OET interlinear ROM 3:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον

much in every manner

In this verse Paul responds to the rhetorical questions in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “I would respond by saying, ‘Great in every way!’”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον

much in every manner

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a sentence 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: “The advantage of the Jew and the benefit of the circumcision are great in every way”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον

much in every manner

Great in every way is an exaggeration that Paul uses to emphasize the value of being Jewish and being circumcised. Paul does not mean that everything about being a Jew and being circumcised is beneficial. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language that shows enthusiasm. Alternate translation: “Great in many ways”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πρῶτον μὲν & ὅτι

first indeed & that

Here, indeed first, that could indicate that: (1) what follows is the first reason in a list of several reasons why being a Jew is beneficial, in which case Paul does not continue the list in this chapter. Alternate translation: “the first of many benefits is indeed that” or “one benefit is indeed that” (2) what follows is the most important reason why being a Jew is beneficial. Alternate translation: “the primary benefit is indeed that” or “the most important thing is indeed that”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐπιστεύθησαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ

˱they˲_/were/_entrusted the oracles ¬the ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that “God” did it. Alternate translation: “God entrusted them with his sayings” or “God trusted them with the sayings of God”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὰ λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ

the oracles ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here, the sayings of God could refer to: (1) the entire Old Testament. Alternate translation: “with what God said in the Scriptures” (2) direct speech from God recorded in the Old Testament. Alternate translation: “with the messages that God announced to them in the Scriptures”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὰ λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ

the oracles ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here, the possessive form of God could refer to: (1) sayings that came from God. Alternate translation: “with the sayings from God” (2) says that are about God. Alternate translation: “with the sayings about God”