Romans 7:8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.

◄ Romans 7:8 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.

English Standard Version
But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

New American Standard Bible
But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.

International Standard Version
But sin seized the opportunity provided by this commandment and produced in me all kinds of sinful desires, since apart from the Law, sin is dead.

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

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

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

Young's Literal Translation
'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.

Cross References

Mark 7:22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Romans 7:11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

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Advantage Afforded Apart Attack Chance Commandment Concupiscence Covet Coveting Covetous Covetousness Dead Desire Finding Form Getting Kind Kinds Law Manner Means Occasion Opportunity Ordered Point Produced Seizing Sin Stirred Within Working Wrought

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

7:7-13 There is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin, which is necessary to repentance, and therefore to peace and pardon, but by trying our hearts and lives by the law. In his own case the apostle would not have known the sinfulness of his thoughts, motives, and actions, but by the law. That perfect standard showed how wrong his heart and life were, proving his sins to be more numerous than he had before thought, but it did not contain any provision of mercy or grace for his relief. He is ignorant of human nature and the perverseness of his own heart, who does not perceive in himself a readiness to fancy there is something desirable in what is out of reach. We may perceive this in our children, though self-love makes us blind to it in ourselves. The more humble and spiritual any Christian is, the more clearly will he perceive that the apostle describes the true believer, from his first convictions of sin to his greatest progress in grace, during this present imperfect state. St. Paul was once a Pharisee, ignorant of the spirituality of the law, having some correctness of character, without knowing his inward depravity. When the commandment came to his conscience by the convictions of the Holy Spirit, and he saw what it demanded, he found his sinful mind rise against it. He felt at the same time the evil of sin, his own sinful state, that he was unable to fulfil the law, and was like a criminal when condemned. But though the evil principle in the human heart produces sinful motions, and the more by taking occasion of the commandment; yet the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good. It is not favourable to sin, which it pursues into the heart, and discovers and reproves in the inward motions thereof. Nothing is so good but a corrupt and vicious nature will pervert it. The same heat that softens wax, hardens clay. Food or medicine when taken wrong, may cause death, though its nature is to nourish or to heal. The law may cause death through man's depravity, but sin is the poison that brings death. Not the law, but sin discovered by the law, was made death to the apostle. The ruinous nature of sin, and the sinfulness of the human heart, are here clearly shown.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. For without the law—that is, before its extensive demands and prohibitions come to operate upon our corrupt nature.

sin was—rather, "is"

dead—that is, the sinful principle of our nature lies so dormant, so torpid, that its virulence and power are unknown, and to our feeling it is as good as "dead."