ROM 2:15 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. οἵτινες
2. hostis
3. who
4. -
5. 37480
6. R····NMP
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105926
1. ἐνδείκνυνται
2. endeiknumi
3. are displaying
4. -
5. 17310
6. VIPM3··P
7. ˓are˒ displaying
8. ˓are˒ displaying
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105927
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105928
1. ἔργον
2. ergon
3. work
4. -
5. 20410
6. N····ANS
7. work
8. work
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105929
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105930
1. νόμου
2. nomos
3. law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····GMS
7. law
8. law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105931
1. γραπτόν
2. graptos
3. written
4. written
5. 11230
6. S····ANS
7. written
8. written
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105932
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105933
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105934
1. καρδίαις
2. kardia
3. hearts
4. -
5. 25880
6. N····DFP
7. hearts
8. hearts
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105935
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. of them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105936
1. συμμαρτυρούσης
2. summartureō
3. bearing witness with
4. -
5. 48280
6. VPPA·GFS
7. bearing_witness_with
8. bearing_witness_with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105937
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105938
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. their
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. their
8. their
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105939
1. συνειδήσεως
2. suneidēsis
3. conscience
4. consciences
5. 48930
6. N····GFS
7. conscience
8. conscience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105940
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105941
1. μεταξύ
2. metaxu
3. between
4. between
5. 33420
6. P·······
7. between
8. between
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105942
1. ἀλλήλων
2. allēlōn
3. one another
4. -
5. 2400
6. R····GMP
7. one_another
8. one_another
9. -
10. Y60; R105945
11. 105943
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105944
1. λογισμῶν
2. logismos
3. arguments
4. -
5. 30530
6. N····GMP
7. arguments
8. arguments
9. -
10. Y60; F105943; F105949
11. 105945
1. κατηγορούντων
2. katēgoreō
3. accusing
4. accused
5. 27230
6. VPPA·GMP
7. accusing
8. accusing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105946
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105947
1. καί
2. kai
3. also
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105948
1. ἀπολογουμένων
2. apologeomai
3. defending them
4. defended
5. 6260
6. VPPM·GMP
7. defending ‹them›
8. defending ‹them›
9. -
10. Y60; R105945
11. 105949

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–16: The unbelieving hypocrite must change his thinking

In all of chapter two, Paul wrote as if to someone who disagreed with him. He used the singular “you” throughout the chapter. This form of teaching is called a “diatribe.” Only one person is talking (or writing), but it is as if two people are talking back and forth, asking and answering questions, making objections and responding. Using this diatribe, Paul rebuked those who judged others improperly. The person whom Paul spoke to here was not a believer. His evil deeds store up God’s wrath against him (2:5), and his sins will cause him to perish (2:12).

In this section, Paul addressed someone who judged others as bad but did the same things (2:1). God would punish such a person (2:2–3); it is according to what a person has done (2:6–11) and according to the knowledge of God that a person has (2:12–15).

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The person who does not believe and judges other people as bad yet does the same things

Hypocritical people who do not believe in Jesus

2:15a

So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts,

Their deeds show that the principles/intentions of the law of Moses are in their hearts.
This good behavior proves that they know the ways/ideas of God’s law.

So they: The Greek word is literally “who” and the Greek sentence continues from 2:14. The word “who” refers back to the Gentiles (2:14a). The BSB and many English versions begin a new sentence here for more natural English and therefore translate the Greek word as So they.

But the Gentiles are not purposely going around and showing this. It is their deeds that show that the principles of God’s law are in their hearts. For example:

Their conduct (GNT)

show: The present tense here indicates that Gentiles show this throughout their lives. Consider how to indicate that in your language.Another interpretation is that Paul was only talking here about the final judgment day (2:16). But that conflicts with the use of the present tense.

the work of the law is written on their hearts: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God wrote the work of the law on their hearts

the work of the law: This phrase refers to doing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds, following the principles of God’s law. Examples are: “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12) and “do not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Gentiles did not have the exact words of the Old Testament but they behaved in similar ways. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the requirements of the law (NIV)

the effect of the Law (NJB)

what the law requires (RSV)

what is right and wrong, just as the law commands (NCV)

the good which the law says to doOtomi Back Translation on TW.

law: Here this word refers to the laws that God gave to the Jews. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to laws in general. If that is true in your language, explain it in the text. For example:

God’s law (NLT)

the law of Moses

is written on their hearts: The phrase is written on is used as a metaphor here. It means “exists in.” The Gentiles often behave as if they already know how God wants them to behave. In some languages a literal translation would not be natural. If that is true in your language, translate without the metaphor. For example:

is in their hearts

they know

their hearts: Here the word hearts refers figuratively to the inner being, which includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. In some languages a literal translation would not refer to the inner being. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the word or phrase that has the right meaning. For example:

their insides/livers

their mind and will

2:15b

their consciences also bearing witness,

Their consciences also show that to be true,
Their own memory of past deeds also show that,
Their own thoughts about what they have done also tell them about right and wrong,

their consciences also bearing witness: This indicates that the consciences of Gentiles also show that the principles of God’s law are written on their hearts. Here are other ways to translate these words:

Their consciences also show that this is true (GNT)

to this their conscience gives supporting witness (REB)

Their minds also confirm that that is trueKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

consciences: The Greek word that the BSB translates as consciences refers to the record of past deeds that a person has in his mind and causes him to feel ashamed or guilty when he does something wrong.See Dunn (page 101), Schreiner (page 123), or Jewett (page 215). It also makes him feel good when he does what is right. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Their minds also confirm that that is true, because their minds are the very-thing that tells them whether what they are doing is good or bad.Kankanaey Back Translation on TW.

they say in their hearts: “That action is wrong,” or they say: “That action is good.”Uma Back Translation on TW.

