2COR 12:7 Parallel View

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The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

OET (OET-RV) So to keep my head from getting too big because of those incredible revelations, I was given a ‘thorn’ in my body—Satan’s messenger to harass me and keep me from becoming conceited.

Key: yellow:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And because of the surpassing nature of the revelations, therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a messenger of Satan—so that he might buffet me, so that I would not become arrogant.[fn]

Some ancient manuscripts do not include so that I would not become arrogant.

UST So then, in order that I might not become proud because God revealed such great things to me, he allowed me to suffer. Specifically, a spiritual being whom Satan sent made me suffer. That way, I might not become proud.

BSB or because of these surpassingly great revelations.
§ So to keep me from becoming conceited,[fn] I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

12:7 Some translators end the previous paragraph after verse 6, and begin verse 7 with So to keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations,

BLB and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, that I should not become conceited, a thorn in my flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not become conceited.

AICNT And {because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become conceited, a thorn in the flesh was given to me},[fn] an angel of Satan, to torment me, so that I would not become conceited.

12:7, Later manuscripts read “And to keep me from being too elated because of the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh.” BYZ TR

OEB It was for this reason, and to prevent my thinking too highly of myself, that a thorn was sent to pierce my flesh – an instrument of Satan to discipline me – so that I should not think too highly of myself.

WEB By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.

MSG ^(7-10)Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
* * *

NET even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.

LSV and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted too much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might batter me, that I might not be exalted too much.

FBV Also, because these revelations were so amazingly great, and so that I wouldn't become proud, I was given a “thorn in my flesh”[fn]—a messenger from Satan to hurt me so that I wouldn't become proud.

12:7 Probably some physical problem in Paul's body.

TCNT And to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations I received, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me so that I would not become conceited.

T4T In order that I might not become proud because of those many wonderful things that Christ revealed to me, God permitted Satan to send a messenger to humble me (OR, to make me sick). What that messenger did to me was painful, like [MET] a thorn pricking my body.

LEB even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself.

BBE And because the revelations were so very great, in order that I might not be overmuch lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, one sent from Satan to give me pain.

MOF No MOF 2COR book available

ASV And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

DRA And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

YLT and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

DBY And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.

RV And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations—wherefore, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.

WBS And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

KJB And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

BB And lest I shoulde be exalted out of measure through the aboundaunce of the reuelations, there was geuen vnto me a pricke to the fleshe, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
(And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundaunce of the reuelations, there was given unto me a pricke to the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.)

GNV And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
(And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was given unto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure. )

CB And lest I shulde exalte my selfe out of measure because of the hye reuelacions, there is a warnynge geuen vnto my flesh, euen ye messaunger of Satan, to buffet me, that I shulde not exalte my selfe out off measure:
(And lest I should exalte my self out of measure because of the high reuelacions, there is a warnynge given unto my flesh, even ye/you_all messaunger of Satan, to buffet me, that I should not exalte my self out off measure:)

TNT And lest I shuld be exalted out of measure thorow the aboundance of revelacions ther was geven vnto me vnquyetnes of the flesshe the messenger of Satan to buffet me: be cause I shuld not be exalted out of measure
(And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of revelacions there was given unto me unquyetnes of the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me: be cause I should not be exalted out of measure )

WYC And lest the greetnesse of reuelaciouns enhaunse me in pride, the pricke of my fleisch, an aungel of Sathanas, is youun to me, that he buffate me.
(And lest the greetnesse of reuelaciouns enhaunse me in pride, the pricke of my flesh, an angel of Satan, is given to me, that he buffate me.)

LUT Und auf daß ich mich nicht der hoher Offenbarung überhebe, ist mir gegeben ein Pfahl ins Fleisch, nämlich des Satanas Engel, der mich mit Fäusten schlage, auf daß ich mich nicht überhebe.
(And on that I me not the hoher Offenbarung überhebe, is to_me gegeben a Pfahl into_the flesh, namely the Satanas angel, the me with Fäusten schlage, on that I me not überhebe.)

CLV Et ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me, datus est mihi stimulus carnis meæ angelus Satanæ, qui me colaphizet.[fn]
(And ne magnitudo revelationum extollat me, datus it_is mihi stimulus carnis my angelus Satanæ, who me colaphizet.)

