ROM 12:8 Interlinear View

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. εἴτε
2. eite
3. or
4. -
5. 15350
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110867
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110868
1. παρακαλῶν
2. parakaleō
3. exhorting
4. -
5. 38700
6. VPPA·NMS
7. exhorting
8. exhorting
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110869
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110870
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110871
1. παρακλήσει
2. paraklēsis
3. exhortation
4. -
5. 38740
6. N····DFS
7. exhortation
8. exhortation
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110872
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110873
1. μεταδιδούς
2. metadidōmi
3. sharing
4. sharing
5. 33300
6. VPPA·NMS
7. sharing
8. sharing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110874
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110875
1. ἁπλότητι
2. haplotēs
3. generosity
4. generous
5. 5720
6. N····DFS
7. generosity
8. generosity
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110876
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110877
1. προϊστάμενος
2. proistēmi
3. leading
4. leading
5. 42910
6. VPPM·NMS
7. leading
8. leading
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110878
1. ἐν
2. en
3. with
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110879
1. σπουδῇ
2. spoudē
3. earnestness
4. earnestly
5. 47100
6. N····DFS
7. earnestness
8. earnestness
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110880
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110881
1. ἐλεών
2. eleeō
3. showing mercy
4. showing mercy
5. 16530
6. VPPA·NMS
7. showing_mercy
8. showing_mercy
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110882
1. ἐν
2. en
3. with
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110883
1. ἱλαρότητι
2. ilarotēs
3. cheerfulness
4. cheerfully
5. 24320
6. N····DFS
7. cheerfulness
8. cheerfulness
9. -
10. Y60
11. 110884

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

In this section, Paul taught that believers should use their bodies in ways that are holy and acceptable to God. Our thinking must change so that it follows the will of God and not the thinking of the people of this world.

Paul also taught that believers should not be more proud of themselves than what is right before God. We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we should use them.

Believers should love in a genuine way, avoid evil deeds, honor others, be full of eagerness to serve the Lord. They should rejoice, be patient, pray, help others, and show hospitality.

Believers should bless the people who persecute them, and live in sympathy and harmony with other believers. They are not to be proud such that they avoid people with no status in society. They are not to think of themselves as wise.

Believers are not to take revenge, but leave that for God to do something about the evil done to them. They are to do things that are honorable and live at peace with others, if they can. They are to bless their enemies by doing good to them.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The New Life in Christ (NRSV)

Our bodies, thinking, and deeds must be holy and good

12:8a

if it is encouraging, let him encourage;

Or if you^(sing) are the one encouraging others, then encourage them.
Or if you have the gift of encouragement, then you should encourage others.

The Greek here has the word that means “or if,” as in 12:7a and 12:7b. For example:

or if

encouraging: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as encouraging:

It means “encourage” or “comfort” here. (BSB, NIV11, GNT, NJB, NLT, GW, CEV, NCV)
It means “urge strongly” here. For example:
he who exhorts (RSV) (RSV, NASB, KJV, ESV, NABRE, NET)

The Greek word possibly implies both meanings here. But many languages will not have a word that has both meanings and will need to decide which meaning to translate. If that is true in your language, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But if the major language version follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

12:8b

if it is giving, let him give generously;

Or if you^(sing) are the one sharing your things with others, then share with them much.
Or if you have the gift of giving some of your things to others, then you should give well.

The Greek word that can mean “or if” (as in 12:7a–b) does not occur here, but it is clearly implied. In some languages it is more natural to continue with the same introduction as before. For example:

Or if you are/have

giving: The Greek word refers to sharing a part of what one has with others, to help with their needs. Here are other ways to translate this word:

shares (GNT)

give (NJB)

give generously: This word refers to someone giving freely because he wants to help. Here are other ways to translate this word:

without restraint

in full measure

happily/greatly/much

12:8c

if it is leading, let him lead with diligence;

Or if you^(sing) are the one leading, then lead without ceasing.
Or if you have the gift of leading others, then do not ignore/forsake your duties as leader.

Or if you are/have

leading: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as leading:

It means lead here. Paul referred to those with the gift of leadership. (BSB, NIV, NJB, ESV, NASB, NRSV, KJV, NABRE, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, REB, NCV)
It means have authority here. For example:
has authority (GNT) (GNT)
It means give help here. For example:
gives aid (RSV) (RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many English versions support it.Jewett (page 753) says, “the more general sense of ‘the one giving care’ also seems unlikely because it would then become completely redundant with regard to the gifts of serving and exhorting.” The GNT’s “has authority” is unclear if leadership is included in the meaning, so that interpretation should be avoided.

with diligence: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as diligence:

It means leading earnestly, without stopping here. A leader should not become lazy and ignore his duties. For example:
diligently (NIV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NASB, KJV, NRSV, NABRE, NLT, NET, NCV)
It means leading with enthusiasm here. For example:
enthusiastically (GW) (RSV, ESV, GW, REB)

The Greek word can mean either (1) or (2). It is hard to choose which sense Paul meant here. Some languages may have a word that allows both meanings, but many languages must choose one or the other. If that is true in your language, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many English versions support it. But if the major language version follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

12:8d

if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Or if you^(sing) are the one being merciful to others, then be happy when you are being merciful.
Or if you have the gift of helping others when they are in need/trouble, then happily help them.

showing mercy: The scholars generally agree that the meaning here is to help people who are sick, hurt, poor, unable to work, or old. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

compassionate (NRSV)

helping people in need (GW)

help others in distress (REB)

helping the unfortunateKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

do it cheerfully: This word refers to being happy. A believer should be happy when he or she is helping others.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εἴτε ὁ παρακαλῶν, ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει; ὁ μεταδιδοὺς, ἐν ἁπλότητι; ὁ προϊστάμενος, ἐν σπουδῇ; ὁ ἐλεῶν, ἐν ἱλαρότητι

or the_‹one› exhorting in the exhortation the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἴτε ὁ παρακαλῶν ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει ὁ μεταδιδούς ἐν ἁπλότητι ὁ προϊστάμενος ἐν σπουδῇ ὁ ἐλεών ἐν ἱλαρότητι)

Paul is leaving out some of the words that clauses would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the previous verse. Alternate translation: [if God has given someone the gift of encouraging, then that person must use that gift for encouraging; if God has given someone the gift of giving, then that person must use that gift for generosity; if God has given someone the gift of leading, then that person must use that gift with diligence; if God has given someone the gift of showing mercy, then that person must use that gift with cheerfulness]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει & ἐν ἁπλότητι & ἐν σπουδῇ & ἐν ἱλαρότητι

in the exhortation & in generosity & with earnestness & with cheerfulness

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of encouragement, generosity, diligence, and cheerfulness, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [by encouraging others … generously … diligently … cheerfully]

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

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.