ROM 6:16 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. Οὐκ
2. ou
3. Not
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. S
10. Y60
11. 107760
1. οἴδατε
2. eidō
3. you all have known
4. -
5. 14920
6. VIEA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ known
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ known
9. -
10. Y60; R105362
11. 107761
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107762
1. ᾧ
2. hos
3. to whom
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····DMS
7. ˱to˲ whom
8. ˱to˲ whom
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107763
1. παριστάνετε
2. paristanō
3. you all are presenting
4. presenting
5. 39360
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ presenting
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ presenting
9. -
10. Y60; R105362; F107771
11. 107764
1. ἑαυτούς
2. heautou
3. yourselves
4. yourselves
5. 14380
6. R···2AMP
7. yourselves
8. yourselves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107765
1. δούλους
2. doulos
3. as slaves
4. -
5. 14010
6. N····AMP
7. ˱as˲ slaves
8. ˱as˲ slaves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107766
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. for
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107767
1. ὑπακοήν
2. hupakoē
3. obedience
4. -
5. 52180
6. N····AFS
7. obedience
8. obedience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107768
1. δοῦλοι
2. doulos
3. slaves
4. -
5. 14010
6. N····NMP
7. slaves
8. slaves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107769
1. ἐστέ
2. eimi
3. you all are
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107770
1. ᾧ
2. hos
3. to whom
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····DMS
7. ˱to˲ whom
8. ˱to˲ whom
9. -
10. Y60; R107764
11. 107771
1. ὑπακούετε
2. hupakouō
3. you all are submitting
4. submit
5. 52190
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ submitting
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ submitting
9. -
10. Y60; R105362
11. 107772
1. ἤτοι
2. ētoi
3. whether
4. -
5. 22730
6. C·······
7. whether
8. whether
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107773
1. ἁμαρτίας
2. hamartia
3. of sin
4. sin
5. 2660
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ sin
8. ˱of˲ sin
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107774
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107775
1. θάνατον
2. thanatos
3. death
4. death
5. 22880
6. N····AMS
7. death
8. death
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107776
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107777
1. ὑπακοῆς
2. hupakoē
3. of obedience
4. -
5. 52180
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ obedience
8. ˱of˲ obedience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107778
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107779
1. δικαιοσύνην
2. dikaiosunē
3. righteousness
4. righteousness
5. 13430
6. N····AFS
7. righteousness
8. righteousness
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107780

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:15–23: Become as slaves to righteousness

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they must not sin even if they are not under the Laws of Moses. He told them that if they obey sin then they are slaves to sin. Instead, they must become slaves of righteousness, that is, doing things that God says are right to do. This command includes all parts of their lives.

Paul further explained that when they were always obeying the desires of sin, they were free from doing things that God says are right to do. He reminded them that they were now ashamed of those sins and the consequences. The final consequence of those sins is death. God had set them free from a life of sin and they had become like slaves of God. The consequences of that is becoming holy and receiving eternal life. For sinning earns a person death, but when that person believes in Jesus, God gives him eternal life.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must be slaves of God doing righteous deeds

We must always do what God says is right to do

We are servants of straight/upright behavior

6:16a

Do you not know that

Do you know that
Surely you know this:

6:16a–e

Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that the believers in Rome should already know this,Moo (on TW) and Fitzmyer (page 448). or reminds them that all of them would likely agree with this.Kruse (page 288) and Barrett (page 131).

In some languages the form of question here would not have either of those meanings. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate it as a statement. For example:

Surely/Certainly you know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness!

Or it may be more natural or clear to put the question about knowing at the end. For example:

When you offers yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness! Do you not know that? Certainly you do!

When you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness! Surely/Certainly you know that!

6:16b

when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves,

if you^(plur) offer/give yourselves to someone as a slave who always obeys,
If you put yourselves under someone like a slave/servant who obeys his master,

6:16c

you are slaves to the one you obey,

then you are slaves of that person you obey,
then you are that person’s slaves/servants and you obey him.

