What is the meaning of Romans 7:12?

So then

Paul draws a clear conclusion from his argument that sin—not the Law—is the culprit behind spiritual death (Romans 7:7–11).

• He signals a logical pivot: “So then” ties everything back to verses 5–11, where the Law exposed sin’s true nature.

• The phrase underscores that believers must think correctly: the problem lies in us, not in God’s statutes (Romans 7:14; Galatians 3:24).

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The law is holy

“The law” speaks of the entire Mosaic revelation.

• Holy means set apart for God’s purposes, completely free from moral defect (Psalm 19:7; 1 Peter 1:16).

• By revealing God’s character, the Law shows what holiness looks like in daily life (Leviticus 19:2; Romans 3:31).

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And the commandment is holy

Paul narrows from the whole Law to each specific command.

• Every individual precept—from “You shall not covet” (Romans 7:7) to “Love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9)—bears God’s holy stamp.

• The commandments expose unholiness in us, but they themselves remain uncontaminated (Psalm 119:96).

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Righteous

Righteous indicates perfect justice and moral rightness.

• The Law’s standards reflect God’s own justice (Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 119:137).

• Because the Law is righteous, it rightly condemns sin and points us to our need for Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:20–22; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

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And good

Good stresses the Law’s beneficial nature.

• Far from being harsh or arbitrary, God’s commands promote life, blessing, and well-being (Deuteronomy 30:15–16; Psalm 119:68).

• Properly used, the Law is “good if one uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8), steering us toward what pleases God (James 1:17).

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summary

Romans 7:12 insists that God’s Law—taken as a whole and in every single command—is entirely holy, perfectly just, and thoroughly good. Any struggle we feel under its spotlight comes from sin within us, not from a flaw in what God has spoken. Seeing the Law this way heightens our gratitude for Christ, who fulfilled it for us and, by the Spirit, enables us to walk in its good, righteous, and holy ways (Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:3–4).