Romans 7:8 Meaning and Explanation
“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Sin seized the commandment as a foothold and stirred up every kind of wrong desire; apart from the law sin lay dormant.
What Does Romans 7:8 Mean?
Paul personifies sin as a force that seizes an opportunity. The very commandment meant to restrain becomes the foothold sin uses, provoking all manner of forbidden craving. Without the law to push against, sin lay quiet, like a sleeping power not yet roused.
The lesson is sobering and humbling. The fault lies not in the holy commandment but in the sin that twists it, turning a good boundary into a temptation. This honest look at the heart prepares the way for grace. What law could only expose, and what willpower alone cannot master, the risen Christ enters to overcome.
Romans 7:8 in the Original Language
aphorme (ἀφορμή), 'occasion' -- a base of operations or foothold from which an attack is launched.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 7:8
What does Romans 7:8 mean?
Sin seized the commandment as a foothold and stirred up every kind of wrong desire; apart from the law sin lay dormant.