans 7:13

    Did 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.

  • Romans 5:20

    And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

  • James 1:14

    but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:56

    The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:

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