2 COR 10:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of the ones commending themselves. But these—measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves—do not understand.

UST We are too humble to say that we are as good as people you know who say that they are trustworthy. Those people are foolish. When they say that they are great, they are looking only at themselves.

BSB We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves [with] some who commend themselves. [When] they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.

BLB For we dare not to classify or to compare ourselves with some commending themselves. But these, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand.

AICNT For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves, but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand.

OEB We have not indeed the audacity to class or compare ourselves with some of those who indulge in self-commendation! But, when such persons measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they show a want of wisdom.

WEBBE For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

LSV For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

FBV We're not so arrogant to compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. Those who measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, are really foolish!

TCNT For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves with one another and compare themselves to one another, they do not show good sense.

T4T Those who oppose me tell others how good they are. If they really were superior to me [IRO], I would not be so bold as to say that I was equal to them, or to compare myself with them. But they are not superior to me. They make up their own standards about what God’s servants should be like, and then they look at their own conduct and decide whether or not they meet those standards. By doing that, they show that they are foolish.

LEB For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves, but they themselves, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, do not understand.

BBE For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.

Moff I do not venture to class myself or to compare myself with certain exalted individuals! They belong to the class of self-praisers; while I limit myself to my own sphere, I compare myself with my own standard,

Wymth For we have not the `courage' to rank ourselves among, or compare ourselves with, certain persons distinguished by their self-commendation. Yet they are not wise, measuring themselves, as they do, by one another and comparing themselves with one another.

ASV For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

DRA For we dare not match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves; but we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.

YLT For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, among themselves measuring themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

Drby For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not intelligent.

RV For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

SLT For we dare not appear or join ourselves to certain of them recommending themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and joining themselves to themselves, do not understand.

Wbstr For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

KJB-1769 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

KJB-1611 For we dare not make our selues of the number, or compare our selues with some that commend themselues: but they measuring themselues by themselues, and comparing themselues amongst themselues, [fn]are not wise.
(For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves amongst themselves, are not wise.)

10:12 Or, vnderstand it not.

Bshps For we dare not make our selues of the number of them, or to compare our selues to them which praise themselues. Neuerthelesse, whyle they measure them selues, with them selues, and compare them selues with them selues, they vnderstande not.
(For we dare not make ourselves of the number of them, or to compare ourselves to them which praise themselves. Nevertheless, while they measure themselves, with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they understand not.)

Gnva For wee dare not make our selues of the nomber, or to compare our selues to them, which praise themselues: but they vnderstand not that they measure themselues with themselues, and compare themselues with themselues.
(For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or to compare ourselves to them, which praise themselves: but they understand not that they measure themselves with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves. )

Cvdl For we darre not reken or compare oure selues, vnto some that prayse them selues: Neuertheles whyle they measure them selues by them selues, and holde onely of them selues, they vnderstonde nothinge.
(For we darre not reken or compare ourselves, unto some that praise themselves: Nevertheless while they measure themselves by themselves, and hold only of themselves, they understood nothing.)

TNT For we cannot fynde in oure hertes to make oure selves of the nombre of them or to compare oure selves to them which laude the selves neuerthelesse whill they measure the selves with them selves and compare the selves with the selves they vnderstode nought.
(For we cannot find in our hearts to make our selves of the number of them or to compare our selves to them which laud/praise the selves nevertheless while they measure the selves with themselves and compare the selves with the selves they understood naught/nothing. )

Wycl For we doren not putte vs among, or comparisoune vs to summen, that comenden hem silf; but we mesuren vs in vs silf, and comparisounen vs silf to vs.
(For we doorn not put us among, or comparisone us to summen, that comingden himself; but we measuren us in us self, and comparisonen us self to us.)

Luth Denn wir dürfen uns nicht unter die rechnen oder zählen, so sich selbst loben; aber dieweil sie sich bei sich selbst messen und halten allein von sich selbst, verstehen sie nichts.
(Because we/us may us/to_us/ourselves not under the calculate/estimate or to_count, so itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself praise; but meanwhile they/she/them itself/yourself/themselves at/in itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself measure and hold/keep alone from itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself, understand they/she/them nothing.)

ClVg Non enim audemus inserere, aut comparare nos quibusdam, qui seipsos commendant: sed ipsi in nobis nosmetipsos metientes, et comparantes nosmetipsos nobis.[fn]
(Not/No because audemus inserere, or comparare us to_some, who/which themselves commendant: but themselves in/into/on us nosmetipsos metientes, and comparantes nosmetipsos us. )

10.12 Non enim audemus, etc. Tales erimus facto, quia non sumus similes pseudo, qui usurpant sibi potestatem, et vitia palpant. Et hoc est: Non inserimus nos quibusdam, id est, pseudo qui commendant, id est, usurpant potestatem. Quod est, non ponimus nos in numero illorum, ut potestatem usurpemus, sed a Deo accepimus. Aut non comparamus nos illis ut, sicut illi, adulemur vobis et vitia vestra palpemus: quod posset etiam habens potestatem.

