Romans 7:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὅτε γὰρ ἦμεν ἐν τῇ σαρκί, τὰ παθήματα τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, τὰ διὰ τοῦ νόμου, ἐνηργεῖτο ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ καρποφορῆσαι τῷ θανάτῳ.

Transliteration

For when we ēmen en tē sarki, the pathēmata tōn hamartiōn, the ones through the nomou, enērgeito en tois melesin hēmōn unto the karpophorēsai tō thanatō.

Grammar Details

• *Hote*: conjunction - when
• *gar*: conjunction - for/because
• *ēmen*: imperfect indicative, 1st person plural - we were
• *en tē sarki*: dative, feminine, singular - in the flesh
• *ta pathēmata*: nominative, neuter, plural - the passions/sufferings
• *tōn hamartiōn*: genitive, feminine, plural - of the sins
• *ta dia tou nomou*: attributive phrase - the ones through the law
• *enērgeito*: imperfect passive indicative, 3rd person singular - were working/were being operative
• *en tois melesin hēmōn*: dative, neuter, plural - in our members/body parts
• *eis*: preposition + accusative - for/unto
• *to karpophorēsai*: articular infinitive - the bearing fruit
• *tō thanatō*: dative, masculine, singular - to death

Word Meanings

• *sarki*: flesh/physical body/sinful nature
• *pathēmata*: passions/sufferings/strong desires/impulses
• *hamartiōn*: sins/offenses/moral failures
• *enērgeito*: were working/operating/active/being aroused
• *melesin*: members/body parts/limbs
• *karpophorēsai*: to bear fruit/produce/yield
• *thanatō*: death/mortality

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bear fruit to death.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For when we were in the flesshe the lustes of synne which were stered vppe by ye lawe raygned in oure membres to bringe forth frute vnto deeth.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For whan we were in the flesh, the synfull lustes (which were stered vp by the lawe) were mightie in oure membres to brynge forth frute vnto death.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For when we were in ye flesh, the affections of sinnes, which were by the Law, had force in our members, to bring foorth fruit vnto death.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For when we were in the fleshe, the lustes of sinne whiche were by the lawe wrought in our members, to bring forth fruite vnto death.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, that `are' through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the death;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

Referenced Verses

• Rom 6:13 : 13 Do not present the parts of your body as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God.
• Rom 6:21 : 21 But what fruit did you produce then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.
• Rom 6:23 : 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Rom 7:7-9 : 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 At one time I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. 13 Did what is good then become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, in order to be recognized as sin, used what is good to bring about my death, so that sin might become utterly sinful through the commandment.
• Rom 7:23 : 23 but I see another law at work in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
• Rom 8:8-9 : 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Him.
• 1 Cor 15:56 : 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
• 2 Cor 3:6-9 : 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 If the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not look intently at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was passing away, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness far exceeds it in glory.
• Gal 3:10 : 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.'
• Gal 5:16-17 : 16 I say then, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want to do.
• Gal 5:19-21 : 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• Gal 5:24 : 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• Eph 2:3 : 3 Among them we all also once lived in the desires of our flesh, carrying out the inclinations of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
• Eph 2:11 : 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh—who are called 'the uncircumcision' by those who are called 'the circumcision,' which is done in the flesh by human hands—
• Col 3:5 : 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
• Titus 3:3 : 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
• Jas 1:15 : 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
• Jas 2:9-9 : 9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all.
• Jas 4:1 : 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within your body parts?
• 1 John 3:4 : 4 Everyone who commits sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
• Rom 6:19 : 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present them as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
• Matt 15:19 : 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, and slanders.
• John 3:6 : 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• Rom 1:26 : 26 For this reason, God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.
• Rom 3:20 : 20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
• Rom 4:15 : 15 For the law brings wrath, and where there is no law, there is no transgression.
• Rom 5:20 : 20 Now the law was brought in so that the trespass might increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more.