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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 7:2 For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/7-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/45_Rom_07_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 7:2 - Release from the Law" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/romans/7-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/romans/7-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/romans/">Romans</a> > <a href="/romans/7.htm">Chapter 7</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/7-1.htm" title="Romans 7:1">◄</a> Romans 7:2 <a href="/romans/7-3.htm" title="Romans 7:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/romans/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/romans/7.htm">New International Version</a> For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. <a href="/nlt/romans/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. <a href="/esv/romans/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. <a href="/bsb/romans/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. <a href="/blb/romans/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the married woman is bound by law to the living husband; but if the husband should die, she is cleared from the law of the husband. <a href="/kjv/romans/7.htm">King James Bible</a> For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. <a href="/nkjv/romans/7.htm">New King James Version</a> For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. <a href="/nasb_/romans/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For the married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. <a href="/nasb/romans/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. <a href="/nasb77/romans/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. <a href="/lsb/romans/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For the married woman has been bound by law to her husband while he is living, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. <a href="/amp/romans/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For the married woman [as an example] is bound and remains bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released and exempt from the law concerning her husband. <a href="/csb/romans/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. <a href="/hcsb/romans/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. <a href="/asv/romans/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. <a href="/cev/romans/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> For example, the Law says that a man's wife must remain his wife as long as he lives. But once her husband is dead, she is free <a href="/erv/romans/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. <a href="/gwt/romans/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> For example, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive. But if her husband dies, that marriage law is no longer in effect for her. <a href="/gnt/romans/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> A married woman, for example, is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if he dies, then she is free from the law that bound her to him. <a href="/isv/romans/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> For a married woman is bound by the Law to her husband while he is living, but if her husband dies, she is released from the Law concerning her husband. <a href="/msb/romans/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. <a href="/net/romans/7.htm">NET Bible</a> For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. <a href="/nheb/romans/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For the married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. <a href="/wbt/romans/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For the woman who hath a husband, is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. <a href="/wey/romans/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. <a href="/web/romans/7.htm">World English Bible</a> For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/romans/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> For the married woman to the living husband has been bound by law, and if the husband may die, she has been free from the law of the husband; <a href="/blb/romans/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the married woman is bound by law to the living husband; but if the husband should die, she is cleared from the law of the husband. <a href="/ylt/romans/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> for the married woman to the living husband hath been bound by law, and if the husband may die, she hath been free from the law of the husband; <a href="/slt/romans/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For a married woman is bound by the law to a living husband; and if the husband die, she is left inactive from the law of the husband.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/romans/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For the woman that hath an husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. <a href="/cpdv/romans/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For example, a woman who is subject to a husband is obligated by the law while her husband lives. But when her husband has died, she is released from the law of her husband. <a href="/nabre/romans/7.htm">New American Bible</a> Thus a married woman is bound by law to her living husband; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law in respect to her husband. <a href="/nrsvce/romans/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Thus a married woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is discharged from the law concerning the husband.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/romans/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Just as a woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband should die, she is freed from the law of her husband. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> As a woman is bound by the law to her lord as long as he lives? But if her husband is dead, she has been freed from The Written Law of her husband.