ROM 15:8 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. Λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. S
10. Y60
11. 111953
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. for
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111954
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 111955
1. Ἰησοῦν
2. iēsous
3. -
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····AMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus
11. 111956
1. Χριστόν
2. χristos
3. +the chosen one messiah
4. Messiah
5. 55470
6. N····AMS
7. ˓the˒ chosen_one/messiah
8. ˓the˒ Messiah
9. WN
10. Y60; Person=Jesus; F111968
11. 111957
1. Ἰησοῦν
2. iēsous
3. -
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····AMS
7. Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus
11. 111958
1. διάκονον
2. diakonos
3. +a servant
4. servant
5. 12490
6. N····AMS
7. ˓a˒ servant
8. ˓a˒ servant
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111959
1. γεγενῆσθαι
2. ginomai
3. to have become
4. -
5. 10960
6. VNEP····
7. ˓to_have˒ become
8. ˓to_have˒ become
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111960
1. γενέσθαι
2. ginomai
3. -
4. -
5. 10960
6. VNAM····
7. ˓to˒ become
8. ˓to˒ become
9. -
10. -
11. 111961
1. περιτομῆς
2. peritomē
3. of +the circumcision
4. circumcised
5. 40610
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ circumcision
8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ circumcision
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111962
1. ὑπέρ
2. huper
3. for
4. -
5. 52280
6. P·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111963
1. ἀληθείας
2. alētheia
3. +the truth
4. truth
5. 2250
6. N····GFS
7. ˓the˒ truth
8. ˓the˒ truth
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111964
1. Θεοῦ
2. theos
3. of god
4. -
5. 23160
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 111965
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. in order
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. in_order
8. in_order
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111966
1. τό
2. ho
3. that
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANS
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111967
1. βεβαιῶσαι
2. bebaioō
3. to confirm
4. confirming
5. 9500
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ confirm
8. ˓to˒ confirm
9. -
10. Y60; R111957; Person=Jesus
11. 111968
1. τάς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111969
1. ἐπαγγελίας
2. epaŋgelia
3. promises
4. promises
5. 18600
6. N····AFP
7. promises
8. promises
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111970
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. to the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111971
1. πατέρων
2. patēr
3. fathers
4. ancestors
5. 39620
6. N····GMP
7. fathers
8. fathers
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111972

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 15:1–13: Believers should help one another

In this section, Paul said that believers who are strong, as he defined “strong” in 14:1–9, should help believers who are weak (also as in 14:1–9). The strong are to encourage the weak, with the result that all may have hope in God.

Paul prayed that God would help the believers, strong and weak, to live in unity and glorify God.

Paul urged the believers to always welcome one another, because doing that glorifies God. Jesus served the Jews to show that God’s word was true and confirm his promises, which in turn encourages the non-Jews to glorify God for his mercy to them.

Then Paul prayed that God would fill them with joy and peace in their faith, with the result that the Holy Spirit would fill them with hope.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Carry weak believers, encourage them and accept them

Help believers who are not strong

15:8a

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the nation who has the rite of circumcision.
For I tell you this: Christ became a servant to the circumcised people group, that is, the Jews.

For: Here this word introduces a reason for welcoming other believers.See Morris (page 503) or Alford (page 459).

I tell you that Christ has become a servant: The words I tell you indicate that the words that follow are important. The word that introduces what Paul wanted to tell them.

a servant of the circumcised: The Greek is more literally “a servant of the circumcision.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word ending that often means of:

It indicates that Jesus served the circumcised, that is, the Jews. For example:
serve the circumcised (NJB) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, KJV, ESV, NLT, NET, CEV, REB, NCV)
It indicates that Jesus served others on behalf of the circumcised. For example:
life of service was on behalf of the Jews (GNT) (GNT, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it fits better with showing God’s truthfulness (15:8b) and confirming the promises to the Jewish ancestors (15:8c).See also Moo (page 877) or Morris (page 503).

a servant: The work of a servant was to help another person with his needs and wants. This other person tells him what he needs or wants, and the servant helps him with that need or want.

