OET interlinear ROM 6:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

for

For here introduces a result clause. Use a natural way in your language to indicate result. Alternate translation: “This reason for this is that”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ὅτε & δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

when & slaves ˱you_all˲_were ¬the ˱of˲_sin free ˱you_all˲_were ¬the ˱from˲_righteousness

Here, Paul speaks of sin and righteousness as if they were slave-masters. Paul means that when his readers had previously used their bodies to act sinfully, they were not serving God’s purposes as slaves of righteousness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when you were controlled by sin, you did not serve God” or “when you were living sinfully, you did not live righteously”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

free ˱you_all˲_were ¬the ˱from˲_righteousness

Paul is not making a serious suggestion here that sinful people are not required to live righteously. Paul means to communicate the opposite of the literal meaning of free. If this would be misunderstood in your language, consider expressing the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “you were unrighteous” or “you were unable to live righteously”