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2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13

2 Cor 12 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21

OET interlinear 2 COR 12:7

◄ ← 2 COR 12:7 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Καί
    2. kai
    3. And
    4. So and
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y60
    11. 124962
    1. τῇ
    2. ho
    3. by the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····DFS
    7. ˱by˲ the
    8. ˱by˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124963
    1. ὑπερβολῇ
    2. huperbolē
    3. excess
    4. -
    5. 52360
    6. N····DFS
    7. excess
    8. excess
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124964
    1. τῶν
    2. ho
    3. of the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124965
    1. ἀποκαλύψεων
    2. apokalupsis
    3. revelations
    4. revelations
    5. 6020
    6. N····GFP
    7. revelations
    8. revelations
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124966
    1. διό
    2. dio
    3. therefore
    4. -
    5. 13520
    6. C·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124967
    1. ἵνα
    2. hina
    3. in order that
    4. -
    5. 24430
    6. C·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124968
    1. μή
    2. mē
    3. not
    4. -
    5. 33610
    6. D·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124969
    1. ὑπεραίρωμαι
    2. huperairō
    3. I may be being exalted
    4. -
    5. 52290
    6. VSPP1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    9. -
    10. Y60; R123972; Person=Paul
    11. 124970
    1. ἐδόθη
    2. didōmi
    3. was given
    4. given
    5. 13250
    6. VIAP3··S
    7. ˓was˒ given
    8. ˓was˒ given
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124971
    1. μοί
    2. egō
    3. to me
    4. -
    5. 14730
    6. R···1D·S
    7. ˱to˲ me
    8. ˱to˲ me
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124972
    1. σκόλοψ
    2. skolops
    3. +a thorn
    4. ‘thorn
    5. 46470
    6. N····NMS
    7. ˓a˒ thorn
    8. ˓a˒ thorn
    9. -
    10. Y60; F124986; F124992
    11. 124973
    1. τῇ
    2. ho
    3. in my
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····DFS
    7. ˱in˲ my
    8. ˱in˲ my
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124974
    1. σαρκί
    2. sarka
    3. flesh
    4. -
    5. 45610
    6. N····DFS
    7. flesh
    8. flesh
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124975
    1. ἄγγελος
    2. aŋgelos
    3. +a messenger
    4. messenger
    5. 320
    6. N····NMS
    7. ˓a˒ messenger
    8. ˓a˒ messenger
    9. -
    10. Y60; F124980
    11. 124976
    1. Σατανᾶ
    2. satanas
    3. of Satan/(Sāţān)
    4. -
    5. 45660
    6. N····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ Satan/(Sāţān)
    8. ˱of˲ Satan
    9. U
    10. Person=Satan; Y60
    11. 124977
    1. ἵνα
    2. hina
    3. in order that
    4. -
    5. 24430
    6. C·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124978
    1. μέ
    2. egō
    3. me
    4. -
    5. 14730
    6. R···1A·S
    7. me
    8. me
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124979
    1. κολαφίζῃ
    2. kolafizō
    3. he may be tormenting
    4. -
    5. 28520
    6. VSPA3··S
    7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ tormenting
    8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ tormenting
    9. -
    10. Y60; R124976
    11. 124980
    1. ἵνα
    2. hina
    3. in order that
    4. -
    5. 24430
    6. C·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124981
    1. μή
    2. mē
    3. not
    4. -
    5. 33610
    6. D·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124982
    1. ὑπεραίρωμαι
    2. huperairō
    3. I may be being exalted
    4. -
    5. 52290
    6. VSPP1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    9. -
    10. Y60; R123972; Person=Paul
    11. 124983

OET (OET-LV) And by_the excess of_the revelations, therefore in_order_that not I _may_be_being_exalted, was_given to_me a_thorn in_my flesh, a_messenger of_Satan/(Sāţān), in_order_that me he_may_be_tormenting, in_order_that not I _may_be_being_exalted.

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.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–10: Paul’s vision and God’s promise to him

In this section, Paul continued boasting, but now about a vision he received (12:1). He spoke of a man who had seen into heaven through a vision (12:2). He indicated in 12:7 that he was the man who had seen the vision. But he spoke of another man to avoid sounding as if he was boasting. He did not want people to stop honoring him because he had seen that vision. He was not sure whether his body had been taken to heaven or whether it was only a vision (12:3). In the vision he saw amazing things (12:4). He told the Corinthians that regarding himself, he would only boast of his weaknesses (12:5). He explained why he normally avoided speaking of that vision (12:6).

