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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Rom C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Rom 9 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33
OET (OET-LV) for/because not_yet having_been_born, nor having_done any good or bad, in_order_that the according_to choice purpose of_ the _god may_be_remaining,
OET (OET-RV) Before they were born, and so before they could do anything good or bad, in order that God’s choice purpose would stand
In this section, Paul told the Romans that God’s word has not failed. In the history of the Jews God had chosen some of them and not others. Paul gave some examples of this.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
God’s promises do not fail
No one can change what God has chosen to do
Yet before the twins were born
And before they were born
Before she gave birth to them,
Yet before the twins were born: The Greek is literally “for though having not yet been born.” The word “for” introduces an explanation, but it is an explanation of something that is only implied. That is, in 9:10a Paul implied that what follows is another illustration of how God’s word had not failed (9:6). The “for” connects to that implied statement and introduces an explanation. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
for, before they were born
for though the twins were not yet born (NASB)
In some languages it may be clearer to omit the conjunction and imply the connection. For example:
Even before they had been born (NRSV)
When Ribka was about to give birthUma Back Translation on TW.
the twins: This refers to the two sons of Rebekah, Esau and Jacob.
or had done anything good or bad,
and had not done anything good or worthless,
and before they had done anything good or bad,
bad: The Greek word here often refers to something being worthless. It is different from the Greek word that is often translated “bad.” It refers to something not morally right.
in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
so that God’s purpose would remain/stay as his choice only,
the purpose of choosing one child and not the other stood according to how he chose.
in order that God’s plan of election might stand: This is a purpose clause. God called Jacob before he and his brother were born so that it would be clear the choosing was not based on the deeds of either of them.
God’s plan of election: The Greek is more literally “the according-to-election purpose of God.” It indicates that God’s purpose was worked out through his own choice rather than for any other reason. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
God’s purpose according to His choice (NASB)
God’s purpose in election (NIV)
so that God’s plan would remain a matter of his choice (GW)
election: This word refers to God choosing the younger brother Jacob over the older brother. He chose him to be the founder of the nation of Israel. Here are other ways to translate this word:
choice (NJB)
God chooses (NLT)
might stand: Here the word might refers to something that should or will happen. The Greek word that the BSB translates as stand refers to something that stays and does not end. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
would stand (NASB)
would remain (GW)
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μήπω γάρ γεννηθέντων μηδέ πραξάντων τὶ ἀγαθόν ἤ φαῦλον ἵνα ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογήν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ)
The words for indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, for indicates that what follows gives further information about what Paul says in the previous verse and the next verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [in fact,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μήπω γάρ γεννηθέντων μηδέ πραξάντων τὶ ἀγαθόν ἤ φαῦλον ἵνα ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογήν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ)
Here Paul is referring to God choosing to bless Jacob instead of Esau, the twin sons of Rebekah and Isaac. However, he does not state this explicitly until [9:13](../09/13.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [for God chose to bless only one of Rebekah’s two sons,]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
μήπω & γεννηθέντων, μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον
not_yet & ˓having_been˒_born (Some words not found in SR-GNT: μήπω γάρ γεννηθέντων μηδέ πραξάντων τὶ ἀγαθόν ἤ φαῦλον ἵνα ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογήν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ)
Paul is leaving out some words that these clauses would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [her sons not yet having been born, nor indeed having done anything good or bad]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα
in_order_that
Here, so that indicates that what follows is the purpose for which God chose only one of Rebekah’s sons. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause, as in the UST.
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἡ & πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ
the & purpose ¬the ˱of˲_God
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of purpose, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what God had purposed]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
κατ’ ἐκλογὴν
according_to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: μήπω γάρ γεννηθέντων μηδέ πραξάντων τὶ ἀγαθόν ἤ φαῦλον ἵνα ἡ κατʼ ἐκλογήν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of election, you could express the same idea in another way. The context indicates that Paul is referring to God electing people. Alternate translation: [according to electing people] or [in relation to choosing people]
OET (OET-LV) for/because not_yet having_been_born, nor having_done any good or bad, in_order_that the according_to choice purpose of_ the _god may_be_remaining,
OET (OET-RV) Before they were born, and so before they could do anything good or bad, in order that God’s choice purpose would stand
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.