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OET (OET-LV) and the_sign he_received of_circumcision, a_seal of_the righteousness of_the faith which in the uncircumcision, in_order that to_be him father of_all the ones believing through uncircumcision, in_order that to_be_counted to_them the righteousness,
OET (OET-RV) He received circumcision as a sign—proof of the righteousness that he gained from his faith while he was still uncircumcised—becoming the father of everyone who’s uncircumcised but believes so that they’ll be declared guiltless.
God called Abraham righteous because he believed what God told him (Genesis 15:1–6). In this section, Paul used that example to show that all people must believe in God for him to call them righteous. He did that for Abraham before Abraham was circumcised. So that shows that God makes people right with himself because they believe in him and not because they are circumcised.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
The Example of Abraham (GNT)
God called Abraham righteous because he believed
Abraham is/as an example of how to become righteous before God
The lesson/model of God calling Abraham righteous because he believed God
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith: There are two ways to interpret the relationship between the word sign and the word seal:
The word seal further explains here what circumcision is. For example:
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith (NIV) (BSB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, NASB, NABRE, KJV, ESV, NET, REB)
The word seal means the same thing as sign here. For example:
He was circumcised later, and his circumcision was a sign to show that because of his faith God had accepted him as righteous before he had been circumcised. (GNT) (RSV, GNT, CEV, NLT, NCV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the word seal adds the meaning of “confirm as true.”Moo (on TW) says, “Paul uses the word to denote something that ‘confirms’ the truth or reality of something else, as in 1 Cor. 9:2.” Morris (on TW) says, “This sign is further explained as a seal.
And he received the sign of circumcision
He was given the mark/sign of circumcision,
God gave to him the sign of circumcision.
he received the sign of circumcision: In English, received indicates that someone gave but the word “take” does not. In some languages there is only one word that means both “receive” and “take.” If your word would mean “take” here, translate in a way that indicates that God gave this sign. For example:
He was given the sign of circumcision
God gave the sign of circumcision to him
sign: This word refers to something that has a symbolic meaning. Circumcision was a sign that Abraham and his descendants had a relationship with God.Genesis 17:10–11. Here are other ways to translate this word:
mark (GW)
Abraham was marked with the sign of circumcisionOtomi Back Translation on TW.
as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith
which is also a seal that God had declared that he is upright because he believed
By that sign God confirmed that he/Abraham was right with God/him when he/Abraham believed in God
a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith: Here the word seal refers to a way to confirm that God had declared Abraham righteous. God told Abraham to be circumcised. That circumcision was visual evidence that God had declared Abraham righteous. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
hallmark of that righteousness which faith had given him (REB)
a guarantee that the faith which he had while still uncircumcised was reckoned to him as uprightness (NJB)
a sign which confirmed that God’s counting him as righteous was on account of his faithKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
the righteousness that he had by faith: These words refer to Abraham believing in God and so God declared him righteous. See the examples above.
faith: This word refers to believing in God. In some languages, this word must be a verb. Also, in some languages, whom is believed in must be said. For example:
believing in God
while he was still uncircumcised.
at/during the time he had not been circumcised,
before he was circumcised. (NCV)
while he was still uncircumcised: Here Paul made it clear that Abraham was an uncircumcised man when he believed and God declared him right in His sight.
So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised,
in order that he would become like the father of all people who believe but are not circumcised,
And so Abraham became like the ancestor of all those who are not circumcised but who believe in God as he did,
So then, he is: The Greek is literally “for him to be.” It probably indicates purpose here. Here are other ways to translate these words:
In this way, Abraham was to be (NJB)
so that he would become (NET)
This purpose has become true already. In some languages a purpose clause implies that it has not yet become true. If that is true in your language, translate it as result. For example:
So Abraham is (NCV)
the father of all: The word father is a metaphor here. God uses Abraham as an example of an uncircumcised person who truly believed in God, and his story occurs early in the Bible. So in that way he like a father (or ancestor) to those who later believe and are not circumcised. Abraham is not the physical ancestor of those people.
