ROM 3:4 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. Μή
2. mē
3. Never
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. never
8. never
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106199
1. γένοιτο
2. ginomai
3. it might become
4. -
5. 10960
6. VOAM3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓might˒ become
8. ˱it˲ ˓might˒ become
9. -
10. Y60; R106198
11. 106200
1. γινέσθω
2. ginomai
3. let be becoming
4. -
5. 10960
6. VMPM3··S
7. ˓let_be˒ becoming
8. ˓let_be˒ becoming
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106201
1. Δέ
2. de
3. And
4. and
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106202
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106203
1. Θεός
2. theos
3. god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 106204
1. ἀληθής
2. alēthēs
3. true
4. -
5. 2270
6. S····NMS
7. true
8. true
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106205
1. πᾶς
2. pas
3. every
4. every
5. 39560
6. E····NMS
7. every
8. every
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106206
1. δέ
2. de
3. and
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106207
1. ἄνθρωπος
2. anthrōpos
3. person
4. person
5. 4440
6. N····NMS
7. person
8. person
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106208
1. ψεύστης
2. pseustēs
3. +a liar
4. -
5. 55830
6. N····NMS
7. ˓a˒ liar
8. ˓a˒ liar
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106209
1. καθάπερ
2. kathaper
3. just as
4. -
5. 25090
6. D·······
7. just_as
8. just_as
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106210
1. καθώς
2. kathōs
3. -
4. -
5. 25310
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. -
11. 106211
1. γέγραπται
2. grafō
3. it has been written
4. written
5. 11250
6. VIEP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ written
8. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ written
9. -
10. Y60; R106215; R106221
11. 106212
1. Ὅπως
2. hopōs
3. So that
4. -
5. 37040
6. C·······
7. so_that
8. so_that
9. B
10. Y60
11. 106213
1. ἄν
2. an
3. wishfully
4. -
5. 3020
6. T·······
7. ¬wishfully
8. ¬wishfully
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106214
1. δικαιωθῇς
2. dikaioō
3. you may be justified
4. -
5. 13440
6. VSAP2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
8. ˱you˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
9. -
10. Y60; F106212
11. 106215
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106216
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106217
1. λόγοις
2. logos
3. messages
4. -
5. 30560
6. N····DMP
7. messages
8. words
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106218
1. σοῦ
2. su
3. of you
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·S
7. ˱of˲ you
8. ˱of˲ you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106219
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106220
1. νικήσεις
2. nikaō
3. you will be overcoming
4. -
5. 35280
6. VIFA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ overcoming
8. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ overcoming
9. -
10. Y60; F106212
11. 106221
1. νικήσῃς
2. nikaō
3. -
4. -
5. 35280
6. VSAA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓may˒ overcome
8. ˱you˲ ˓may˒ overcome
9. -
10. -
11. 106222
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106223
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the time
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DNS
7. the ‹time›
8. the ‹time›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106224
1. κρίνεσθαι
2. krinō
3. to be being judged
4. judged
5. 29190
6. VNPP····
7. ˓to_be_being˒ judged
8. ˓to_be_being˒ judged
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106225
1. σέ
2. su
3. you
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2A·S
7. you
8. you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106226

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

3:4a

Certainly not!

Certainly not!
No indeed!

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” This clause indicates a very strong “no.” Consider how to translate that meaning. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Not at all! (NIV)

Of course not! (NLT)

No, indeed! (CEV)

Note that “certainly” in the As a statement example in 3:3b–4a translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used “certainly” there, do not translate these words here.

3:4b

Let God be true and every man a liar.

May God always be truthful even though every person lies,
Rather, all human beings are liars, but God’s messages are always true.

Let God be true: This clause is a command that others acknowledge that God is truthful. It does not express doubt that God is truthful. God always says things that are true. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

God must be true (GNT)

Let us think of God as true (JBP)

it is absolutely not possible that God would tell-a-lieKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

God never liesOtomi Back Translation on TW.

