2COR 5:21 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. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context. 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.

OET (OET-RV) God took the one who hadn’t experienced sin and made him into sin for us so that in him, we could become not guilty in God’s sight.

Key: khaki: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 The one not having known sin he made sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

UST Jesus did not sin. Despite that, for our sake God treated him as if he had sinned. As a result, God makes us righteous by uniting us to Jesus.

BSB God made Him who knew no sin to be sin [fn] on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

5:21 Or a sin offering

BLB He made the One not having known sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

AICNT The one not knowing sin, for our sake, was made sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

OEB For our sake God made Christ, who was innocent of sin, one with our sinfulness, so that in him we might be made one with the righteousness of God.

WEB For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

NET God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

LSV He made Him having not known sin [to be] sin in our behalf, that we may become the righteousness of God in Him.

FBV God made Jesus, who never personally sinned, experience the consequences of sin so that we could have a character that is good and right just as God is good and right.[fn]

5:21 Or “we could become right just as God is right,” meaning morally right, not in the sense of being correct.

TCNT [fn]For God made him who did not know sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

5:21 For ¦ — CT

T4T You must believe that even though Jesus never sinned, God punished him for all the sinful things that people do, just as if Jesus had done those sinful things himself. And because of our close relationship with Christ, God has erased the record of our sins/declared us no longer guilty for our sins.

LEB He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.

BBE For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

MOF No MOF 2COR book available

ASV Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

DRA Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him.

YLT for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

DBY Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become [fn]God's righteousness in him.

5.21 Elohim

RV Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

WBS For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

KJB For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(For he hath/has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. )

BB For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, whiche knewe no sinne, that we shoulde be made the ryghteousnesse of God in hym.
(For he hath/has made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.)

GNV For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
(For he hath/has made him to be sin for us, which knew no sin, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him. )

CB for he hath made him which knewe no synne, to be synne for vs, yt we by his meanes shulde be that righteousnes, which before God is alowed.
(for he hath/has made him which knew no sin, to be sin for us, it we by his meanes should be that righteousness, which before God is alowed.)

TNT for he hath made him to be synne for vs which knewe no synne that we by his meanes shuld be that rightewesnes which before God is aloved.
(for he hath/has made him to be sin for us which knew no sin that we by his meanes should be that righteousness which before God is aloved. )

WYC God the fadir made hym synne for vs, which knewe not synne, that we schulden be maad riytwisnesse of God in hym.
(God the father made him sin for us, which knew not sin, that we should be made righteousness of God in him.)

LUT Denn er hat den, der von keiner Sünde wußte, für uns zur Sünde gemacht, auf daß wir würden in ihm die Gerechtigkeit, die vor GOtt gilt.
(Because he has den, the from keiner Sünde wußte, for uns zur Sünde made, on that wir würden in him the Gerechtigkeit, the before/in_front_of God gilt.)

CLV Eum, qui non noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, ut nos efficeremur justitia Dei in ipso.[fn]
(Eum, who not/no noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, as nos efficeremur justitia God in ipso.)

5.21 Pro nobis peccatum fecit. Usus est Veteris Testamenti peccata dici sacrificia pro peccatis, vel, peccatum dicitur similitudo carnis peccati. Unde dicitur: De peccato delevit vel damnavit peccatum, id est de similitudine carnis peccati: quia misit Deus Filium suum in similitudinem carnis peccati. Ita etiam maledictum pro morte accipitur, quæ de maledicto Dei venit, ut vere dictum in lege intelligatur: Maledictus omnis qui pendet in ligno Deut. 21.. Quid est quod ait, maledictus? id est, terra es, in terram ibis Gen. 3.. Quid est quod dicit, omnis? quia Christus, qui pependit in ligno, cum esset vera vita, mortuus est vera morte non ficta.

5.21 Pro nobis peccatum fecit. Usus it_is Veteris Testamenti sins dici sacrificia pro peccatis, vel, peccatum it_is_said similitudo carnis peccati. Unde it_is_said: De peccato delevit or damnavit peccatum, id it_is about similitudine carnis peccati: because misit God Son his_own in similitudinem carnis peccati. Ita also maledictum pro morte accipitur, which about maledicto God venit, as vere dictum in lege intelligatur: Maledictus everyone who pendet in ligno Deut. 21.. Quid it_is that ait, maledictus? id it_is, terra es, in the_earth/land ibis Gen. 3.. Quid it_is that dicit, omnis? because Christus, who pependit in ligno, when/with was vera vita, mortuus it_is vera morte not/no ficta.

UGNT τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν, ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ.
(ton maʸ gnonta hamartian, huper haʸmōn hamartian epoiaʸsen, hina haʸmeis genōmetha dikaiosunaʸ Theou en autōi.)