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/romans/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For the woman that has a husband, is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives: but if her husband die, she is loosed from the law of her husband. <a href="/godbey/romans/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> For a woman who is under her husband has been given to her husband by the law so long as he lives; but if the husband may die, she is free from the law of the husband. <a href="/haweis/romans/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> For the woman who is subject to a husband, is bound by the law to that husband during his life; but if the husband be dead, she is discharged from that husband. <a href="/mace/romans/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> now a married woman is bound by the law to her living husband: but if her husband dieth, she is released from the marriage-contract. <a href="/wey/romans/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> A wife, for instance, whose husband is living is bound to him by the Law; but if her husband dies the law that bound her to him has now no hold over her. <a href="/worrell/romans/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> For the married woman has been bound by law to the living husband; but, if the husband dies, she is loosed from the law of the husband. <a href="/worsley/romans/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> For a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband die, she is discharged from the law of her husband. <a href="/parallel/romans/7-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=1540" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/romans/7.htm">Release from the Law</a> 1Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">For instance,</a> <a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason."></a> <a href="/greek/5220.htm" title="5220: hypandros (Adj-NFS) -- Subject to a husband, married. From hupo and aner; in subjection under a man, i.e. A married woman.">a married</a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynē (N-NFS) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">woman</a> <a href="/greek/1210.htm" title="1210: dedetai (V-RIM/P-3S) -- To bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful. A primary verb; to bind.">is bound</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomō (N-DMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">by law</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">to her</a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andri (N-DMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">husband</a> <a href="/greek/2198.htm" title="2198: zōnti (V-PPA-DMS) -- To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.">as long as he lives.</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/1437.htm" title="1437: ean (Conj) -- If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.">if</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">her</a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: anēr (N-NMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">husband</a> <a href="/greek/599.htm" title="599: apothanē (V-ASA-3S) -- To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.">dies,</a> <a href="/greek/2673.htm" title="2673: katērgētai (V-RIM/P-3S) -- From kata and argeo; to be entirely idle, literally or figuratively.">she is released</a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Prep) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomou (N-GMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">law</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of</a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andros (N-GMS) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">marriage.</a> 3So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a> A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. <a href="/matthew/19-6.htm">Matthew 19:6</a> So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” <a href="/mark/10-9.htm">Mark 10:9</a> Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” <a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a> To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. <a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31</a> “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a> But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/mark/10-11.htm">Mark 10:11-12</a> So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Luke 16:18</a> Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. <a href="/1_corinthians/6-16.htm">1 Corinthians 6:16</a> Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” <a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a> If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ... <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a> Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith. <a href="/matthew/19-8.htm">Matthew 19:8-9</a> Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning. / Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” <a href="/1_corinthians/7-15.htm">1 Corinthians 7:15</a> But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. <a href="/1_peter/3-1.htm">1 Peter 3:1</a> Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.the woman.<a href="/genesis/2-23.htm">Genesis 2:23,24</a> And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man… <a href="/numbers/30-7.htm">Numbers 30:7,8</a> And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand… <a href="/1_corinthians/7-4.htm">1 Corinthians 7:4,39</a> The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/6-13.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/romans/4-21.htm">Bound</a> <a href="/romans/7-1.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/romans/6-13.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/romans/6-9.htm">Dies</a> <a href="/acts/23-1.htm">Discharged</a> <a href="/romans/4-12.htm">Example</a> <a href="/romans/3-28.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/acts/5-10.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/romans/3-7.htm">Instance</a> <a href="/romans/7-1.htm">Law</a> <a href="/john/2-2.htm">Marriage</a> <a href="/john/8-4.htm">Married</a> <a href="/romans/6-17.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/romans/7-1.htm">Power</a> <a href="/acts/26-32.htm">Released</a> <a href="/romans/2-22.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/romans/11-32.htm">Bound</a> <a href="/romans/7-15.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Dies</a> <a href="/romans/7-6.htm">Discharged</a> <a href="/romans/15-5.htm">Example</a> <a href="/romans/7-6.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/romans/7-7.htm">Instance</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Law</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/7-1.htm">Marriage</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Married</a> <a href="/romans/14-10.