Jesus was a servant by doing things for the Jews that showed God’s truthfulness (15:8b). He did not take orders from the Jews as a servant usually would. Consider if your usual word or phrase for servant is fitting in this context.

the circumcised: Here this phrase refers to the Jews. In some languages a literal translation may not clearly indicate that. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in the text. For example:
the circumcised, that is, the Jews
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This refers to the Jews.

circumcised: The word circumcised refers to cutting off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s or man’s penis. See how you translated this word in 2:25 or 4:12.

15:8b

on behalf of God’s truth,

He did that to show that what God says is true,
In that way he showed that God is true when he speaks,

God’s truth: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as truth. Here are the two main ones:

It means the characteristic or habit of speaking the truth. God always speaks the truth. For example:
the truthfulness of God (NJB) (RSV, ESV, NJB, NABRE)
It means truth. The words of God are true. For example:
God’s truth (NIV) (BSB, NIV, NASB, KJV, NRSV, GW, NET)
It means being true to one’s promises. For example:
God is faithful (GNT) (GNT, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports it. The BDAG does not list interpretation (3) as a sense of this Greek word.

General Comment on 15:8b

The Greek is translated as a purpose clause. Jesus fulfilled this purpose during his time on earth. In some languages purpose clauses are always unfulfilled. If that is true in your language, indicate that Jesus fulfilled this purpose. For example:

and showed God’s truthfulness

and showed that what God says is true

Often fulfilled purpose clauses are translated as result clauses. But here it was not only Christ becoming a servant that showed God’s truthfulness but also his deeds as that servant. So the above examples only imply the result connection. Consider what the best connection is in your language.

15:8c

to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

and to make certain the promises that were given to the forefathers,
which caused people to know that the things that God promised to the Jewish ancestors were certain.

to: This phrase introduces a second purpose clause. The first purpose clause, to show that God is truthful (15:8b), is a general statement. This purpose clause, to confirm God’s promises, is a part of that more general statement.

Jesus fulfilled this purpose of confirming the promises during his time on earth. In some languages purpose clauses are always unfulfilled. If that is true in your language, indicate that Jesus fulfilled this purpose. For example:

and confirmed…

confirm: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word here. Here are the two main ones:

It means to cause something to be known as certain (L&N). The English word confirm indicates that meaning here. (BSB, RSV, NIV, ESV, NABRE, NASB, KJV, NET)
It means to cause something that was promised to happen. For example:
make…come true (GNT) (GNT, NJB, GW, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG and L&N both support it.

the promises made: This is a passive clause. In some languages an active clause must be used. For example:

the promises that God made

patriarchs: Here this word refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here are other ways to translate this word:

forefathers

Jewish ancestors (NCV)

See how you translated this word in 9:5 or 11:28 (“patriarchs”).

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω γάρ Χριστόν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπέρ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ εἰς τό βεβαιῶσαι τάς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων)

For here indicates that what follows explains what Paul said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

λέγω

The pronoun I refers to Paul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [I, Paul, say]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

διάκονον & ἀληθείας & τὰς ἐπαγγελίας

˓a˒_servant & ˓the˒_truth & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω γάρ Χριστόν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπέρ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ εἰς τό βεβαιῶσαι τάς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων)

See how you translated the abstract nouns servant in [13:4](../13/04.md), truth in [2:8](../02/08.md), and “promises” in [4:13](../04/13.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

περιτομῆς

˱of˲_˓the˒_circumcision

Here, the circumcision refers to the people who have been circumcised: the Jews. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of the Jews]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι

in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγω γάρ Χριστόν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς ὑπέρ ἀληθείας Θεοῦ εἰς τό βεβαιῶσαι τάς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων)

Here, to introduces a purpose clause. Paul is stating a purpose for which Christ became a servant of the circumcision. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation (without a comma preceding): [for the purpose of confirming]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων

Paul is using the possessive form to describe the promises that God made to the fathers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the promises given to the fathers]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τῶν πατέρων

˱to˲_the fathers

See how you translated this phrase in [9:5](../09/05.md).

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [the promises that God gave to the ancestors of the Jews]

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.