10.12 Not/No because audemus, etc. Tales we_will_be done, because not/no we_are similar pseudo, who/which usurpant to_himself power, and vices palpant. And this it_is: Not/No inserimus us to_some, that it_is, pseudo who/which commendant, that it_is, usurpant power. That it_is, not/no ponimus us in/into/on number of_them, as power usurpemus, but from to_God we_received. Aut not/no we_compare us to_them as, like them, adulemur to_you(pl) and vices your palpemus: that could also having power.

UGNT οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν ἐνκρῖναι ἢ συνκρῖναι ἑαυτούς, τισιν τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων; ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες καὶ συνκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς, οὐ συνιᾶσιν.
(ou gar tolmōmen enkrinai aʸ sunkrinai heautous, tisin tōn heautous sunistanontōn; alla autoi en heautois, heautous metrountes kai sunkrinontes heautous heautois, ou suniasin.)

SBL-GNT Οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἢ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισιν τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων· ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες καὶ συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς οὐ συνιᾶσιν.
(Ou gar tolmōmen egkrinai aʸ sugkrinai heautous tisin tōn heautous sunistanontōn; alla autoi en heautois heautous metrountes kai sugkrinontes heautous heautois ou suniasin.)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἢ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισιν τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων· ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες, καὶ συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς, οὐ συνιοῦσιν.
(Ou gar tolmōmen egkrinai aʸ sugkrinai heautous tisin tōn heautous sunistanontōn; alla autoi en heautois heautous metrountes, kai sugkrinontes heautous heautois, ou suniousin.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν [fn]ἐγκρῖναι ἢ [fn]συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισι τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων· [fn]ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες, καὶ [fn]συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς, οὐ [fn]συνιοῦσιν.
(Ou gar tolmōmen egkrinai aʸ sugkrinai heautous tisi tōn heautous sunistanontōn; alla autoi en heautois heautous metrountes, kai sugkrinontes heautous heautois, ou suniousin. )

10:12 εγκριναι ¦ ενκριναι TH WH

10:12 συγκριναι ¦ συνκριναι TH WH

10:12 αλλα ¦ αλλ NA²⁸

10:12 συγκρινοντες ¦ συνκρινοντες TH WH

10:12 συνιουσιν 85% ¦ συνιασιν CT 4%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–18: Paul defended his ministry

In this section, Paul asked the believers in Corinth to live in obedience to their faith, or he might have to rebuke or discipline some (10:1–2). He explained how a believer fights against those who oppose God (10:3–4) and how to rebuke them as well as correct a disobedient believer (10:5–6).

He told them to understand their situation, including Paul’s authority (10:7–8). He explained that he was forceful in his letters, and that he would be forceful in person if he had to be (10:9–11).

He told them that people who commend themselves are not wise (10:12). He explained that he boasted only in proper ways. One of those ways was boasting about the faith of people whom he had helped become believers, which included those in Corinth (10:13–15a). He told them that he hoped to preach the gospel in more regions (10:15b–16a). He explained further about proper things to boast about (10:16b–17). Lastly, he told them that God approves of people according to what God himself says in favor of them and not what a person boasts about himself (10:18).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul’s reply to accusations of weakness (NJB)

Paul Describes Himself (NASB)

Paul responded to some who had criticized him

10:12a

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.

¶ For we^(excl) would not risk classifying/ranking ourselves or compare ourselves with some people who recommend themselves as qualified to be your leaders.
¶ Some people praise themselves about how important they are. Should we be bold enough to say we are the same kind of person or compare ourselves to them? No way!
¶ Some people wrongly think that we would be too bold to say that we have the same status or are the same kind of person as those who proclaim how great/important they are.

10:12 begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for” or “because.” Here it probably indicates that 10:12 connects the comparison of Paul’s letters and his deeds (10:11) to his ironic comparison of himself to the false teachers here. For example:

For (NASB)

Many English versions allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves: Paul used irony here. He wrote as if the false teachers were true apostles and he was not. But Paul knew that he was a true apostle and they were not. So the irony showed that he was different from them and was actually greater than them. The irony also implies that those people were wrong to commend themselves. Translate in a way that clearly shows the irony. For example:

Of course we would not dare classify ourselves or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. (GNT)

Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! (NLT)

We really are cowards so we do not rank or compare ourselves with some of the people there who call themselves great leaders

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate these words in a way that explains the irony. Your translation should indicate or imply that the false teachers were wrong to commend themselves. For example:
Some people there commend themselves. Should we be bold enough to classify or compare ourselves to them? No way!
We should/will not classify or compare ourselves to some people there who wrongly commend themselves
Classifying or comparing ourselves to some people there who commend themselves is worthless.
Some people are with you and they praise themselves saying, “We are good/great people, respect us.” But as for us, in no way do we want to say that the ways of those people and our own ways are the same.
Translate literally and explain the irony in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Paul used irony here. He wrote as if the false teachers were true apostles and he was not. But Paul knew that he was a true apostle and they were not.