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/romans/7-6.htm">Power</a> <a href="/romans/7-3.htm">Released</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 7</div>1. <a href="/romans/7-1.htm">No law has power over a man longer than he lives.</a> 4. <a href="/romans/7-4.htm">But we are dead to the law.</a> 7. <a href="/romans/7-7.htm">Yet is not the law sin;</a> 12. <a href="/romans/7-12.htm">but holy, just and good;</a> 16. <a href="/romans/7-16.htm">as I acknowledge, who am grieved because I cannot keep it.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/romans/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/romans/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. In the context of Roman society and Jewish law, marriage was a legally binding contract. The Apostle Paul uses this analogy to illustrate the binding nature of the law. In Jewish tradition, as seen in the Torah, marriage was a covenant that could only be dissolved by death or a formal divorce. This reflects the permanence and seriousness of the marital bond. The law here refers to the Mosaic Law, which governed many aspects of life, including marriage. This phrase emphasizes the lifelong commitment expected in marriage, paralleling the binding nature of the law to those under it. The concept of being "bound" is also seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a>, where Paul reiterates that a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. Death is presented as the only natural means of dissolving the marriage covenant, which is consistent with both Jewish and Roman customs of the time. This release signifies freedom from the legal obligations that were once binding. In the broader theological context, Paul uses this analogy to explain how believers are released from the law through the death of Christ, allowing them to belong to another, namely Christ, who was raised from the dead (<a href="/romans/7-4.htm">Romans 7:4</a>). This release from the law is a key theme in Paul's writings, as seen in <a href="/galatians/3-13.htm">Galatians 3:13</a>, where Christ redeems believers from the curse of the law. The concept of being "released" is significant in understanding the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant in Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/married_woman.htm">Married Woman</a> Represents believers who are bound by the law, illustrating the relationship between law and grace. 2. <a href="/topical/h/husband.htm">Husband</a> Symbolizes the law to which the believer is bound until death, representing the old covenant. 3. <a href="/topical/d/death.htm">Death</a> The event that releases the woman from the law, symbolizing the believer's release from the law through Christ's death.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_law's_purpose.htm">Understanding the Law's Purpose</a> The law serves as a guide to reveal sin, but it is not the means of salvation. Believers are called to live under grace, not the law. <a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_christ.htm">Freedom in Christ</a> Just as a widow is free from the law of marriage, believers are free from the law's condemnation through Christ's death and resurrection. <a href="/topical/n/new_life_in_the_spirit.htm">New Life in the Spirit</a> Embrace the new life offered through the Spirit, which empowers believers to live righteously apart from the law's constraints. <a href="/topical/c/commitment_to_christ.htm">Commitment to Christ</a> Just as marriage is a lifelong commitment, believers are called to a committed relationship with Christ, who fulfills the law on their behalf. <a href="/topical/t/transformation_through_grace.htm">Transformation through Grace</a> Allow the grace of God to transform your life, leading to spiritual growth and maturity beyond the law's requirements.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_romans_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Romans 7</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_remarriage.htm">What does the Bible say about remarriage after widowhood?</a> <a href="/q/is_remarriage_adultery.htm">Is a second marriage considered adultery?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_a_covenant_marriage.htm">What is a covenant marriage?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_1_tim_3_2_apply_to_single_leaders.htm">How does 1 Timothy 3:2’s requirement of being “the husband of one wife” align with modern church leaders who are single, widowed, or divorced? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/romans/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) For the woman which hath an husband.--The illustration is not quite exact. The Law is here represented by the husband, but the Apostle does not mean to say that the Law dies to the Christian, but the Christian to the Law. The proposition must therefore be understood to be stated in a somewhat abstract form. Relations of the kind indicated are terminated by death (not necessarily the death of one party to them more than another). The relation of wife and husband ceases absolutely and entirely on both sides, and not merely so much of it as affects the person who dies.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 2-4. - For (this is an instance of the application of the general principle, adduced as suiting the subject in band) the woman that hath an husband (ὕπανδρος, implying subjection, meaning properly, that is under an husband) is bound to her living husband; but if the husband die, she is loosed (κατήργηται; cf. ver. 6 and <a href="/galatians/5-4.htm">Galatians 5:4</a>. The word expresses the entire abolition of the claim of the husband's law over her) from the law of the husband. So then if, while the husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the Law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit unto God. The general drift of the above verses is plain enough; namely, that, as in all cases death frees a man from the claims of human law, and, in particular, as death frees the wife from the claims of marital law, so that she may marry again, so the death of Christ, into which we were baptized, frees us from the claims of the law which formerly bound us, so that we may be married spiritually to the risen Saviour, apart from the old dominion of law, and consequently of sin. But it is not so easy to explain the intended analogy in precise terms, there being an apparent discrepance between the illustration and the application with regard to the parties supposed to die. Even before the