Some languages do not have words like “let” or “may.” Instead they use the future or other tense. For example:

God will always be true (NJB)

God is honest (GW)

and every man a liar: The Greek is literally “and/but (let) man (be) a liar.” The verb “let…be” is implied from 3:4b. Even if every person lies, God is truthful. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

even though all human beings are liars (GNT)

even if every living man be proved a liar (JBP)

even if all people tell-liesKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

General Comment on 3:4b

In some languages it is more natural to have the clause about people first. For example:

Let every man be a liar and let God be true

Although all men lie, God never lies.

3:4c

As it is written:

as it is written in Scripture to God,
It is like what King David wrote to God in his/God’s holy book,

As it is written: Paul quoted what King David said to God in Psalm 51:4. In some languages a literal translation would not clearly indicate that 3:4d–e are Scripture. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in the text. For example:

As it is written in God’s Word

In some languages a literal translation would not clearly indicate that someone spoke 3:4d–e to God. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in the text. Use your usual translation for “Scripture.” For example:

As it is written saying to God in his Word

As it is written in God’s Word, saying to him/God

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

As King David wrote

See how you translated the words As it is written in 1:17, except if you mention the author as in the example above, use the correct author here.

The lines in Psalm 51:4 before this quote are “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” David was thinking of his own wrongdoing, and how God is always right when he speaks. In some languages a footnote to explain the context would be helpful to the reader. Here is an example footnote:

The lines in Psalm 51:4 before this quote are “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” David was thinking of his own wrongdoing, and how God is always right when he speaks.

3:4d

“So that You may be proved right when You speak

“So that you may be shown to be correct/right/true in what you have said,
“The purpose is that all that happens will show that your words are true,

So that: These words probably introduces purpose. Consider how to translate that meaning.

You may be proved right when You speak: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

history will prove you right in your words

all that happens prove that your words are true

proved right: Here this word means “shown to be right.” In the case of King David, God sent a prophet to tell him he had sinned with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. Both events were true and God revealed those secrets of David. Here the word refers more generally to God’s words. Events will show them to be true. See the examples above.

3:4e

and victorious when You judge.”

and you will win when you are judged.”
and when people judge you as wrong, no one can change your decision/mind.”

victorious when You judge: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as judge:

It means you are judged here. This interpretation sees the Greek word as passive voice. For example:
you must win your case when you are being tried (GNT) (RSV, GNT, NASB, ESV, NABRE, NET, REB, KJV)
It means you contend in court with someone here. This interpretation sees the Greek word as middle voice. For example:
you will win your case in court (NLT) (NLT, GW, CEV, NCV)
It means you judge here. This follows the meaning in the Hebrew of Psalm 51:4. For example:
prevail when you judge (NIV) (BSB, NIV, NJB, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the plain reading of the Greek word.Alford (page 338), Barrett (page 63) and Lenski (page 213) support interpretation (1). The Greek verb krinō, “judge” is never considered “deponent,” meaning that the passive ending really has an active meaning.

victorious: This word refers to winning a fight or contest. When God judges, no one will be able to change his mind or avoid what God says is his punishment. For example:

win (NLT)

General Comment on 3:4d–e

These words are a quote found in Psalm 51:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μὴ γένοιτο

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή γένοιτο γινέσθω Δέ ὁ Θεός ἀληθής πᾶς δέ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης καθάπερ γέγραπται Ὅπως ἄν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σοῦ καί νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαι σέ)

In this verse Paul responds to the rhetorical questions he wrote in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [I would respond by saying, “May it never be!”]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

μὴ γένοιτο

May it never be is an exclamation that communicates a strong prohibition. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating a strong prohibition. Alternate translation: [Absolutely not] or [Certainly not]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

Instead here indicates that what follows is a contrast to the idea in the previous verse that unfaithful Jews could “nullify the faithfulness of God.” Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [But] or [However]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

γινέσθω & ὁ Θεὸς ἀληθής

˓let_be˒_becoming & ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή γένοιτο γινέσθω Δέ ὁ Θεός ἀληθής πᾶς δέ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης καθάπερ γέγραπται Ὅπως ἄν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σοῦ καί νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαι σέ)

Here, let God be true is an imperative phrase, but this is not a command. Instead, Paul is exclaiming that people must consider that God is always truthful regardless of what people think. Use a form in your language that would be used in this type of situation. Alternate translation: [let people always know that God is true] or [may people always declare that God is true]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πᾶς & ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης

every & person ˓a˒_liar

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of liar, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [every man lies]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πᾶς & ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης

every & person ˓a˒_liar

Paul is leaving out some 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 clause. Alternate translation: [let every man be a liar]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

πᾶς & ἄνθρωπος

every & person

Although the term man is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [every person]

Note 8 topic: writing-quotations

καθὼς γέγραπται

See how you translated this phrase in [1:17](../01/17.md).