In some languages translating father literally would indicate only an actual ancestor. If that is true in your language, indicate that it has a figurative meaning. For example:
like the father of all
to be thought of as a father of all
the ancestor/leader of allKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
we all consider Abraham as fatherUma Back Translation on TW.
the spiritual father of all
in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
in order that God would also declare that they are upright,
and so God also accepts their faith and calls them righteous.
in order that righteousness might be credited to them: There is a textual issue in 4:11e: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word also (ESV, KJV, GW, NET). (2) Some Greek manuscripts do not have that word here (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NLT, CEV, REB). The UBS5 includes it in brackets and indicates they had difficulty choosing. It is recommended that you follow option (1), but if an important version in your area follows option (2), you may want to follow that. Here the phrase in order that introduces the purpose of Abraham becoming the father of all believers who are not circumcised. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
so that they might be reckoned as upright (NJB)
that they too could have righteousness credited to them (NET)
However, if you translated 4:11d as a result clause, you should do the same here. For example:
and so righteousness is also counted to them
and are accepted as righteous by him (GNT)
and God declares them to be righteous also
righteousness might be credited to them: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
God might credit righteousness to them
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
περιτομῆς & ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ & δι’ ἀκροβυστίας
˱of˲_circumcision & in the uncircumcision & through uncircumcision
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of circumcision and uncircumcision, you could express the same ideas in a different way. Alternate translation: [of being circumcised … while being uncircumcised … through being uncircumcised]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
σημεῖον & περιτομῆς
˓the˒_sign & ˱of˲_circumcision
Paul is using the possessive form to describe the sign that is circumcision. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the sign that is circumcision]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ
˓a˒_seal ˱of˲_the righteousness ˱of˲_the faith ¬which in the uncircumcision
This phrase gives further information about the sign of circumcision. Circumcision is not only a sign, but also a seal. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these clauses clearer. Alternate translation: [that is, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had in his uncircumcision]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης
˓a˒_seal ˱of˲_the righteousness
Paul is using the possessive form to describe a seal that proves the righteousness to be real. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [a seal that proves the righteousness]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως
˱of˲_the righteousness ˱of˲_the faith
Paul is using the possessive form to describe righteousness that comes from faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [of the righteousness from faith] or [of being right with God that comes from trusting in him]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ
˱of˲_the ˱of˲_the ¬which in the uncircumcision
This clause gives further information about the faith that Abraham had. Paul is referring to the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these phrases clearer. Alternate translation: [that Abraham had in his uncircumcision]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ
in the uncircumcision
Here Paul speaks of uncircumcision as if it were a location someone could be in. He means that Abraham was in the state of being uncircumcised. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [while he was uncircumcised]
Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν
in_order in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτόν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων διʼ ἀκροβυστίας εἰς τό λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τήν δικαιοσύνην)
Here, so that introduces a purpose clause. Paul is stating the purpose for which God required Abraham to become circumcised. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that he would be]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων δι’ ἀκροβυστίας
father ˱of˲_all the_‹ones› believing through uncircumcision
Paul uses father to refer to Abraham as if he physically produced all those who believe in God. Paul means that Abraham spiritually represents all uncircumcised non-Jews who trust in God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [the spiritual representative of all those who believe through uncircumcision] or [like the father of all those who believe through uncircumcision]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
δι’ ἀκροβυστίας
through uncircumcision
Here the word translated as through refers to going through a time period. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [during uncircumcision] or [throughout the time they were uncircumcised]
Note 11 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
εἰς τὸ λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὴν δικαιοσύνην
in_order in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτόν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων διʼ ἀκροβυστίας εἰς τό λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τήν δικαιοσύνην)
Here, so that indicates that this clause could refer to: (1) the purpose of Abraham being the father of all those who believe. Alternate translation: [in order that the righteousness would be credited to them] (2) the result of Abraham being the father of all those who believe. Alternate translation: [resulting in the righteousness being credited to them]
Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
εἰς τὸ λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὴν δικαιοσύνην
in_order in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτόν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων διʼ ἀκροβυστίας εἰς τό λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τήν δικαιοσύνην)
See how you translated counted in [4:3–5](../04/03.md) and [9–10](../04/09.md).
Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὴν δικαιοσύνην
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτόν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων διʼ ἀκροβυστίας εἰς τό λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τήν δικαιοσύνην)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of righteousness, you could express the same idea with a different form. Alternate translation: [being righteous] or [being right with God]
4:11-12 When God instituted circumcision, he called it “a sign of the covenant” between himself and Abraham (Gen 17:11). The covenant was already in place (Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-8) even before Abraham was circumcised (Gen 17:9-14). This shows that the covenant was based on faith, not circumcision. So Abraham is the spiritual father of all people, whether circumcised (Jews) or uncircumcised (Gentiles), who have the same kind of faith Abraham had—that is, faith in God’s promises (Rom 4:13-25).
OET (OET-LV) and the_sign he_received of_circumcision, a_seal of_the righteousness of_the faith which in the uncircumcision, in_order that to_be him father of_all the ones believing through uncircumcision, in_order that to_be_counted to_them the righteousness,
OET (OET-RV) He received circumcision as a sign—proof of the righteousness that he gained from his faith while he was still uncircumcised—becoming the father of everyone who’s uncircumcised but believes so that they’ll be declared guiltless.
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.