Bible Strands
Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses Roman believers, describing his internal conflict immediately after stating in verse 14 that he remains "unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin." The words — γινώσκω (ginōskō) means "I understand," and ὃ (ho) means "what," structuring the speaker's admission that his self-knowledge fails to align with his actions. The thread — The same struggle appears in Galatians 5:17, Romans 7:19, and Ecclesiastes 7:20, which trace the consistent biblical pattern of opposed desires and repeated failure. Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge the reality of acting against their own moral convictions, establishing a baseline of honest self-assessment before any theological resolution.
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
King James Version
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Cross-references
- Galatians 5:17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
- Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
- Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
- Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Psalms 19:12 Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
- Romans 14:22 Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.