We do not dare: The word dare refers to being bold in regard to doing something risky. For example, jumping off a high bridge might be dangerous, but someone challenges you to jump. Here Paul used irony to pretend that comparing themselves with the false teachers was risky or dangerous, because they might be found to be inferior (in this irony). Other ways to translate this clause are:

We do not risk

We are not so bold as

classify: This word refers to the effort to decide if one thing is the same sort of thing as another. The false teachers claimed to be apostles. But Paul did not think it worthwhile to think about whether he was like them, or whether they were like him, because he already knew they were false teachers. Other ways to translate this word are:

class (RSV)

rank (NJB)

say we are the same kind of person

say we have the same kind of status

some who commend themselves: Here the word commend indicates that they boasted about themselves to the believers in Corinth so that the believers would accept them and follow their teaching. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

these other men who tell you how important they are (NLT)

some people who recommend themselves

those who write their own testimonials (JBP)

10:12b

When they measure themselves by themselves

But when they measure themselves by one another (RSV)
Those who proclaim how great/important they are say that their colleagues/friends behavior is good and then judge themselves by it

10:12b begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but” (as in the NASB). Here it indicates that 10:12b–c contrasts with 10:12a.

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the contrast and omit the conjunction.

they measure themselves by themselves: This clause indicates that the false teachers used their own behavior as a standard of goodness. They said that it was correct and proper. They did not look to see what Scripture said were correct behavior and beliefs. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they measure themselves by one another (RSV)

They make up their own standards to measure themselves by (GNT)

they…measure themselves by their own standards (JBP)

they say that they are good in their own sight/measure/guideline

10:12c

and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.

and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. (RSV)
and look at the lives of their colleagues/friends and say about themselves that they are the same as them and therefore good/right/proper. This shows that they do not have good sense.

compare themselves with themselves: This phrase indicates that the false teachers evaluated themselves by comparing themselves with other false teachers in their group. So they said something like “I am like you, therefore I am good.” They did not look to see what Scripture said were correct behavior and beliefs. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

compare themselves with one another (RSV)

compare themselves with their own people whom they agree with

look at their own friends/colleagues and say about themselves that they are good

they show their ignorance: The Greek words are literally “they do not understand.” The false teachers did not realize that doing such things was improper and worthless. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they are without understanding (RSV)

they are foolish (CEV)

they do not show good sense (NRSV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἤ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισίν τῶν ἑαυτούς συνιστανόντων ἀλλά αὐτοί ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτούς μετροῦντες καί συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτούς ἑαυτοῖς οὒ συνιᾶσιν)

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Paul said in the previous verses ([10:10–11](../10/10.md)) in response to what some people say about him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces further explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,] or [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐνκρῖναι ἢ συνκρῖναι

The terms classify and compare mean similar things. The word classify refers to considering something to be part of a group, and the word compare refers to evaluating something to see if it is similar to something else. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [to compare] or [to include]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες καὶ συνκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς

among themselves (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἤ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισίν τῶν ἑαυτούς συνιστανόντων ἀλλά αὐτοί ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτούς μετροῦντες καί συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτούς ἑαυτοῖς οὒ συνιᾶσιν)

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, or you could combine the two phrases. Alternate translation: [measuring themselves by themselves, indeed, comparing themselves with themselves] or [measuring and comparing themselves by themselves]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες καὶ συνκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς

Here, the word themselves could indicate that each person: (1) measures and compares himself by himself or herself by herself. Alternate translation: [measuring themselves by their own standard, and comparing themselves with their own standard] (2) measures and compares himself or herself by others in a specific group. Alternate translation: [measuring themselves by each other, and comparing themselves with each other]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες

Here Paul speaks as if people were objects that someone would “measure.” He is speaking about how people compare or contrast themselves with people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [evaluating themselves by themselves] or [assessing themselves by themselves]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐ συνιᾶσιν

Here Paul does not state what it is that these people do not understand. What he means is that these people are not acting in wise ways. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that expresses the idea more explicitly. Alternate translation: [are not wise] or [do not act with understanding]

Parallel 2 COR 10:12

Section 10:1–18: Paul defended his ministry

10:12a

10:12b

10:12c

Parallel 2 COR 10:12