The Meaning of Romans 7:10 Explained

Romans 7:10

KJV: And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

YLT: and the command that is for life, this was found by me for death;

Darby: And the commandment, which was for life, was found, as to me, itself to be unto death:

ASV: and the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the commandment,  which  [was ordained] to  life,  I  found  [to be] unto  death. 

What does Romans 7:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The intent of the Law was to bring people blessing (life) as they obeyed it ( Leviticus 18:5). Nevertheless because Paul did not obey it, he found that it condemned him.
". . . it seems fair to conclude that the law would have given life had it been perfectly obeyed." [1]

Context Summary

Romans 7:1-13 - The Law Makes Sin Known
To make his meaning clear the Apostle now enters upon a parable drawn from domestic life. He says that we are married to the Law as our first husband, and seek, through union with it, to bring forth fruit unto God. Every convert earnestly endeavors, in the first impulse of the new life, to be good and to form, by incessant effort, a life that is pleasing to God. Like Cain we bring the fruit of the ground, extorted from the soil by the sweat of the brow.
But we are soon disappointed in the result. Our laborious care ends in failure. Sinful desires are too masterful. As Luther said, "The old Adam is too strong for the young Melanchthon." Then we see that the Cross has put death between us and our painful effort. We learn that the marriage contract which bound us to our first husband, the Law, has been dissolved. We are set free to enter into marriage union with the blessed Lord, and He, by His indwelling Spirit, effects in us what our own energies have failed to produce. We are joined to Him that was raised up from the dead, and bring forth fruit unto God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 7

1  No law has power over a man longer than he lives
4  But we are dead to the law
7  Yet is not the law sin;
12  but holy, just and good;
16  as I acknowledge, who am grieved because I cannot keep it

Greek Commentary for Romans 7:10

This I found unto death [ευρετη μοιαυτη εις τανατον]
Literally, “the commandment the one for (meant for) life, this was found for me unto death.” First aorist (effective) passive indicative of ευρισκω — heuriskō to find, not active as the English has it. It turned out so for me (ethical dative). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 7:10

Philippians 3:9 Be found [εὑρεθῶ]
Discovered or proved to be. See on Phlippians 2:8. Compare Romans 7:10; Galatians 2:17. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 7:10 mean?

And proved to be me the commandment that [was] to life this death
καὶ εὑρέθη μοι ἐντολὴ εἰς ζωὴν αὕτη θάνατον

εὑρέθη  proved  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
μοι  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐντολὴ  commandment 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐντολή  
Sense: an order, command, charge, precept, injunction.
  that  [was] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ζωὴν  life 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ζωή  
Sense: life.
αὕτη  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
θάνατον  death 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.