application there is a seeming discrepance of this kind between the general statement of ver. 1 and the instance given in ver. 2. For in ver. 1 it is (according to the view we have taken of it) the death of the person who had been under law that frees him from it, whereas in ver. 2 it is the death of the husband (representing law) that frees the wife from the law she had been under. Hence the interpretation of ver. 1 above referred to, according to which law, and not a man, is the understood nominative to liveth. But, even if this interpretation were considered tenable, we should not thus get rid of the subsequent apparent discrepance between the illustration and the application. For in the former it is the death of the husband that frees the wife; whereas in the latter it seems to be the death of ourselves, who answer to the wife, in the death of Christ, that frees us. For that it is ourselves that are regarded as having died to the Law with Christ appears not only from other passages (e.g. vers. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, in ch. 6.), but also, in the passage before us, from άθανατώθητε in ver. 4, and ἀποθανόντες in ver. 6. (The reading ἀποθανόντος of the Textus Receptus rests on no authority, being apparently only a conjecture of Beza's.) There are various ways of explaining. (1) That (notwithstanding the reasons against the supposition that have just been given) it is the Law, and not the man, that is conceived as having died in the death of Christ. <a href="/ephesians/2-15.htm">Ephesians 2:15</a> and <a href="/colossians/2-14.htm">Colossians 2:14</a> may be referred to as supporting this conception. Thus the illustration and the application are made to hang together, the law of the husband being regarded as having died in the husband's death, as the Law generally to us in Christ's death; and we have already seen how ver. 1 may be forced into correspondence. This view of the Law itself being regarded as having died has the weighty support of Origen, Chrysostom, Theophylact, Ambrose, and other Greek Fathers. Chrysostom accounts for the apostle introducing a different conception in ver. 4: by suggesting that he avoided saying explicitly that the Law had died, for fear of wounding the Jews: Τὸ ἀκόλουθον ῆν αἰπεῖν, Ὤστε ἀδελφοί οὐ κυριεύει ὑμῶν ὁ νόμος ἀπέθανε γάρ Ἀλλ οὐκ εῖπεν οὕτως ἴνα μὴ πλήξη τοὺς Ιουδαίους. This explanation hardly commends itself as satisfactory; and besides, in addition to what has been already said, it may be observed that throughout the whole passage there is no phrase to suggest in itself the idea of the Law's death, but only of some death which emancipates from law (ver. I being taken in its natural sense, and ἀποθάνοντες, in ver. 4, being accepted as the undoubtedly true reading). (2) That in the illustration the wife is really supposed to die when the husband dies. The death of either party to the marriage-bond cancels it; and when one dies, the other virtually dies to the law that both were under. Thus the statement of principle in ver. 1, the particular illustration in vers. 2, 3, and the application are made to hang together. Meyer takes this view decidedly, and cites <a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Ephesians 5:28</a>, seq., to show that the husband's death may be considered as implying the wife's death also. (3) That there is a discrepance between the illustration and the application, the husband being regarded as dying in the former, and ourselves, who represent the wife, in the latter; but that this is of no consequence; the idea, common to both, of death abrogating the claims of law being sufficient for the apostle's argument. Death, it may be said, however regarded in the application, is an ideal conception, and not an actual fact with respect to ourselves; and it is immaterial how it is regarded, as long as the idea comes out that through death, i.e. ours in the death of Christ, we are freed from the dominion of law. (So, in effect, De Wette, and also Alford.) . . . <a href="/commentaries/romans/7-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>For instance, ἡ (hē) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. a married ὕπανδρος (hypandros) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5220.htm">Strong's 5220: </a> Subject to a husband, married. From hupo and aner; in subjection under a man, i.e. A married woman. woman γυνὴ (gynē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife. is bound δέδεται (dedetai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1210.htm">Strong's 1210: </a> To bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful. A primary verb; to bind. by law νόμῳ (nomō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. to [her] τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. husband ἀνδρὶ (andri) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. as long as he lives. ζῶντι (zōnti) Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2198.htm">Strong's 2198: </a> To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live. But δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. if ἐὰν (ean) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1437.htm">Strong's 1437: </a> If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc. [her] ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. husband ἀνήρ (anēr) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. dies, ἀποθάνῃ (apothanē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_599.htm">Strong's 599: </a> To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off. she is released κατήργηται (katērgētai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2673.htm">Strong's 2673: </a> From kata and argeo; to be entirely idle, literally or figuratively. from ἀπὸ (apo) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_575.htm">Strong's 575: </a> From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. law νόμου (nomou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. of τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. [marriage]. ἀνδρός (andros) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/romans/7-2.htm">NT Letters: Romans 7:2 For the woman that has a husband (Rom. Ro) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/romans/7-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Romans 7:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Romans 7:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/romans/7-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Romans 7:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Romans 7:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>