2COR 3:7 Parallel Verse View

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OET (OET-RV) The system which was inscribed on stone tablets and which results in death was so incredible when it was given that the Israeli’s couldn’t even bring themselves to look at Moses’ face because it shone so brightly. But if that system is being nullified,

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

ULT Now if the ministry of this death—engraved in letters on stones—came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look intently at the face of Moses because of the fading glory of his face,

UST Further, when Moses acted on behalf of the old agreement that condemned people to die, God carved the words of the agreement onto stone slabs. What Moses did was glorious enough that the Israelites could not gaze at his face afterwards because it reflected how glorious God is, although that would eventually go away.

BSB § Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

BLB Now if the ministry of death, having been engraved in letters on stones, was produced in glory, so as for the sons of Israel not to be able to look intently into the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face which is fading,

AICNT Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which was fading away,

OEB If the system of religion which involved death, embodied in a written Law and engraved on stones, began amid such glory, that the Israelites were unable to gaze at the face of Moses because of its glory, though it was but a passing glory,

WEB But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away,

NET But if the ministry that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective),

LSV And if the ministry of death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look steadfastly into the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face—which was being made useless,

FBV However, the old way of relating to God, written in letters carved in stone, ended in death, even though it came with God's glory—so much so that the Israelites couldn't even bear to look at Moses' face because it shone so brightly, even though the glory was fading.

TCNT Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its glory (a glory that was fading away),

T4T Moses taught the people that if they did not obey God’s laws completely they would be separated from God forever. God wrote his laws on stone slabs. Then he gave them to Moses to teach them to the people. Although God’s laws condemned the people to die, when Moses brought those laws down from Sinai Mountain, God caused Moses’ face to shine Moses’ face to shine radiantly to show the people that these laws were God’s laws. It shone. so brightly that the people of Israel could not keep looking at Moses’ face. They had to look away. But the brightness was slowly fading away.

LEB But if the ministry of death in letters carved on stone came with glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look intently into the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, which was transitory,

BBE For if the operation of the law, giving death, recorded in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the eyes of the children of Israel had to be turned away from the face of Moses because of its glory, a glory which was only for a time:

MOF No MOF 2COR book available

ASV But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

DRA Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:

YLT and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face — which was being made useless,

DBY (But if the ministry of death, in letters, graven in stones, began with glory, so that the children of Israel could not fix their eyes on the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face, [a glory] which is annulled;

RV But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

WBS But if the ministration of death, written and engraven on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away;

KJB But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
(But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: )

BB Yf the ministration of death, through the letters figured in stones, was in glorie, so that the chyldren of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moyses, for the glorie of his countenaunce, whiche glorie is done away:
(If the ministration of death, through the letters figured in stones, was in glory, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenaunce, which glory is done away:)

GNV If then the ministration of death written with letters and ingrauen in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moses, for the glorie of his countenance (which glorie is done away.)
(If then the ministration of death written with letters and ingrauen in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance (which glory is done away.) )

CB But yf the mynistracion yt kylleth thorow the letter, and was figured in stones, was glorious, so that the childre of Israel mighte not beholde the face of Moses, for ye clearnesse of his countenauce, (which glory neuertheles is done awaye)
(But if the mynistracion it kylleth through the letter, and was figured in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel mighte not behold the face of Moses, for ye/you_all clearnesse of his countenauce, (which glory nevertheles is done away))

TNT Yf the ministracion of deeth thorow the letters figured in stones was glorious so that the chyldren of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moses for the glory of his countenauce (which glory neverthelesse is done awaye)
(If the ministracion of death through the letters figured in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenauce (which glory neverthelesse is done away) )

WYC And if the mynystracioun of deth write bi lettris in stoonys was in glorie, so that the children of Israel myyten not biholde in to the face of Moises, for the glorie of his cheer, which is auoidid,
(And if the mynystracioun of death write by lettris in stones was in glory, so that the children of Israel mightn not behold in to the face of Moses, for the glory of his cheer, which is auoidid,)

LUT So aber das Amt, das durch die Buchstaben tötet und in die Steine ist gebildet, Klarheit hatte, also daß die Kinder Israel nicht konnten ansehen das Angesicht Mose‘s um der Klarheit willen seines Angesichtes, die doch aufhöret,
(So but the Amt, the through the Buchstaben tötet and in the Steine is gebildet, Klarheit hatte, also that the children Israel not could ansehen the Angesicht Mose‘s around/by/for the Klarheit willen seines Angesichtes, the though/but aufhöret,)

CLV Quod si ministratio mortis litteris deformata in lapidibus fuit in gloria, ita ut non possent intendere filii Israël in faciem Moysi propter gloriam vultus ejus, quæ evacuatur:
(That when/but_if ministratio mortis litteris deformata in lapidibus fuit in gloria, ita as not/no possent intendere children Israël in faciem Moysi propter gloriam vultus his, which evacuatur: )

UGNT εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως, διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην;
(ei de haʸ diakonia tou thanatou en grammasin entetupōmenaʸ lithois egenaʸthaʸ en doxaʸ, hōste maʸ dunasthai atenisai tous huious Israaʸl eis to prosōpon Mōuseōs, dia taʸn doxan tou prosōpou autou, taʸn katargoumenaʸn?)

