OET interlinear ROM 2:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

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

who /are/_displaying the work ˱of˲_the law written in the hearts ˱of˲_them

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

the work ˱of˲_the law written in the hearts ˱of˲_them

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

the work ˱of˲_the law

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

written in the hearts ˱of˲_them

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.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

συνμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως 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

and between one_another the arguments accusing or also defending_‹them›

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”