O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

ROMANS 7:24KJV
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Romans 7:24 (KJV)

What does Romans 7:24 mean?

Romans 7:24 expresses Paul’s distress over a struggle with sin and his longing to be rescued from it. His question, “who shall deliver me,” turns from describing the struggle to seeking someone who can free him.

The phrase “the body of this death” gives that distress a bodily image. After describing sin at work in his body in verse 23, Paul speaks of his body as bound up with death.

The Greek behind Romans 7:24

  • “wretched” — ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros): This word carries the sense of being miserable or afflicted. Paul’s cry expresses distress, not merely disappointment.
  • “deliver” — ῥύομαι (rhyomai): This word means to rescue or draw someone out of danger. Paul asks for a rescuer, rather than simply asking how to improve his conduct.

Why Romans 7:24 matters

  • The question prepares for an answer centered on a person. In the next verse, Paul gives thanks to God “through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  • The struggle has involved opposing desires within the speaker. In verse 22, Paul says he delights in God’s law, while verse 23 describes another force at work against him.
  • Christians differ on whether Paul is describing his experience as a believer or speaking from another point of view.

Where else these words appear

“wretched” Greek G5005 · used in 2 verses

  • Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

“deliver” Greek G4506 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
  • Romans 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
  • 2 Timothy 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

“this” Greek G5127 · used in 72 verses

  • Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
  • John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
  • Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

“death” Greek G2288 · used in 106 verses

  • Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
  • Acts 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
  • Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.