12.7 Et ne magnitudo. Parco multum gloriari, ne alter puter. Et ideo datus est stimulus pungens carnem. Quis? angelus malignus missus a Satana, ut colaphizet, id est reprimat omnem motum superbiæ incutiendo tribulationes, vel tentando (ut quidam aiunt) per libidinem. Tentatio autem cui non consentitur, non est peccatum, sed materia exercendæ virtutis.

12.7 And ne magnitudo. Parco multum gloriari, ne alter puter. And ideo datus it_is stimulus pungens carnem. Quis? angelus malignus missus a Satana, as colaphizet, id it_is reprimat omnem motum superbiæ incutiendo tribulationes, or tentando (ut quidam aiunt) per libidinem. Tentatio however cui not/no consentitur, not/no it_is peccatum, but materia exercendæ virtutis.

UGNT καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.
(kai taʸ huperbolaʸ tōn apokalupseōn, dio hina maʸ huperairōmai, edothaʸ moi skolops taʸ sarki, angelos Satana, hina me kolafizaʸ, hina maʸ huperairōmai.)

SBL-GNT καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων. ⸀διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος ⸀Σατανᾶ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ⸂ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι⸃.
(kai taʸ huperbolaʸ tōn apokalupseōn. ⸀dio hina maʸ huperairōmai, edothaʸ moi skolops taʸ sarki, angelos ⸀Satana, hina me kolafizaʸ, ⸂hina maʸ huperairōmai⸃. )

TC-GNT Καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων [fn]ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος [fn]Σατᾶν, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι.
(Kai taʸ huperbolaʸ tōn apokalupseōn hina maʸ huperairōmai, edothaʸ moi skolops taʸ sarki, angelos Satan, hina me kolafizaʸ, hina maʸ huperairōmai.)

12:7 ινα ¦ διο ινα CT

12:7 σαταν ¦ σατανα CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι

and ˱by˲_the excess ˱of˲_the revelations therefore in_order_that not ˱I˲_/may_be_being/_exalted

Here, the phrase because of the surpassing nature of the revelations could go with: (1) this verse. In this case, the word therefore is in an unusual position in the middle of the sentence, and you may need to move it to the beginning of the sentence. Alternate translation: “Therefore, because of the surpassing nature of revelations, so that I would not become super arrogant” (2) the end of the previous verse. If you follow this interpretation, you will need to end the previous verse with no punctuation. Alternate translation: “and also because of the surpassing nature of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become super arrogant”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων

˱by˲_the excess ˱of˲_the revelations

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe the revelations as surpassing. He could mean that the revelations: (1) were very great. Alternate translation: “because of how amazing the revelations were” (2) were very many. Alternate translation: “because of how many revelations I received”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί

/was/_given ˱to˲_me /a/_thorn ˱in˲_my flesh

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: “God gave me a thorn in the flesh”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί

/a/_thorn ˱in˲_my flesh

Here Paul speaks as if a thorn was stabbing him in the flesh. He could mean that: (1) he had a sickness or ailment that affected his flesh, that is, his body. Alternate translation: “a thorn in the flesh, that is, sickness,” (2) people opposed him and his ministry. Alternate translation: “a thorn in the flesh, that is, people opposing me,” (3) a demon attacked him. Alternate translation: “a thorn in the flesh, that is, a demon,”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ

/a/_messenger ˱of˲_Satan

Here Paul refers to a messenger or angel that came from or was sent by Satan, the devil. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “Satan’s angel” or “someone sent by Satan”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κολαφίζῃ

˱he˲_/may_be/_tormenting

Here Paul speaks as if the messenger of Satan were physically buffeting or hitting him. He means that the messenger caused him to suffer in some physical way. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in plain language. Alternate translation: “he might hurt”

Note 7 topic: translate-textvariants

(Occurrence 2) ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι

in_order_that in_order_that not ˱I˲_/may_be_being/_exalted

Here most ancient manuscripts include the clause so that I would not become super arrogant. The ULT follows that reading. Some ancient manuscripts do not have this clause. Most likely, this clause was accidentally omitted because Paul had already said it once. So, it is recommended that you use the reading of the ULT.

Parallel 2COR 12:7