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OET (OET-LV) For/Because not the one on the outward a_Youdaios is, nor the in the outward in flesh circumcision,
OET (OET-RV) A true Jew is not just a Jew on the outside, and circumcision isn’t just on the outside of the body,
In this section, Paul talked to the Jews about themselves. He continued to use the singular “you,” as in the previous section. This form of teaching is called a “diatribe.” (See Section 2:1–16.)
Using this diatribe, Paul rebuked the Jews because they had the law of Moses but they disobeyed it.
Paul showed them that an outward sign of religion is of no use to people if they did not do what is right. He told them that God praises those whose heart is right with God.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
God praises a changed heart
Truly following God comes from the heart
Jew…Jew: Paul now used the word Jew in a figurative sense. Here it means “a person with a special relationship to God” or “God’s people.” He did not mean being a Jew because your ancestors were Jews.
In many languages, a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Explain the word Jew in the text. For example:
Jew (and here I mean God’s people)…Jew
the true Jew, I mean to say, the true person of God,…the personKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
It is said that the Jew is God’s people. But it is not true that one is God’s people just because he was born of Jews…Otomi Back Translation on TW.
Translate the meaning of “God’s people” here. You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal word. Here is an example footnote:
Literally “Jew.”
Translate the word Jew as you always do but explain it here in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Paul now used the word “Jews” in the sense of “people with a special relationship to God” or “God’s people.” He was not talking about being a Jew because your ancestors were Jews.
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly,
For/Because a true/real Jew is not someone who only appears to be a Jew,
For even when a person lives like a Jew, that does not mean that he is a true Jew.
The Greek begins with a conjunction that is usually translated as “for.” The BSB omits this word. The conjunction introduces an explanation of what Paul said in 2:27.
outwardly: The word outwardly refers to what people can see about someone. How a person appears to look or behave may not be the same as what he truly thinks or feels. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
on the outside (GNT)
in appearance and in custom onlyKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
in what is seen
in the things people see him do or wear
nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
and true circumcision is not a visible sign on the body.
Similarly, even when they/someone circumcises a man, that is not a sign that he really belongs to God.
nor is circumcision only outward and physical: The word nor means “and not.” For example:
and circumcision is not outward and physical
circumcision: Paul now used the word circumcision in a figurative sense. Here it means “the mark of a relationship with God.” Jewish circumcision indicates that the Jew is a member of the people who have a covenant with God. This figurative circumcision refers to right attitudes and thinking (2:29b).
In many languages, a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Explain the word circumcision in the text. For example:
circumcision (and here I mean the mark/sign that he is one of God’s people)
the true circumcision, I mean to say, the true mark/sign that a person belongs to God
It is said that Jewish circumcision is the mark/sign of God’s people. But the true mark/sign is not outward and physical
Translate the meaning of “the mark of a relationship with God” here. You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal word. Here is an example footnote:
Literally “circumcision.”
Translate the word circumcision as you always do but explain it here in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Paul now used the word “circumcision” in a figurative sense. Here it means “the mark of a relationship with God.”
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ὁ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ Ἰουδαῖος ἐστίν οὐδέ ἡ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ ἐν σαρκί περιτομή)
For here indicates that what follows is the reason for what has just been stated. This verse is Paul’s conclusion to the statements he made in [2:25–27](../02/25.md). Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [In fact] or [Truly]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
Ἰουδαῖός
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ὁ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ Ἰουδαῖος ἐστίν οὐδέ ἡ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ ἐν σαρκί περιτομή)
Here Paul uses Jew to refer to someone who is one of God’s people because he truly trusts in God for salvation, as Abraham did. Jew here does not refer to someone who only has Jewish ancestors. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a spiritual Jew]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐν τῷ φανερῷ
on the outward
Here, visibly refers to the Jewish religious practices that other people can see, such as circumcision or wearing special clothing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [does externally visible Jewish rituals]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ἡ & περιτομή
the & circumcision
Here Paul uses circumcision to refer to the change in thinking and attitude that happens when God saves a person. It can also be considered an inward mark of belonging to God’s people, like how circumcision was an outer mark of being Jewish. This was called “circumcision of the heart” in the Old Testament ([Deuteronomy 30:6](../deu/30/06.md); [Jeremiah 4:4](../jer/04/04.md)). Here, circumcision does not refer to the Jewish ritual. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [this spiritual circumcision]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
ἐν σαρκὶ
on in in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ὁ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ Ἰουδαῖος ἐστίν οὐδέ ἡ ἐν τῷ φανερῷ ἐν σαρκί περιτομή)
Paul uses the flesh figuratively to mean “the whole body,” which is made of flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or plain language. Alternate translation: [on the body]
OET (OET-LV) For/Because not the one on the outward a_Youdaios is, nor the in the outward in flesh circumcision,
OET (OET-RV) A true Jew is not just a Jew on the outside, and circumcision isn’t just on the outside of the body,
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.