Romans 7:1

King James Version (KJV)

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

For I speak to them that know the law - This is a proof that the apostle directs this part of his discourse to the Jews.

As long as he liveth? - Or, as long as It liveth; law does not extend its influence to the dead, nor do abrogated laws bind. It is all the same whether we understand these words as speaking of a law abrogated, so that it cannot command; or of its objects being dead, so that it has none to bind. In either case the law has no force.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Know ye not - This is an appeal to their own observation respecting the relation between husband and wife. The illustration Romans 7:2-3 is designed simply to show that as when a man dies, and the connection between him and his wife is dissolved, his Law ceases to be binding on her, so also a separation has taken place between Christians and the Law, in which they have become dead to it, and they are not now to attempt to draw their life and peace from it, but from that new source with which they are connected by the gospel, Romans 7:4.

For I speak to them … - Probably the apostle refers here more particularly to the Jewish members of the Roman church, who were qualified particularly to understand the nature of the Law, and to appreciate the argument. That there were many Jews in the church at Rome has been shown (see Introduction); but the illustration has no exclusive reference to them. The Law to which he appeals is sufficiently general to make the illustration intelligible to all people.

That the law - The immediate reference here is probably to the Mosaic Law. But what is here affirmed is equally true of all laws.

Hath dominion - Greek, Rules; exercises lordship. The Law is here personified, and represented as setting up a lordship over a man, and exacting obedience.

Over a man - Over the man who is under it.

As long as he liveth - The Greek here may mean either “as he liveth,” or” as it liveth,” that is, the law. But our translation has evidently expressed the sense. The sense is, that death releases a man from the laws by which he was bound in life. It is a general principle, relating to the laws of the land, the law of a parent, the law of a contract, etc. This general principle the apostle proceeds to apply in regard to the Law of God.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

So long as a man continues under the law as a covenant, and seeks justification by his own obedience, he continues the slave of sin in some form. Nothing but the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, can make any sinner free from the law of sin and death. Believers are delivered from that power of the law, which condemns for the sins committed by them. And they are delivered from that power of the law which stirs up and provokes the sin that dwells in them. Understand this not of the law as a rule, but as a covenant of works. In profession and privilege, we are under a covenant of grace, and not under a covenant of works; under the gospel of Christ, not under the law of Moses. The difference is spoken of under the similitude or figure of being married to a new husband. The second marriage is to Christ. By death we are freed from obligation to the law as a covenant, as the wife is from her vows to her husband. In our believing powerfully and effectually, we are dead to the law, and have no more to do with it than the dead servant, who is freed from his master, has to do with his master's yoke. The day of our believing, is the day of being united to the Lord Jesus. We enter upon a life of dependence on him, and duty to him. Good works are from union with Christ; as the fruitfulness of the vine is the product of its being united to its roots; there is no fruit to God, till we are united to Christ. The law, and the greatest efforts of one under the law, still in the flesh, under the power of corrupt principles, cannot set the heart right with regard to the love of God, overcome worldly lusts, or give truth and sincerity in the inward parts, or any thing that comes by the special sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. Nothing more than a formal obedience to the outward letter of any precept, can be performed by us, without the renewing, new-creating grace of the new covenant.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. Know ye not? Literally, “or are you ignorant?” (see on ch. 6:3). The “or” suggests an alternative. Paul says, in effect, “Either you admit the truth of my assertion that your death to sin [ch. 6:11] means that you are no longer under law [ch. 6:14], or else you must be ignorant of the nature of law, with which I had assumed you were well familiar.” He presents another illustration to show how the transition from law to grace is effected and what the results of this change should be. Chapter 7 is based upon his fundamental statement, “Ye are not under the law, but under grace” (ch. 6:14). To explain this, he has already referred to baptism and to the relationship between slaves and their masters. Now he draws an illustration from the law of marriage.

Know the law. Literally, “know law.” The absence of the article “the” before “law” suggests that Paul is referring to the principle of law in general (see on ch. 2:12). His point is simply that the law cannot prosecute or punish a man after he is dead. In the context of this chapter, however, it later becomes apparent that Paul is thinking especially of the law of the OT (see ch. 7:7).

Hath dominion. Paul has previously personified “death” and “sin” as “having dominion,” or “ruling,” over a sinner (chs. 5:14, 17; 6:12). To Paul, being under the dominion of law is equivalent to being under the dominion of sin (see on ch. 6:14). The reason for this is that law merely reveals the standard of right. It cannot remove the guilt or the dominion of sin. It requires complete obedience to its precepts, but offers the sinner no enabling power for obedience. Grace, on the other hand, does the things that law is powerless to perform. It both cancels the guilt of sin and imparts power to overcome it. Thus Paul regards being under law as being under sin, and dying to law as the equivalent of dying to sin. His purpose in this chapter is to emphasize that, because of sin and the weakness of sinful flesh (ch. 8:3), law is wholly incapable of bringing salvation to the sinner.

Man. Gr. anthrÅÂpos, “mankind” in general (see Matt. 8:20; Mark 2:27; etc.), or a person of either sex (see Matt. 15:11; John 3:4; 16:21; etc.). The word for “man” as distinguished from the word for “woman” is anÃ„â€œr (Mark 10:2; Luke 1:27; etc.).

He liveth. It is possible to translate the Greek “it lives,” thus meaning, “as long as the law is in force.” However, “he lives” is the more natural rendering and more appropriate to the context. Paul is preparing to apply to the law the principle that law can press its claim against a man only as long as he lives.

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Ellen G. White
The Adventist Home, 340-1

Marriage Is a Contract for Life—In the youthful mind marriage is clothed with romance, and it is difficult to divest it of this feature, with which imagination covers it, and to impress the mind with a sense of the weighty responsibilities involved in the marriage vow. This vow links the destinies of the two individuals with bonds which naught but the hand of death should sever.¹ AH 340.1

Every marriage engagement should be carefully considered, for marriage is a step taken for life. Both the man and the woman should carefully consider whether they can cleave to each other through the vicissitudes of life as long as they both shall live.² AH 340.2

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Ellen G. White
The Adventist Home, 344-5

To a Deserted Husband—“Shoulder Your Cross.”—I cannot see what more can be done in this case, and I think that the only thing that you can do is to give up your wife. If she is thus determined not to live with you, both she and you would be most miserable to attempt it. And as she has fully and determinedly set her stakes, you can only shoulder your cross and show yourself a man.⁸ AH 344.1

Still Married in God's Sight, Although Divorced—A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land and yet not divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law. There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God. Although the laws of the land may grant a divorce, yet they are husband and wife still in the Bible light, according to the laws of God. AH 344.2

I saw that Sister _____, as yet, has no right to marry another man; but if she, or any other woman, should obtain a divorce legally on the ground that her husband was guilty of adultery, then she is free to be married to whom she chooses.⁹ AH 344.3

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Cross References

Know

brethren

them that