ROM 7:13 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:13–25: Sin prevents us from doing what is right

In this section Paul answered another possible wrong conclusion about the law. In 7:12 Paul said that the law is good. Now he asked if it is right to think that the law brought death. The answer is no. Sin brought death and this shows that sin is very bad. Paul then talked about his own struggle with sinning even though he agrees that the law is good. He felt he was captive to sin. But God can rescue us from that captivity.

For the use of “I” in this section, see the General Comment in the summary of Section 7:7–12.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The way that Paul struggled to stop sinning

The power of sin

7:13a–b

Did that which is good…become death to me? Certainly not!: This is a rhetorical question and its answer. It emphasizes that the believers in Rome should not think that the law, called here that which is good, caused Paul to be marked for death. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do you think that the/that good thing become death to me?
Don’t you realize that the laws, which/they are good, did not cause me to be marked/destined for death?
As a statement. For example:
Indeed, that which is good did not become death to me.
Surely you understand that the laws, which/they are good, did not cause me to be marked/destined for death.
As a command. For example:
Do not think that which is good became death to me
Understand this: the laws, which/they are good, did not cause me to be marked/destined for death.

that which is good: This phrase refers to God’s laws (7:12). In some languages it will be much clearer to make that explicit. For example:

that which is good, namely the laws,

the laws, and we already said that they are good

7:13a

Did that which is good, then, become death to me?

¶ So then, do you think that that good thing became as death to/for me?
¶ So, it is not right to say that a good thing, namely, the law from God, became the penalty of death without end for me.

Did that which is good, then, become death to me?: The word then occurs in the middle of the clause. In some languages it is more natural to be first. For example:

So then, did that which is good bring death to me?

7:13b

Certainly not!

By no means! (ESV)
No indeed!

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” The law did not bring death to Paul. See how you translated this phrase in 3:4 or 7:7. Note that “Indeed” and “Surely” in the As a statement examples in 7:13a–b translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used those words there (or something similar), do not translate these words here.

7:13c

But in order that sin might be exposed as sin,

Instead, so that sin would be revealed truly as sin,
Rather, in order that I saw that sin was clearly sin/bad,

But: This word indicates that the law did not become death to Paul, But sin did. In some languages it is natural to begin this sentence with But.

However, 7:13b says “Certainly not!” In many languages that phrase already implies contrast and so it is more natural to omit But here.

in order that sin might be exposed as sin: The phrase in order that introduces a purpose clause. In some languages a purpose clause indicates that something has not happened yet. If that is true in your language, translate this as a result clause. For example:

and so sin has been shown to be sin

sin might be exposed as sin: The phrase be exposed indicates that people will see that sin is clearly sin. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

sin might be recognized as sin (NIV)

its true nature as sin might be revealed (GNT)

This clause is passive. Some languages must translate without a passive clause. For example:

sin would clearly appear to be sin

sin might reveal itself to be sin

7:13d

it produced death in me through what was good,

sin caused me to have a sentence/penalty of death by using that good thing,
with that good thing sin produced in me the judgment of death without end,

it produced death in me: Here Paul continued to speak of sin as a person. Some languages cannot speak of sin in that way. If that is true in your language, you may want to make it a simile. For example:

sin was like someone who produced death in me

produced death in me: The word produced refers to causing something to exist. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

caused my death (NJB)

bring about my condemnation to death (NLT)

It was sin that killed me (CEV)

See how you translated “produced” in 7:8.

through what was good: Here the word through refers to something being used as a tool to do something. Here it indicates that the commandment was like a tool that sin used to influence Paul. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

using what is good (GNT)

by that good thing

what was good: This phrase refers to the laws, like “that which is good” does in 7:13a.

