Romans 7:2

“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.”

Context:This verse is part of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, in which he addresses various aspects of Christian living, the law, and the nature of sin. In Romans 7, Paul specifically discusses the relationship between the law and sin, using the analogy of marriage to illustrate his point.

In Romans 7:2, Paul focuses on the legal and binding nature of the marital relationship. He states that a woman who is married is bound by the law to her husband as long as he is alive. This emphasises the permanence and exclusivity of the marriage covenant. It reflects the understanding that marriage is a lifelong commitment and that the husband and wife are bound together in a sacred union.

However, Paul continues to explain that if the husband dies, the woman is released from the law that bound her to him. This means that death severs the marital bond, freeing the woman from the obligations and responsibilities associated with the marriage covenant. In the context of Paul’s analogy, the woman is no longer bound by the law of her husband and is free to remarry if she chooses.

The main purpose of this analogy is to illustrate a spiritual truth regarding the relationship between the law and sin. Paul uses the analogy of marriage to highlight that believers were once bound by the law, which revealed their sinfulness but could not provide salvation. However, through Christ’s death and resurrection, believers are freed from the law, just as the woman is freed from the law of her husband through his death.

This passage ultimately points to the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice and the believer’s new life in Him. It highlights the transition from living under the law to living under grace, emphasising the believer’s freedom from the condemnation and bondage of sin.