They know in their minds what is good and what is bad to do.Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

2:15c–d

and their thoughts either accusing or defending them: The word and indicates here that the thoughts of the Gentiles also show that the principles of God’s law are written on their hearts.

their thoughts either accusing or defending them: The Greek word that the BSB translates as thoughts is literally “between-one-another thoughts.” It refers to the thoughts of Gentiles, some which accuse them when they have done wrong, and some which commend them when they have done right. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them (NIV11)

thoughts that say they did wrong or sometimes even say they did right

their minds tell them whether what they are doing is bad or good

think “That action is wrong,” or “That action is good.”

2:15c

and their thoughts either accusing

and their thoughts sometimes accuse them
as well as thoughts which condemn their actions
and when they think, “What I did then was wrong,”

thoughts either accusing: In some languages the word thoughts cannot go with the word accusing. See the above examples.

2:15d

or defending them

and even sometimes defend them.
and thoughts which approve their actions.
or when they think “What I did then was right,” it also proves that they know the ways/ideas of God’s law.

or defending them: Here the Greek includes a word that is usually translated as “even.” The BSB omits this word. It indicates that much more often the thoughts of Gentiles accuse them and their thoughts only occasionally “defend them.”

defending: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as defending refers to explaining behavior so that someone else will see that that behavior was acceptable. In this case, a Gentile might give reasons why he thinks that what he did was a good deed. Here are other ways to translate this word:

excuse (ESV)

tell them they are doing right (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου, γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν

who ˓are˒_displaying (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τό ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτόν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως καί μεταξύ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἤ καί ἀπολογουμένων)

Paul speaks of the non-Jewish people obeying some basic rules from the law of Moses as if they were showing the work of the law to other people. He means that non-Jewish people demonstrate that they naturally understand some rules of the law by obeying those rules. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who make others aware that they understand the work of the law]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου, γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τό ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτόν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως καί μεταξύ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἤ καί ἀπολογουμένων)

Here Paul speaks of the works of the law as if they can be written on the surfaces of peoples’ hearts. He means that God has enabled non-Jewish people to know generally what is right or wrong even though they do not know the law of Moses. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they know the work of the law]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου

Paul is using the possessive form to describe the work that characterizes obeying the law. This phrase has a similar meaning to “the things of the law” in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the work that the law requires a person to do]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν

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: [God wrote on their hearts]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν

in the hearts ˱of˲_them

See how you translated “heart” in [1:21](../01/21.md).

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

συνμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως

Paul uses the singular conscience figuratively to refer to the individual consciences of these people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural phrase. Alternate translation: [their consciences bearing witness]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

συνμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως

Here Paul speaks of conscience as if it were a person bearing witness in a courtroom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [their conscience confirms that this is true]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

συνμαρτυρούσης & καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων, τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων

This clause explains what bearing witness means. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these phrases clearer or begin a new sentence. Alternate translation: [bearing witness, namely, the thoughts of each person both accusing or even defending them]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων, τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων

Here Paul speaks of thoughts as if they were a person who could accuse or defend someone in court. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation (remove preceding comma): [by accusing or defending them in the way they think]

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. who
2. -
3. 37480
5. hostis
6. R-····NMP
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105926
1. are displaying
2. -
3. 17310
5. endeiknumi
6. V-IPM3··P
7. ˓are˒ displaying
8. ˓are˒ displaying
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105927
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105928
1. work
2. -
3. 20410
5. ergon
6. N-····ANS
7. work
8. work
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105929
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105930
1. law
2. -
3. 35510
5. nomos
6. N-····GMS
7. law
8. law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105931
1. written
2. written
3. 11230
5. graptos
6. S-····ANS
7. written
8. written
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105932
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105933
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105934
1. hearts
2. -
3. 25880
5. kardia
6. N-····DFP
7. hearts
8. hearts
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105935
1. of them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105936
1. bearing witness with
2. -
3. 48280
5. summartureō
6. V-PPA·GFS
7. bearing_witness_with
8. bearing_witness_with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105937
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y60; R105908
11. 105938
1. their
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. their
8. their
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105939
1. conscience
2. consciences
3. 48930
5. suneidēsis
6. N-····GFS
7. conscience
8. conscience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105940
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105941
1. between
2. between
3. 33420
5. metaxu
6. P-·······
7. between
8. between
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105942
1. one another
2. -
3. 2400
5. allēlōn
6. R-····GMP
7. one_another
8. one_another
9. -
10. Y60; R105945
11. 105943
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105944
1. arguments
2. -
3. 30530
5. logismos
6. N-····GMP
7. arguments
8. arguments
9. -
10. Y60; F105943; F105949
11. 105945
1. accusing
2. accused
3. 27230
5. katēgoreō
6. V-PPA·GMP
7. accusing
8. accusing
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105946
1. or
2. -
3. 22280
5. ē
6. C-·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105947
1. also
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. D-·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y60
11. 105948
1. defending them
2. defended
3. 6260
5. apologeomai
6. V-PPM·GMP
7. defending ‹them›
8. defending ‹them›
9. -
10. Y60; R105945
11. 105949

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.

OET interlinear ROM 2:15