SBL-GNT ⸀τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ.
(⸀ton maʸ gnonta hamartian huper haʸmōn hamartian epoiaʸsen, hina haʸmeis genōmetha dikaiosunaʸ theou en autōi. )

TC-GNT Τὸν [fn]γὰρ μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν, ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς [fn]γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ.
(Ton gar maʸ gnonta hamartian, huper haʸmōn hamartian epoiaʸsen, hina haʸmeis genōmetha dikaiosunaʸ Theou en autōi.)

5:21 γαρ ¦ — CT

5:21 γενωμεθα ¦ γινωμεθα TR

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Message of Reconciliation

Reconciliation is a term found throughout the New Testament. In Romans 5:1-11, Paul concentrates on the cost of God’s reconciling work in the death of his son. Colossians 1:15-20 is a hymn in praise of the cosmic scope of reconciliation, focused on the exalted Lord who is ruler of all. In Ephesians 2:11-22, the emphasis is on the reconciliation that embraces both Jews and Gentiles to form a united church with all hostility broken down.

Paul’s fullest exposition of reconciliation comes in a discussion of the meaning of Jesus’ death in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Earlier, Paul had reminded the Corinthians of the centrality of the cross (1 Cor 15:3-5) but had not elaborated much at that point on the meaning of that saving event. Now he explains what Christ’s death on the cross means: Christ identified himself with human sin so that sinners might be restored to their family relationship with God. This reconciliation turns enemies into friends. The cost of this exchange is that “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Cor 5:21).

With the resurrection of Jesus and his triumph over death, a new world is born—a new era in which God’s people have the promise of eternal fellowship with him (see 2 Cor 4:14–5:10). Those who have trusted in Christ for salvation have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of future salvation (5:5). They know that God has accepted them and will welcome them forever.

Those who have been reconciled to God are called to participate in the ministry of reconciliation, helping people find their way back to God (2 Cor 5:18-21). And because believers have experienced this reconciliation, they are to pursue opportunities for reconciliation in their interpersonal relationships as well (see Matt 5:24; 18:15; Rom 12:18).

Passages for Further Study

Ezek 45:15; Dan 9:24; Matt 5:24; 18:15; Acts 10:36; Rom 5:1-2; 8:6-9, 15-16; 12:18; 15:13; 2 Cor 5:18-21; 13:11; Eph 2:11-18; Col 1:19-22; Heb 2:17

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν & ἐποίησεν & ἐν αὐτῷ

the_‹one› not /having/_known sin & ˱he˲_made & in him

Here, the words one and him refer to Jesus the Messiah. The word he refers to God the Father. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make explicit to whom these pronouns refer. Alternate translation: “Jesus, who did not know sin, God made … in Jesus”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν μὴ γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν

the_‹one› not /having/_known sin

Here, the phrase having known sin refers to committing or doing sin. It does not refer just to knowing about sin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to committing sin. Alternate translation: “The one not having done sin” or “The one not having sinned”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν

sin sin ˱he˲_made

Here Paul speaks as if God made Jesus sin. He could mean that God: (1) treated Jesus as though he were a sinner. Alternate translation: “he regarded as a sinner” (2) identified Jesus with sinners and sin. Alternate translation: “he made like a sinner” (3) caused Jesus to be a sin offering. Alternate translation: “he made to be a sin offering”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν

for us

Here, the phrase for us could indicate that God made Jesus sin: (1) to benefit or help us. Alternate translation: “for our sake” or “for our benefit” (2) instead of or in place of us. Alternate translation: “in place of us” or “instead of us”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ

we /may/_become /the/_righteousness ˱of˲_God

Here Paul speaks as if people could become the righteousness of God. He could mean that we: (1) share the righteousness that God gives to those who believe. Alternate translation: “we might share in the righteousness of God” (2) are declared “righteous” by God. Alternate translation: “we might be declared to have the righteousness of God” (3) become those who live “righteously.” Alternate translation: “we might act according to the righteousness of God”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ

/the/_righteousness ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe righteousness that could: (1) come from God. Alternate translation: “righteousness from God” (2) belong to God. Alternate translation: “God’s own righteousness”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ

we /may/_become /the/_righteousness ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of righteousness, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “righteous.” Make sure your translation fits with how you understand what righteousness of God means. Alternate translation: “God might make us righteous” or “we might be righteous because of what God does”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν αὐτῷ

in him

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in him to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in him, or united to Christ, explains how people become the righteousness of God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that indicates that being united to Christ is the means by which people receive the righteousness. Alternate translation: “by being united to him” or “as God unites us to him”

Parallel 2COR 5:21