ROM 3:2 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. Πολύ
2. polus
3. Much
4. -
5. 41830
6. S····NNS
7. much
8. much
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106171
1. κατά
2. kata
3. in
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106172
1. παντᾶ
2. pas
3. every
4. every
5. 39560
6. E····AMS
7. every
8. every
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106173
1. τρόπον
2. tropos
3. manner
4. -
5. 51580
6. N····AMS
7. manner
8. manner
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106174
1. Πρῶτον
2. prōton
3. First
4. Firstly
5. 44120
6. D·······
7. first
8. first
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106175
1. μέν
2. men
3. indeed
4. -
5. 33030
6. D·······
7. indeed
8. indeed
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106176
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. for
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106177
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106178
1. ἐπιστεύθησαν
2. pisteuō
3. they were entrusted
4. entrusted
5. 41000
6. VIAP3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ entrusted
8. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ entrusted
9. -
10. Y60; R106164
11. 106179
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106180
1. λόγια
2. logion
3. oracles
4. -
5. 30510
6. N····ANP
7. oracles
8. oracles
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106181
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106182
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. 106183

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–8: God is faithful and righteous

In chapter two, Paul spoke about some wrong ideas that the Jews had. In this section, Paul spoke to someone, probably a Jew, who might think that Paul implied that God was unfaithful to his covenant with the Jews. Paul showed that regardless of how God’s people had behaved, God was always faithful to what he said.

Keep in mind that Paul himself was a Jew. He knew how Jews thought, and he knew how to answer their objections.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God is faithful to his covenant even if his people are not

God keeps his word and does what is right

3:2a

Much in every way.

Yes, many benefits in many ways.
There are many big privileges/bonuses in being a Jew.
The benefits/bonuses are great and many!

Much in every way: Paul answered the two rhetorical questions of 3:1 here. This answer indicates that the Jews have great advantages and that circumcision has value. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Great in every respect. (NASB)

Yes, great benefits!

These words are not a full sentence. In some languages this must be a full sentence. For example:

Yes, there are great benefits! (NLT)

There are all kinds of advantages. (GW)

It is good in a lot of ways! (CEV)

3:2b

First of all,

The most important benefit is this:

First of all: There is a textual issue in 3:2b: (1) Some Greek manuscripts do not have the word for (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, REB, ESV, NCV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the word for (KJV, NRSV). It is recommended that you follow option (1). There are two interpretations of the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as First of all:

It means first in a list. But Paul did not continue his list.However, he does make such a list in 9:4–5. For example:
In the first place (GNT) (BSB, ESV, RSV, GNT, NABRE, REB)
It means first in importance. The meaning is similar to Mark 12:28: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” For example:
The most important thing is this: (NCV) (KJV, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek grammar supports it.Schreiner (page 148) says, “the presence of mèn and polù katà pánta trópon indicates that it refers to the first item in a list (cf. 1:8).’ Barrett, Moo, Alford, Nicoll, and Morris also support interpretation (1).

3:2c

they have been entrusted with the very words of God.

they were given the messages of God to use and protect.
God spoke his words/messages to us^(excl) Jews so that we would follow them and respect them.

they have been entrusted with the very words of God: The word that the BSB translates as they refers to the Jews. This phrase indicates that God gave his words to the ancestors of the Jews. They were to watch over and guard it. They were to prevent anyone from changing it. They were also to follow it and teach it.

This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active clause. For example:

God entrusted them with his word (GW)

God gave his word to the Jews to watch over

the very words of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the very words means “sayings,” “spoken messages,” or “messages that a divine being speaks.” These words would include things that God said to Abraham, Moses, the prophets and others in the Old Testament.The Jews themselves think that in his words to them, God entrusted all his wisdom to them; so what Paul says here is very important to them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the things that God said/promised

God’s message

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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 (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πολύ κατά παντᾶ τρόπον Πρῶτον μέν γάρ ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τά λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ)

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]

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. Much
2. -
3. 41830
4. S
5. polus
6. S-····NNS
7. much
8. much
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106171
1. in
2. -
3. 25960
5. kata
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106172
1. every
2. every
3. 39560
5. pas
6. E-····AMS
7. every
8. every
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106173
1. manner
2. -
3. 51580
5. tropos
6. N-····AMS
7. manner
8. manner
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106174
1. First
2. Firstly
3. 44120
4. S
5. prōton
6. D-·······
7. first
8. first
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106175
1. for
2. -
3. 10630
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106177
1. indeed
2. -
3. 33030
5. men
6. D-·······
7. indeed
8. indeed
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106176
1. that
2. -
3. 37540
5. hoti
6. C-·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106178
1. they were entrusted
2. entrusted
3. 41000
5. pisteuō
6. V-IAP3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ entrusted
8. ˱they˲ ˓were˒ entrusted
9. -
10. Y60; R106164
11. 106179
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106180
1. oracles
2. -
3. 30510
5. logion
6. N-····ANP
7. oracles
8. oracles
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106181
1. of
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 106183
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106182
1. god
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 106183

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 3:2

SR Greek word order

Section 3:1–8: God is faithful and righteous

3:2a

3:2b

3:2c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)