Paul told of a physical ailment and why he had it (12:7). He told them that he had prayed that God would heal it (12:8). But God had said that he would not heal it. He promised that his grace would be enough to help Paul in all that he did (12:9a). God said that having that physical ailment would help show that God’s power was working though Paul (12:9b). So Paul was glad to boast in this weakness (12:9c), because when he was weak, then God’s power was strong (12:9d). He explained why he was happy when trouble occurred (12:10).

Other examples for this section heading are:

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn (NIV)

Paul discovered that God’s grace was sufficient when he was weak

God’s grace and power shown through human weakness

12:7a

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited,

or: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as or indicates that Paul continues talking about revelations from God but now identifies himself as the man who received these revelations. This conjunction is commonly translated as “and.”

There is some contrast to Paul boasting about his experiences (12:6a–c), so the GNT says:

But (GNT)

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit this conjunction.

because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited: In the Greek, the phrase because of these surpassingly great revelations occurs at the beginning of the verse. English versions interpret in two different ways how this phrase connects to the context:

  1. It connects to the rest of 12:7a. For example:

    But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw (GNT) (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NASB, REB, NCV, ESV, KJV)

  2. It connects to 12:6d–f (“But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me”). For example:

    6dBut I refrain from it, 6eso that no one may think better of me 6fthan what is seen in me or heard from me, 7aeven considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated (NRSV) (NJB, NIV11, NRSV, NABRE, NLT, CEV, GW, NET)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Harris (p. 828), Thrall (p. 772), and Barrett (p. 305), translate according to interpretation (1). Thrall takes over two pages to describe the problem and her reasoning for choosing interpretation (1).

to keep me from: The verb phrase keep…from refers here to preventing something. God allowed a physical ailment to affect Paul to prevent him from being conceited. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in order to prevent my (JBP)

So that I would not become (NCV)

in order that I might not

becoming conceited: This phrase refers to being overly proud of oneself. Paul, after seeing Paradise, might have become too proud because he had seen it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

exalting myself (NASB)

feel too proud (CEV)

become arrogant (NET)

these surpassingly great revelations: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as surpassingly great:

  1. It indicates that the revelations were very great. For example:

    the exceptional greatness of the revelations (NJB) (BSB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, NASB, NLT, CEV, NET, REB, NCV, ESV)

  2. It indicates that there were very many revelations. For example:

    the abundance of revelations (RSV) (RSV, NABRE, GW, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Harris (p. 828) translates the Greek phrase as “the extraordinary nature of the revelations.” Thrall (p. 772) translates it as “the extraordinary quality of the revelations.” Martin (p. 388) translates it as “the extraordinary revelations.” The GNT (“many wonderful”) interprets the Greek word both ways, but this seems unlikely here.

these: This word indicates that Paul was speaking of the revelations in 12:2–4.

surpassingly great: The Greek word that the BSB translates surpassingly great means “beyond measure, to the extreme, exceptional.” Other ways to translate the Greek word are:

extraordinary character (NET)

magnificence (REB)

General Comment on 12:7a

The reason occurs second here. In some languages it is more natural to have the reason first. For example:

I had these surpassingly great revelations, so to keep me from becoming conceited

12:7b

I was given a thorn in my flesh,

I was given a thorn: This clause is passive. God allowed Satan to give the thorn to Paul. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God allowed a thorn to torment me

thorn: This is a metaphor. It probably refers to a physical ailment or continuous suffering of some kind. Paul never explained exactly what the thorn was.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to an actual thorn. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

in my flesh: This phrase refers to Paul’s body. For example:

in my body

12:7c

a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

a messenger of Satan: This phrase explains the phrase “a thorn in my flesh.” The word messenger could refer to:

  1. A demon tormenting Paul’s body in some way.

  2. A metaphor for the suffering. Satan caused Paul to suffer in some way.

Translate in a way that allows either one or both of these meanings.

Satan: The word Satan is the Hebrew name of the chief or leader of all the evil spirits. In Hebrew his name means “enemy.” He is the enemy of God and God’s people. Translate this word as you did in 2:11 and 11:14.

to torment me.: Paul repeated the phrase (“to keep me from becoming conceited,” 12:7a) here to emphasize that meaning. The BSB chose not to repeat it here. That meaning is more important than who was tormenting him. Paul realized that God’s purpose for this suffering was to keep Paul humble. Other ways to translate this emphasis are:

to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! (NASB)

to torment me. As I said, this was to keep me from becoming conceited.

