Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 4:15 in other translations
| BSB | because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. |
|---|---|
| WEB | For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. |
| ASV | for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. |
| YLT | for the law doth work wrath; for where law is not, neither is transgression. |
| DARBY | For law works wrath; but where no law is neither is there transgression. |
| BBE | For the outcome of the law is wrath; but where there is no law it will not be broken. |
| Webster | Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. |
What does Romans 4:15 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:13-15
13-15. For the promise, &c.--This is merely an enlargement of the foregoing reasoning, applying to the law what had just been said of circumcision. that he should be the heir of the world--or, that "all the families of the earth should be blessed in him." was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law--in virtue of obedience to the law. but through the righteousness of faith--in virtue of his simple faith in the…
Barnes' Notes
Worketh wrath. Produces or causes wrath. While man is fallen, and a sinner, its tendency, so far from justifying him, and producing peace, is just the reverse. It condemns, denounces wrath, and produces suffering. The word wrath here is to be taken in the sense of punishment, Rom 2:8; and the meaning is, that the law of God, demanding perfect purity, and denouncing every sin, condemns the sinner, and consigns him to punishment. As the apostle had proved Rom 1:1-3:29 that all were sinners, so it followed that if any attempted to be justified by the law, they would be involved only in condemnation and wrath.
For where no law is, etc. This is a general principle; a maxim of common justice and of common sense. Law is a rule of conduct. If no such rule is given and known, there can be no crime. Law expresses what may be done, and what may not be done. If there is no command to pursue a certain course, no injunction to forbid certain conduct, actions will be innocent. The connexion in which this declaration is made here seems to imply, that as the Jews had a multitude of clear laws, and as the Gentiles had the laws of nature, there could be no hope of escape from the charge of their violation. Since human nature was depraved, and men were prone to sin, the more just and reasonable the laws, the less hope was there of being justified by the law, and the more certainty was there that the law would produce wrath and condemnation.
(r) "law worketh wrath" Rom 5:20 (s) "no law is" 1Jn 3:4
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 4:13-22
The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who…
Romans 4:15 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Romans 4:15
- Romans 5:13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
- Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
- Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- 1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
- Romans 7:7-25
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. …
- Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
- John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- 2 Corinthians 3:7-9
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
- 1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
- Acts 17:30-31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
- Romans 2:12-13
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:17; 2:5,6; 3:19,20; 5:13,20,21; 7:7-11; Nu 32:14; De 29:20-28
2Ki 22:13; Jer 4:8; La 2:22; Eze 7:19; Zep 1:18; Joh 3:36; 15:22
Ac 17:30,31; 1Co 15:56; 2Co 3:7-9; Ga 3:10,19; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6
1Jo 3:4; Re 6:16,17; 19:15
where.
2:12,13; 5:13
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Romans 4:14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
- Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
- Romans 4:16
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 4:15 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque la ley obra ira; porque donde no hay ley, tampoco hay transgresión. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | car la loi produit la colère, mais là où il n’y a pas de loi, il n’y a pas non plus de transgression. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn das Gesetz bewirkt Zorn; aber wo kein Gesetz ist, da ist auch keine Übertretung. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Lex enim iram operatur. Ubi enim non est lex, nec prævaricatio. |