6:16b–c

when you offer yourselves: The word offer here refers to giving something to someone for him to control. See how you translated this word in 6:13, where the BSB translates it as “present.”

slaves: This word refers to people who are owned by someone. Their choices in life were completely controlled by their master. They followed their master’s will/desires rather than their own.

In some cultures, slaves may not be known. In other cultures, the word for slave may imply different customs than what is described above. If that is true in your language, here are some ways to translate this:

person who belonged to someone else

owned person

person who serves someone

worker/servant

See how you translated this Greek word in 1:1 (“servant”) or the verbal phrase “be slaves” at 6:6.

6:16d

whether you are slaves to sin leading to death,

and you are either like slaves to sins, which results in death,
You either allow sinning to rule your life, and that sinning causes you to die,

whether: This word introduces two possible outcomes. Here one outcome is being a slave of sin. The other outcome is being a slave of obedience. Here is another possible word:

either (ESV)

you are slaves to sin: The words you are slaves are not in the Greek text, but they are implied here from 6:16c.

Here the word slaves is a figure of speech. It refers to believers allowing sin to rule their lives, like a master rules the lives of his slaves. Some languages must indicate that this is a figure of speech. For example:

you are like slaves to sin

you allow the power of sin to rule you

leading to death: The Greek words are literally “into death.” It indicates that the end result of sin is death. Here are other ways to translate these words:

resulting in death (NET)

and therefore die

death: Here the word death is in contrast with “life.” It refers to a person’s ultimate destruction.

6:16e

or to obedience leading to righteousness?

or you are like slaves of obedience to God, which results in you becoming righteous?
or you allow the thinking of obeying God to rule your life, and that obeying causes you to become upright.

to obedience: The words “you are slaves” is implied here. For example:

you are slaves to obedience

Here the word “slaves” is a figure of speech. Some languages must indicate that this is a figure of speech. For example:

you are like slaves to obedience

you allow the ways of obedience to rule you

obedience: It is implied here that these people obey God. Some languages need to say what is obeyed. For example:

obedience to God

In some languages a verb must be used. For example:

obeying God

you obey God

leading to righteousness: The Greek words are literally “into righteousness.” Obeying results in righteousness. Here are other ways to translate these words:

resulting in righteousness (NET)

and therefore become more and more righteous

righteousness: Some commentators think this word means “living an upright life” here,For example, Jewett (417) and Fitzmyer (page 448). and some commentators think it means “being made fully righteous at the final judgment.”For example, Cranfield (page 322) and Kruse (page 281). Many others think it means both things.For example, Dunn (page 342), who says, “the flexibility of Paul’s concept of ‘righteousness’ should be observed and not squeezed to fit a particular dogmatic scheme.” Alford (page 372) says, “righteousness in its most general sense as the contrast to death,—the state of blessedness induced by holiness.” Translate in a way that allows for one or both interpretations. For example:

the deeds that are right/straight to do

the life doing upright deeds

Many English versions translate simply righteousness, which does not interpret the meaning.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐκ οἴδατε, ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτοὺς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν, δοῦλοί ἐστε ᾧ ὑπακούετε—ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον, ἢ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτούς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν δοῦλοι ἐστέ ᾧ ὑπακούετε ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον ἤ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην)

Paul is not asking for information, but is using the question form here to emphasize the truth of what he is saying. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [You surely know that to what you keep presenting yourselves as slaves for obedience, you become slaves to what you obey—whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness!]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ᾧ & ᾧ

˱to˲_whom & ˱to˲_whom

The pronoun translated what here indicates a general reference to a thing or person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [to whomever or whatever … to whomever or whatever]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

παριστάνετε ἑαυτοὺς δούλους & δοῦλοί ἐστε ᾧ ὑπακούετε

˱you_all˲_˓are˒_presenting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτούς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν δοῦλοι ἐστέ ᾧ ὑπακούετε ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον ἤ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην)