Translate “to keep me from becoming conceited” as you did in 12:7a.

torment: This word refers to hitting someone or causing someone pain in some way over a period of time. Other ways to translate this word are:

beat (GNT)

make…suffer (CEV)

cause pain

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων διό ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι ἐδόθη μοί σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ ἵνα μέ κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι)

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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων διό ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι ἐδόθη μοί σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ ἵνα μέ κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι)

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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων διό ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι ἐδόθη μοί σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ ἵνα μέ κολαφίζῃ ἵνα μή ὑπεραίρωμαι)

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.

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

12:1-7 Paul’s accusers at Corinth leveled the charge that Paul did not have ecstatic spiritual experiences. He was no mystic, they said, but a plain person with no impressive gift (see 10:10). So even though Paul’s authority did not come from visions and revelations from the Lord, he reveals his secret that he did, in fact, have such experiences.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. And
    2. So and
    3. 25320
    4. S
    5. kai
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y60
    11. 124962
    1. by the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····DFS
    7. ˱by˲ the
    8. ˱by˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124963
    1. excess
    2. -
    3. 52360
    5. huperbolē
    6. N-····DFS
    7. excess
    8. excess
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124964
    1. of the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124965
    1. revelations
    2. revelations
    3. 6020
    5. apokalupsis
    6. N-····GFP
    7. revelations
    8. revelations
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124966
    1. therefore
    2. -
    3. 13520
    5. dio
    6. C-·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124967
    1. in order that
    2. -
    3. 24430
    5. hina
    6. C-·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124968
    1. not
    2. -
    3. 33610
    5. mē
    6. D-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124969
    1. I may be being exalted
    2. -
    3. 52290
    5. huperairō
    6. V-SPP1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    9. -
    10. Y60; R123972; Person=Paul
    11. 124970
    1. was given
    2. given
    3. 13250
    5. didōmi
    6. V-IAP3··S
    7. ˓was˒ given
    8. ˓was˒ given
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124971
    1. to me
    2. -
    3. 14730
    5. egō
    6. R-···1D·S
    7. ˱to˲ me
    8. ˱to˲ me
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124972
    1. +a thorn
    2. ‘thorn
    3. 46470
    5. skolops
    6. N-····NMS
    7. ˓a˒ thorn
    8. ˓a˒ thorn
    9. -
    10. Y60; F124986; F124992
    11. 124973
    1. in my
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····DFS
    7. ˱in˲ my
    8. ˱in˲ my
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124974
    1. flesh
    2. -
    3. 45610
    5. sarka
    6. N-····DFS
    7. flesh
    8. flesh
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124975
    1. +a messenger
    2. messenger
    3. 320
    5. aŋgelos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. ˓a˒ messenger
    8. ˓a˒ messenger
    9. -
    10. Y60; F124980
    11. 124976
    1. of Satan/(Sāţān)
    2. -
    3. 45660
    4. U
    5. satanas
    6. N-····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ Satan/(Sāţān)
    8. ˱of˲ Satan
    9. U
    10. Person=Satan; Y60
    11. 124977
    1. in order that
    2. -
    3. 24430
    5. hina
    6. C-·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124978
    1. me
    2. -
    3. 14730
    5. egō
    6. R-···1A·S
    7. me
    8. me
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124979
    1. he may be tormenting
    2. -
    3. 28520
    5. kolafizō
    6. V-SPA3··S
    7. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ tormenting
    8. ˱he˲ ˓may_be˒ tormenting
    9. -
    10. Y60; R124976
    11. 124980
    1. in order that
    2. -
    3. 24430
    5. hina
    6. C-·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124981
    1. not
    2. -
    3. 33610
    5. mē
    6. D-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 124982
    1. I may be being exalted
    2. -
    3. 52290
    5. huperairō
    6. V-SPP1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be_being˒ exalted
    9. -
    10. Y60; R123972; Person=Paul
    11. 124983

OET (OET-LV) And by_the excess of_the revelations, therefore in_order_that not I _may_be_being_exalted, was_given to_me a_thorn in_my flesh, a_messenger of_Satan/(Sāţān), in_order_that me he_may_be_tormenting, in_order_that not I _may_be_being_exalted.

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.

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

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