Romans 7:5 Meaning and Explanation
“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In the old life of the flesh, sinful impulses stirred by the law worked through the body and produced fruit that led to death.
What Does Romans 7:5 Mean?
Paul looks back at the former state, life in the flesh, before union with Christ. There the stirrings of sin, awakened rather than calmed by the law's commands, were at work in the body and yielded a grim harvest. The same word fruit returns, but here it ends in death.
This is the bondage Christ breaks. The law, holy in itself, exposed and provoked the pull of sin, and the result was death-bearing. Paul names the old condition honestly so the new one will shine brighter. Where once impulses bore fruit unto death, the believer joined to Christ is now meant to bear fruit unto God.
Romans 7:5 in the Original Language
sarx (σάρξ), 'flesh' -- here human nature as it is in its weakness and bent toward sin, not the body as such.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 7:5
What does Romans 7:5 mean?
In the old life of the flesh, sinful impulses stirred by the law worked through the body and produced fruit that led to death.