Bound and Released: Conditional Clauses and Genitive Absolutes in Romans 7:3

ἄρα οὖν ζῶντος τοῦ ἀνδρὸς μοιχαλὶς χρηματίσει ἐὰν γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου, τοῦ μὴ εἶναι αὐτὴν μοιχαλίδα γενομένην ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ· (Romans 7:3)

Paul’s Analogy: Law, Marriage, and Moral Freedom

Romans 7:3 stands in the midst of Paul’s discussion about the believer’s release from the Law through death — illustrated through the analogy of a married woman. In this verse, Paul uses conditional clauses, articular infinitives, and participles to clarify moral status under changing legal conditions. The grammatical structure serves the theological argument that death frees one from legal obligation.

1. Double Conditional Structure: ἐὰν γένηται… ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ

Paul uses two conditional clauses to establish contrasting situations.

First Condition (Present Contrary): ἐὰν γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ

  • ἐὰν – Introduces a conditional clause, typically with subjunctive verbs
  • γένηται – Aorist subjunctive middle/passive, 3rd person singular of γίνομαι, “she becomes”
  • ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ – Dative of personal relationship: “to another man”

Translation:
“If she becomes [joined] to another man…”

This is a hypothetical legal infraction — remarriage while the husband is still alive.

Second Condition (Contrast): ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνήρ

  • ἀποθάνῃ – Aorist subjunctive of ἀποθνῄσκω, “to die”
  • ὁ ἀνήρ – “the husband” (subject)

Translation:
“But if the husband dies…”

This grammatical reversal allows the woman to be legally released.

2. Legal Identity: μοιχαλὶς χρηματίσει

  • μοιχαλίς – Feminine predicate noun: “an adulteress”
  • χρηματίσει – Future active indicative of χρηματίζω, “she will be called/declared”

This verb often denotes a status or role officially recognized. It’s not just that she commits adultery — she is labeled as such by law or society.

Translation:
“She will be called an adulteress…”

3. Legal Release: ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου

  • ἐλευθέρα – Feminine predicate adjective, “free”
  • ἐστὶν – Present indicative of εἰμί, “is”
  • ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου – Prepositional phrase, “from the law” (ablative of separation)

The woman is released from legal obligation through the husband’s death. This illustrates Paul’s theological point: death severs law’s authority.

4. Articular Infinitive of Result: τοῦ μὴ εἶναι… μοιχαλίδα

  • τοῦ μὴ εἶναιArticular infinitive with negative μή: “in order that she might not be” or “so that she is not”
  • αὐτὴν μοιχαλίδα – Accusative subject and predicate: “an adulteress”
  • γενομένην ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ – Aorist middle participle: “having become another man’s [wife]”

This entire clause shows the result of being freed from the law. The grammar implies freedom from legal and moral accusation after the husband’s death.

Summary Table: Contrast of Legal Outcomes

Condition Status Grammar Feature
Ἐὰν γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ (while husband lives) μοιχαλίς χρηματίσει (will be called adulteress) Future Indicative, Conditional Clause
Ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν (she is free) Present Indicative, Conditional + Articular Infinitive

Where Grammar Meets Theology

This verse offers a clear demonstration of how Greek grammar — especially conditionals, participles, and infinitives — serves Paul’s theological reasoning. The conditional moods express moral options. The future and present verbs mark distinctions between legal bondage and freedom. And the articular infinitive captures the legal effect of death on relational categories.

Through the death of one, a new identity emerges. Not just grammatically — but spiritually.

About Advanced Greek Grammar

Mastering Advanced New Testament Greek Grammar – A comprehensive guide for serious students. Beyond basic vocabulary and morphology, advanced grammar provides the tools to discern nuanced syntactic constructions, rhetorical techniques, and stylistic variations that shape theological meaning and authorial intent. It enables readers to appreciate textual subtleties such as aspectual force, discourse structuring, and pragmatic emphases—insights often obscured in translation. For those engaging in exegesis, theology, or textual criticism, advanced Greek grammar is indispensable for navigating the complex interplay between language, context, and interpretation in the New Testament.
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