That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.

NLTNew Living Translation

Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one’s account when there is no law.

KJV 1900King James Version

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

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