SBL-GNT Εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου ἐν ⸀γράμμασιν ⸀ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ τὴν καταργουμένην,
(Ei de haʸ diakonia tou thanatou en ⸀grammasin ⸀entetupōmenaʸ lithois egenaʸthaʸ en doxaʸ, hōste maʸ dunasthai atenisai tous huious Israaʸl eis to prosōpon Mōuseōs dia taʸn doxan tou prosōpou autou taʸn katargoumenaʸn, )

TC-GNT Εἰ δὲ ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου ἐν γράμμασιν, ἐντετυπωμένη [fn]ἐν λίθοις, ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον [fn]Μωϋσέως διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην,
(Ei de haʸ diakonia tou thanatou en grammasin, entetupōmenaʸ en lithois, egenaʸthaʸ en doxaʸ, hōste maʸ dunasthai atenisai tous huious Israaʸl eis to prosōpon Mōuseōs dia taʸn doxan tou prosōpou autou, taʸn katargoumenaʸn,)

3:7 εν ¦ — CT

3:7 μωυσεως ¦ μωυσεος PCK ¦ μωσεως TR

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

but

Here, the word Now introduces a development of the ideas from the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a development, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: “Indeed,”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

Paul is speaking as if the glory of the ministry of death were a possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can introduce the clause with a word such as “since” or “given that.” Alternate translation: “since” or “given that”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe a ministry that leads to death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: “the ministry that leads to death”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

Here, the word ministry could refer primarily to: (1) the action of ministering. In this case, the word refers to how Moses administered the old covenant. Alternate translation: “the service of this death” or “the act of ministering that led to death” (2) the system of ministry. In this case, the word refers to the old covenant or its laws. Alternate translation: “the system of this death” or “the laws that led to death”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ διακονία τοῦ θανάτου

the service ¬the ˱of˲_death

If your language does not use an abstract nouns for the idea of death, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “die.” Alternate translation: “the ministry that causes people die”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις

in letters /having_been/_engraved ˱in˲_stones

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that God did it (See: also Exodus 34:1). Alternate translation: “which God engraved in letters on stones”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν γράμμασιν ἐντετυπωμένη λίθοις

in letters /having_been/_engraved ˱in˲_stones

Here Paul refers to how God engraved or carved the regulations for the ministry on stones or tablets. Much as in the previous verse, letters refers to written characters, so the point is that God used writing. Paul is probably referring to the story about how Moses met God on a mountain, and God carved the regulations of the covenant on two pieces of stone. You can read this story in Exodus 34:1–28. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “engraved in writing by God onto two stone slabs”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐγενήθη ἐν δόξῃ

/was/_become in glory

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “glorious” or “great.” Alternate translation: “was very great”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι ἀτενίσαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον Μωϋσέως, διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

so_as not /to_be/_able /to/_look_intently the sons ˱of˲_Israel at the face ˱of˲_Moses because_of the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here Paul refers to a story about what happened after God engraved the stone tablets. When Moses returned to talk to the Israelites, his face shone brightly because he had been talking to God. In other words, some of God’s glory became part of Moses’ face, and the Israelites could not look intently at his face because it was a little like looking at God. You can read this story in Exodus 34:29–35. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit or include a footnote explaining the story. Alternate translation: “so that the sons of Israel were not able to look carefully at the face of Moses because of the fading glory on his face that came from talking with God”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοὺς υἱοὺς

the sons

Although the word sons is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to any children or descendants, both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word that applies to both men and women or you could refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “the sons and daughters” or “the children”

Note 11 topic: translate-kinship

τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ

the sons ˱of˲_Israel

Here the author uses the word sons to refer in general to all the descendants of Israel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to descendants in general. Alternate translation: “the descendants of Israel” or “those descended from Israel”

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

because_of the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here, the reason why the Israelites were not able to look intently at Moses’ face could be that: (1) Moses’ face was very “glorious.” Alternate translation: “because of the glory of his face, even though it was fading” (2) the glory of his face was fading. Alternate translation: “because the glory of his face was fading”

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “glorious” or “shining.” Alternate translation: “how his face was shining, even though that was fading”

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν δόξαν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, τὴν καταργουμένην

the glory ˱of˲_the face ˱of˲_him which_‹is› /being/_nullified

Here, the word fading could describe: (1) the glory of Moses’ face. Alternate translation: “the glory of his face that faded” (2) the ministry of this death. Alternate translation: “the glory of his face, although that ministry was fading away”

Parallel 2COR 3:7