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Romans 7:2

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 7:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Romans 7:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?
2For 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.
3So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined 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 joined to another man.
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, [even] to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
← Romans 7:1Romans 7:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the woman which hath an husband, etc..] The former general rule is here illustrated by a particular instance and example in the law of marriage; a woman that is married to a man, is bound by the law to her husband; to live with him, in subjection and obedience to him, so long as he liveth; except in the cases of adultery, (<401909>Matthew 19:9), and desertion, (<460715>1 Corinthians 7:15), by which the bond of marriage is loosed, and for which a divorce or separation may be made, which are equal to death: but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband; the bond of marriage is dissolved, the law of it is abolished, and she is at entire liberty to marry whom she…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“if her husband be dead--"die." So Rom 7:3.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For the woman - This verse is a specific illustration of the general principle in Romans 7:1, that death dissolves those connections and relations which make law binding in life. It is a simple illustration; and if this had been kept in mind, it would have saved much of the perplexity which has been felt by many commentators, and much of their wild vagaries in endeavoring to show that “men are the wife, the law of the former husband, and Christ the new one;” or that “the old man is the wife, sinful desires the husband, sins the children.” Beza. (See Stuart.) Such expositions are sufficient to humble us, and to make us mourn over the puerile and fanciful interpretations which even wise and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“She is freed from the law of her husband - From that law which gave him a peculiar property in her. Romans 7:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:2-3 These verses are not an allegory, in which every element of the story has a theological counterpart. Paul simply cites an illustration to make two basic points: Death can release a person from obligation to the law, and freedom from one relationship can allow a person to establish a new one. Paul applies the illustration in 7:4.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the woman: Rather, a woman. The apostle here illustrates the position laid down in the preceding verse by a familiar instance. Gen 2:23, Gen 2:24; Num 30:7, Num 30:8; Co1 7:4, Co1 7:39 Romans 7:3”
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Related study paths

Read Romans 7 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification