OET interlinear ROM 12:1

12:1a

Therefore I urge you, brothers: In many languages the word brothers must be first in the clause. But also in many languages the word Therefore must be first in the clause. Order the words in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Therefore, brothers, I appeal to you

Brothers, I therefore appeal to you

Therefore: This word introduces a result of what Paul said in earlier chapters, not just 11:36.Moo (page 748) connects it to all previous chapters. Morris (page 432) says, “Paul is…telling the Romans what their conduct must be in the light of what God has done.” For example:

considering all those things

I urge you: The Greek word that the BSB translates as urge has a wide range of meaning. Many scholars believe it means “exhort” here, rather than “command” or “beg.”For example, Cranfield (page 597), Dunn (page 708), or Jewett (page 726). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I appeal to you (ESV)

I encourage you (GW)

brothers: Here this word refers to all the believers living in Rome, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship between believers because God has made them his (adopted) children. See how you translated this word in 1:13 or 11:25.

12:1b

on account of God’s mercy: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as on account of:

1. It introduces the means or instrument by which Paul urged them. For example:

   by the mercies of God (ESV) (ESV, RSV, NABRE, KJV, NASB, NET, REB)

2. It introduces the circumstances in which Paul urged them. For example:

   in view of God’s mercy (NIV) (NIV, NJB)

3. It introduces the reason why Paul urged them. For example:

   because of God’s great mercy to us (GNT) (GNT, BSB, GW, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports both (1) and (2), and (1) seems more likely here.

mercy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mercy refers to concern for someone with troubles and here implies helping that person. It is one of the ways a father feels toward his children when they are in trouble and need help. (It is not the usual Greek word translated mercy.) Here are other ways to translate this word:

compassion (GW)

sympathyKittel (page 680).

12:1c

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices: This is a figure of speech. It indicates that believers should allow God to say what they should do with their bodies. So the BSB and other English versions add the word as. In some languages it will be more clear to:

• Explain the figure of speech in your translation. For example:

  give your life to serving God as if a sacrifice

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

  These words indicate that we are to wholly serve God.

to offer: Here the word offer refers to putting something in front of someone, either as a gift or for that person to do something with it. Here are other ways to translate this word:

present (ESV)

give (NLT)

as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God: The Greek is more literally “a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God.” The words living and holy and the phrase pleasing to God all describe what kind of sacrifice this is. For example:

a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God (NET)

a sacrifice that is living and holy and pleases God

living: Here this word indicates that this sacrifice still lives and therefore is able to do God’s will. This is unlike usual sacrifices, which are killed at the altar and therefore not able to do anything.

sacrifices: As a part of the Jewish religion, people would kill an animal, put it over a fire, then offer it to God. They sometimes burnt the animal whole and sometimes they or the priests ate it, depending on the type of “sacrifice” that they were offering. This was done to honor and worship God. The Greeks and Romans did something similar for their gods.

Here are other ways to translate this word:

offering

gift for God to use

holy: Here this word means “set apart for God’s use.” It also implies that it is special, because it belongs to God. See how you translated this word in 11:16.

pleasing to God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as pleasing also means “acceptable.” Presenting one’s body has to be the proper kind of sacrifice, so that God accepts it.

12:1d

which is your spiritual service of worship: These words further describe presenting your bodies as a sacrifice. It does not separate this presenting from other presentings. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word which. For example:

This is the way to worship him in your mind

That is your worship custom that is appropriateUma Back Translation on TW.

spiritual: The Greek word here was used to describe a human being’s ability to think, an action that makes us different from animals. Paul probably used it here to describe worship that is true and proper. Here are other ways to translate this word:

the worship offered by mind and heart (REB)

intelligent (JBP)

service of worship: This word refers to religious activities done for the purpose of honoring God.