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καθὼς γέγραπται

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. If you must state who did the action, the quotation was written by David. Alternate translation: [just as David wrote]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

This sentence is a quotation from [Psalm 51:4](../psa/051/004.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 11 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅπως

So that indicates that what follows is the result of what David had written previously in [Psalm 51:4](../psa/051/004.md), which is about how David had sinned. Paul assumes that his readers would be familiar with the earlier part of that verse. Use a natural way in your language for indicating result. Alternate translation: [I have sinned so that] or [Because of my sin]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

In this sentence, you and your refer to God and are singular. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly, as in the UST.

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δικαιωθῇς & ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

˱you˲_˓may_be˒_justified & in the_‹time› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή γένοιτο γινέσθω Δέ ὁ Θεός ἀληθής πᾶς δέ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης καθάπερ γέγραπται Ὅπως ἄν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σοῦ καί νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαι σέ)

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: [people would acknowledge how righteous you are … when people attempt to judge you] or [you would prove yourself to be righteous … when others try to judge you]

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου

in the words in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή γένοιτο γινέσθω Δέ ὁ Θεός ἀληθής πᾶς δέ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης καθάπερ γέγραπται Ὅπως ἄν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σοῦ καί νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαι σέ)

Paul records David using words to describe the things that God said by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in what you say]

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. Never
2. -
3. 33610
4. S
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. never
8. never
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106199
1. it might become
2. -
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-OAM3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓might˒ become
8. ˱it˲ ˓might˒ become
9. -
10. Y60; R106198
11. 106200
1. And
2. and
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y60
11. 106202
1. let be becoming
2. -
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-MPM3··S
7. ˓let_be˒ becoming
8. ˓let_be˒ becoming
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106201
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106203
1. god
2. God
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 106204
1. true
2. -
3. 2270
5. alēthēs
6. S-····NMS
7. true
8. true
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106205
1. and
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106207
1. every
2. every
3. 39560
5. pas
6. E-····NMS
7. every
8. every
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106206
1. person
2. person
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····NMS
7. person
8. person
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106208
1. +a liar
2. -
3. 55830
5. pseustēs
6. N-····NMS
7. ˓a˒ liar
8. ˓a˒ liar
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106209
1. just as
2. -
3. 25090
5. kathaper
6. D-·······
7. just_as
8. just_as
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106210
1. it has been written
2. written
3. 11250
5. grafō
6. V-IEP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ written
8. ˱it˲ ˓has_been˒ written
9. -
10. Y60; R106215; R106221
11. 106212
1. So that
2. -
3. 37040
4. B
5. hopōs
6. C-·······
7. so_that
8. so_that
9. B
10. Y60
11. 106213
1. wishfully
2. -
3. 3020
5. an
6. T-·······
7. ¬wishfully
8. ¬wishfully
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106214
1. you may be justified
2. -
3. 13440
5. dikaioō
6. V-SAP2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
8. ˱you˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
9. -
10. Y60; F106212
11. 106215
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106216
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106217
1. messages
2. -
3. 30560
5. logos
6. N-····DMP
7. messages
8. words
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106218
1. of you
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·S
7. ˱of˲ you
8. ˱of˲ you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106219
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106220
1. you will be overcoming
2. -
3. 35280
5. nikaō
6. V-IFA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ overcoming
8. ˱you˲ ˓will_be˒ overcoming
9. -
10. Y60; F106212
11. 106221
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106223
1. the time
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····DNS
7. the ‹time›
8. the ‹time›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106224
1. to be being judged
2. judged
3. 29190
5. krinō
6. V-NPP····
7. ˓to_be_being˒ judged
8. ˓to_be_being˒ judged
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106225
1. you
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2A·S
7. you
8. you
9. -
10. Y60
11. 106226

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 3:4

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)