Paul speaks of people as if they could offer themselves as slaves to someone or something. He is referring to being controlled by someone or something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you keep being controlled by … you become controlled by what you obey]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς ὑπακοήν

for obedience

Here, for indicates that this is a purpose clause. Paul is stating the purpose for which these people are presenting themselves as slaves. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order to obey] or [for the purpose of obeying]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς ὑπακοήν & ὑπακοῆς

for obedience & ˱of˲_obedience

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of obedience, you could express the same idea in a different way. Alternate translation: [to obey … to obey]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον, ἢ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην

whether ˱of˲_sin to death (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτούς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν δοῦλοι ἐστέ ᾧ ὑπακούετε ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας εἰς θάνατον ἤ ὑπακοῆς εἰς δικαιοσύνην)

Here, sin and obedience are spoken of as if they were masters that slaves would obey. Paul means that people can be controlled either by their desire to sin or a desire to obey God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this plainly. Alternate translation: [whether you are controlled by sinning, leading to death, or you are controlled by obeying God, leading to righteousness]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἁμαρτίας & ὑπακοῆς

˱of˲_sin & ˱of˲_obedience

Paul is using the possessive form to describe slaves that belong to sin or obedience. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [slaves that belong to sin … slaves that belong to obedience] or [sin’s slaves … obedience’s slaves]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἁμαρτίας & δικαιοσύνην

˱of˲_sin & righteousness

See how you translated sin in [6:1](../06/01.md) and righteousness in [6:13](../06/13.md).

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς θάνατον & εἰς δικαιοσύνην

for to death & to righteousness

Here, leading to indicates result. Use a natural way in your language to indicate result. Alternate translation: [resulting in death … resulting to righteousness] or [causing death … causing righteousness]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰς θάνατον

for to death

Here, death refers to spiritual death, which is eternal punishment in hell that occurs after physical death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [leading to spiritual death] or [causing one to die spiritually]

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. Not
2. -
3. 37560
4. S
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. S
10. Y60
11. 107760
1. you all have known
2. -
3. 14920
5. eidō
6. V-IEA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ known
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ known
9. -
10. Y60; R105362
11. 107761
1. that
2. -
3. 37540
5. hoti
6. C-·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107762
1. to whom
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····DMS
7. ˱to˲ whom
8. ˱to˲ whom
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107763
1. you all are presenting
2. presenting
3. 39360
5. paristanō
6. V-IPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ presenting
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ presenting
9. -
10. Y60; R105362; F107771
11. 107764
1. yourselves
2. yourselves
3. 14380
5. heautou
6. R-···2AMP
7. yourselves
8. yourselves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107765
1. as slaves
2. -
3. 14010
5. doulos
6. N-····AMP
7. ˱as˲ slaves
8. ˱as˲ slaves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107766
1. for
2. -
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. for
8. for
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107767
1. obedience
2. -
3. 52180
5. hupakoē
6. N-····AFS
7. obedience
8. obedience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107768
1. slaves
2. -
3. 14010
5. doulos
6. N-····NMP
7. slaves
8. slaves
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107769
1. you all are
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107770
1. to whom
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····DMS
7. ˱to˲ whom
8. ˱to˲ whom
9. -
10. Y60; R107764
11. 107771
1. you all are submitting
2. submit
3. 52190
5. hupakouō
6. V-IPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ submitting
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ submitting
9. -
10. Y60; R105362
11. 107772
1. whether
2. -
3. 22730
5. ētoi
6. C-·······
7. whether
8. whether
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107773
1. of sin
2. sin
3. 2660
5. hamartia
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ sin
8. ˱of˲ sin
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107774
1. to
2. -
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107775
1. death
2. death
3. 22880
5. thanatos
6. N-····AMS
7. death
8. death
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107776
1. or
2. -
3. 22280
5. ē
6. C-·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107777
1. of obedience
2. -
3. 52180
5. hupakoē
6. N-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ obedience
8. ˱of˲ obedience
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107778
1. to
2. -
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107779
1. righteousness
2. righteousness
3. 13430
5. dikaiosunē
6. N-····AFS
7. righteousness
8. righteousness
9. -
10. Y60
11. 107780

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 6:16

SR Greek word order