Focused Passage

Romans 7:14-25

Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance

Paul moves from release from the law through death with Christ, to service in the new way of the Spirit, to the law's role in revealing sin, to sin's exploitation of the commandment, to the inner conflict that cries out for deliverance through Jesus Christ.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

16And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good.

17In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

20And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.

23But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Original words

-γὰρG1063ConjunctionWe knowΟἴδαμενG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person PluralthatὅτιG3754Conjunction-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine Singular[the] lawνόμοςG3551Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularisἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularspiritualπνευματικόςG4152Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularbutδὲG1161ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularamεἰμιG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularunspiritualσάρκινόςG4560Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singularsold as a slaveπεπραμένοςG4097Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine SingulartoὑπὸG5259Preposition-τὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingularsinἁμαρτίανG266Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 15

Original words

-γὰρG1063ConjunctionvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not understandγινώσκωG1097Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI doκατεργάζομαιG2716Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularForγὰρG1063Conjunction-τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI want [to do]θέλωG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not doπράσσωG4238Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularButἀλλ’G235ConjunctionwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI hateμισῶG3404Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular-τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI doποιῶG4160Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

AndδὲG1161ConjunctionifεἰG1487Conjunction-τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI doποιῶG4160Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not want [to do]θέλωG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularI admitσύμφημιG4852Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularthatὅτιG3754ConjunctiontheτῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularlawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singular[is] goodκαλόςG2570Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

-δὲG1161ConjunctionIn that caseνυνὶG3570Adverb{it is} no longerοὐκέτιG3765AdverbIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singularwho doκατεργάζομαιG2716Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularitαὐτὸG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singularbut [it is]ἀλλὰG235Conjunction-G3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingularsinἁμαρτίαG266Noun - Nominative Feminine Singularlivingοἰκοῦσα*G3611Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine SingularinἐνG1722Prepositionme [ that does it ]ἐμοὶG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 18

Original words

-γὰρG1063ConjunctionI knowΟἶδαG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionnothingοὐκG3756AdverbgoodἀγαθόνG18Adjective - Nominative Neuter SingularlivesοἰκεῖG3611Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularinἐνG1722PrepositionmeἐμοίG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singularthatτοῦτ’G3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter SingularisἔστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularinἐνG1722PrepositionmyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularfleshσαρκίG4561Noun - Dative Feminine SingularforγὰρG1063ConjunctionIμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularhaveπαράκειταίG3873Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingulartheτὸG3588Article - Nominative Neuter SingulardesireθέλεινG2309Verb - Present Infinitive Activeto doκατεργάζεσθαιG2716Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passivewhat isτὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingulargoodκαλὸνG2570Adjective - Accusative Neuter SingularbutδὲG1161Conjunction-τὸG3588Article - Nominative Neuter Singular[I] cannot [carry it out]οὔG3756Adverb
Verse 19

Original words

ForγὰρG1063ConjunctionvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not doποιῶG4160Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular[the] goodἀγαθόνG18Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular-G3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI want [to do]θέλωG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularInsteadἀλλὰG235Conjunction-τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularI keep on doingπράσσωG4238Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular[the] evilκακὸνG2556Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular-G3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not want [to do]θέλωG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

AndδὲG1161ConjunctionifεἰG1487ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingulardoποιῶG4160Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular-τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbI do not wantθέλωG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular[it is] no longerοὐκέτιG3765AdverbIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singularwho doκατεργάζομαιG2716Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularitαὐτὸG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singularbut [it is]ἀλλὰG235Conjunction-G3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingularsinἁμαρτίαG266Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularlivingοἰκοῦσαG3611Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine SingularinἐνG1722Prepositionme [ that does it ]ἐμοὶG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

SoἄραG686Conjunction[this is] theτὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularprincipleνόμονG3551Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularI have discoveredΕὑρίσκωG2147Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularWhen IἐμοὶG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularwantθέλοντιG2309Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singularto doποιεῖνG4160Verb - Present Infinitive Active-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingulargoodκαλὸνG2570Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular-ὅτιG3754Conjunction-τὸG3588Article - Nominative Neuter SingularevilκακὸνG2556Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singularis right there withπαράκειταιG3873Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingularmeἐμοὶG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

ForγὰρG1063Conjunctionin [my]τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularinnerἔσωG2080AdverbbeingἄνθρωπονG444Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularI delightσυνήδομαιG4913Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person SingularinτῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine Singular-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine SingularGod’sΘεοῦG2316Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular-κατὰG2596PrepositionlawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 23

Original words

ButδὲG1161ConjunctionI seeβλέπωG991Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularanotherἕτερονG2087Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singularlaw [ at work ]νόμονG3551Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularinἐνG1722PrepositionmyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τοῖςG3588Article - Dative Neuter PluralbodyμέλεσίνG3196Noun - Dative Neuter Pluralwarring againstἀντιστρατευόμενονG497Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine SingulartheτῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularlawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singularof myμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine SingularmindνοόςG3563Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionvvvμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singularholding me captiveαἰχμαλωτίζοντάG163Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine SingulartoἐνG1722PrepositiontheτῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularlawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singular-τῆςG3588Article - Genitive Feminine Singularof sinἁμαρτίαςG266Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine Singularthat dwellsὄντιG1510Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine SingularwithinἐνG1722PrepositionvvvμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person SingularvvvτοῖςG3588Article - Dative Neuter Plural[me]μέλεσίνG3196Noun - Dative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Literally captive to the law of sin being in my members.
Verse 24

Original words

[What a] wretchedΤαλαίπωροςG5005Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularmanἄνθρωποςG444Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularI amἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularWhoτίςG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singularwill rescueῥύσεταιG4506Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person SingularmeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularfromἐκG1537PrepositionthisτούτουG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Neuter SingularbodyσώματοςG4983Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine Singularof deathθανάτουG2288Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

Thanks [be]χάριςG5485Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular-δὲG1161ConjunctiontoτῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularGodΘεῷG2316Noun - Dative Masculine SingularthroughδιὰG1223PrepositionJesusἸησοῦG2424Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularChristΧριστοῦG5547Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine SingularLordΚυρίουG2962Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularSoοὖνG3767ConjunctionthenἌραG686Conjunctionwith [my]τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularmindνοῒG3563Noun - Dative Masculine SingularIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular-αὐτὸςG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person SingularserveδουλεύωG1398Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular[the] lawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singularof GodΘεοῦG2316Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular-μὲνG3303ConjunctionbutδὲG1161Conjunction[with my]τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularfleshσαρκὶG4561Noun - Dative Feminine Singular[I serve the] lawνόμῳG3551Noun - Dative Masculine Singularof sinἁμαρτίαςG266Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.