7:13e

so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

so that by means of knowing the commandment sin would also be exceedingly very bad.
and sin, using the commandment, has become very, very bad to me, more than anything.

so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful: This clause is a second purpose for why sin produced death in Paul (7:13d). In some languages, the word sin must be repeated here, as the BSB does. If you changed the purpose clause in 7:13c to a result clause, you should do the same here. For example:

and through the commandment sin has become utterly sinful

through the commandment: Here the word through refers to something being used as a tool to do something. Here it indicates that the commandment was like a tool that made sin to be very bad beyond measure.

the commandment: The word commandment is singular and probably refers to the one law Paul mentioned in 7:7: “You shall not covet.” But it is probably used as an example of any of the laws in a general way.

sin might become utterly sinful: The Greek words that the BSB translates as utterly are literally “exceedingly far more.” It indicates that the sin of coveting is very bad. And as an example, these words indicate that all sin is very bad. Here are other ways to translate these words:

might become exceeding sinful (KJV)

So we can see how terrible sin really is. (NLT)

to show that sin is very evil (NCV)

it became clear that sin is really very-very badYakan Back Translation on TW.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

The word Therefore indicates that what follows is a logical conclusion. Therefore here indicates that what follows is the result of what Paul said in [7:7–12](../07/07.md). Use a natural way in your language for indicating result. Alternate translation: [As a result] or [This is why] or [Because of this]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τὸ & ἀγαθὸν ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος?

Paul is using a rhetorical question here to emphasize that the law did not directly cause him to become spiritually dead. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [surely what is good did not become death to me!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸ & ἀγαθὸν & διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ

Here, what is good refers to the law. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [God’s good laws … through those good laws]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος

Here Paul speaks of the law as if it could become death. Paul is referring to the idea that God’s laws directly caused him to become spiritually dead. He rejects this idea in the next sentence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [did … cause me to die spiritually]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

θάνατος & θάνατον

death & death

In this verse death refers to spiritual death, which is eternal punishment in hell that occurs after physical death. See how you translated the same use of death in [6:16](../06/16.md).

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

θάνατος & ἡ ἁμαρτία & ἁμαρτία & θάνατον & ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς

death & ¬the sin & sin & death & ¬the sin (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

See how you translated the abstract nouns sin and commandment in [7:11](../07/11.md) and death in [7:10](../07/10.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

μὴ γένοιτο!

See how you translated this phrase in [3:4](../03/04.md) and [6:2](../06/02.md).

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἀλλὰ ἡ ἁμαρτία, ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [But sin produced death in me in order that it might be shown to be sin through what is good]

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἁμαρτία, ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον

sin in_order_that ˱it˲_˓may_be˒_seen sin sin (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

Here, in order that indicates a purpose clause. Paul is stating a purpose for sin producing death. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [sin produced death in me for the purpose of showing itself to be sin through what is good]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

φανῇ ἁμαρτία

˱it˲_˓may_be˒_seen sin

Here Paul uses shown as if sin were an object that people could see. Paul means that God’s laws enable people to recognize what sin is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [it might be recognized to be sin]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ

Here, through indicates that what is good is the means by which sin is clearly understood to be sin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [by means of what is good]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ἡ ἁμαρτία & μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον;

¬the sin & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

Here Paul speaks of sin as if it were a person who could kill someone. Paul means that his desire to sin caused him to disobey God’s law, which resulted in Paul being spiritually dead. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [sin … caused me to die spiritually]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον

Here Paul speaks of death as if it were an object that could be inside a person. He means that he was spiritually dead. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: Alternate translation: [killed me spiritually]

Note 14 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα γένηται καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς

in_order_that in_order_that ˓may˒_become as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

Here, so that indicates a purpose clause. Paul is stating another purpose for sin producing death. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order for sin to become sinful beyond measure through the commandment]

Note 15 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς

Here, through indicates that the commandment is the means by which sin becomes sinful beyond measure. Paul means that God’s laws provide a standard by which people can understand how extremely sinful sin is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [by means of the commandment]

Note 16 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

γένηται καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν ἁμαρτωλὸς ἡ ἁμαρτία

˓may˒_become as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

Here Paul speaks of sin as if it were a person who could become more sinful. He means that God’s laws provide a standard by which people can understand how extremely sinful sin is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [sin might be recognized as sinful beyond measure]

Note 17 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν

as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Οὖν ἀγαθόν ἐμοί ἐγένετο θάνατος Μή γένοιτο Ἀλλά ἡ ἁμαρτία ἵνα φανῇ ἁμαρτία διά τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ μοί κατεργαζομένη θάνατον ἵνα γένηται καθʼ ὑπερβολήν ἁμαρτωλός ἡ ἁμαρτία διά τῆς ἐντολῆς)

Here, beyond measure is an idiom that means “to a great degree” or “exceedingly.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a similar idiom from your language or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to an extreme degree]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear ROM 7:13

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)