Bible Strands

Romans 5:13

For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, positioning this statement between his explanation of Adam’s transgression and his observation on death’s reign from Adam to Moses. He addresses the logical gap regarding how sin functioned before the Mosaic covenant.

The words — γὰρ (gar) translates literally as “for,” introducing a causal explanation. νόμου (nomou) means “law,” specifically denoting the revealed Mosaic code in this context.

The thread — This concept runs parallel to Romans 4:15’s claim that “where there is no law, there is no transgression,” 1 Corinthians 15:56’s link between law and sin’s power, and 1 John 3:4’s equation of sin with lawlessness. It directly bridges the theological gap between Romans 5:12 and 5:14.

Why it lands — The text asserts that sin existed prior to Mosaic law but is not legally counted without a written standard. It requires the reader to distinguish between the mere presence of sin and the formal accountability that follows divine revelation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἄχριachriUntilγὰρgarforνόμουnomou[the] lawἁμαρτίαhamartiasinἦνēnwasἐνenin [the]κόσμῳ,kosmōworld,ἁμαρτίαhamartiasinδὲdehoweverοὐκouknotἐλλογεῖταιellogeitaiis imputedμὴmēnotὄντοςontosthere beingνόμου·nomoulaw;

King James Version

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Cross-references