Bible Strands
Romans 7:24
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman believers while cataloging the internal conflict between his renewed mind and the lingering power of indwelling sin. He speaks in the first person to articulate the tension between spiritual desire and physical inability.
The words — ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros) literally means "wretched," and ῥύσεται (rhusetai) means "will deliver." These terms capture the speaker’s direct cry for liberation from a "body of death."
The thread — The plea for rescue parallels the deliverance from evil in 2 Timothy 4:18 and the redemption from lawlessness in Titus 2:14, while the "body of death" contrasts with the crucified old self in Romans 6:6.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human effort cannot break the cycle of sin, pointing directly to the need for divine intervention through Jesus Christ. It requires the reader to acknowledge dependence on God’s rescue rather than self-reliance.
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
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Cross-references
- Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Romans 8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
- Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
- Psalms 102:20 to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
- Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Hebrews 2:15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
- Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”