2 COR 6:7 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: 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 RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

UST We proclaim what is true, and God enables us to act powerfully. We are righteous, which is like having a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

BLB in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

AICNT in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

OEB by the message of truth, and by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

WEBBE in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

LSV in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armor of righteousness, on the right and on the left,

FBV We speak truthfully,[fn] living in the power of God. Our weapons consist of what is true and right; we attack with our right hand and we defend with our left[fn].

6:7 Or “word of truth,” meaning the gospel.

6:7 Literally, “weapons of the right and left.” This may mean the use of a sword with the right hand and a shield with the left.

TCNT in the word of truth, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

T4T We faithfully teach the true message about Christ, and God gives us his power as we teach it. Like soldiers using weapons [MET] in a battle, we, by living righteously, defend God’s message and refute those who attack it.

LEB in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,

BBE In the true word, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Moff true words, the power of God; with the weapons of integrity for attack or for defence,

Wymth by the proclamation of the truth, by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness, wielded in both hands;

ASV in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

DRA In the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left;

YLT in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,

Drby in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of [fn]God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,

6.7 Elohim

RV in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

SLT In the word of truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of justice of the right hands and the left,

Wbstr By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

KJB-1769 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

KJB-1611 By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse, on the right hand, and on the left,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps In the worde of trueth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousnes, of the ryght hande and on the lefte,
(In the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousness, of the right hand and on the left,)

Gnva By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left,
(By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left, )

Cvdl in the worde of the trueth, in the power of God, by the armoure of righteousnes on the rightehande and on the lefte,
(in the word of the truth, in the power of God, by the armoure of righteousness on the rightehande and on the left,)

TNT in the wordes of trueth in the power of God by the armoure of rightewesnes on the right honde and on the lyfte
(in the words of truth in the power of God by the armoure of rightewesnes on the right hand and on the lifte )

Wycl in charite not feined, in the word of treuthe, in the vertu of God; bi armeris of riytwisnesse on the riythalf and on the lefthalf;
(in charity not feined, in the word of truth, in the virtue of God; by armeris of righteousness on the right hand and on the lefthalf;)

Luth in dem Wort der Wahrheit, in der Kraft Gottes, durch Waffen der Gerechtigkeit zur Rechten und zur Linken;
(in to_him word the/of_the truth, in the/of_the strength/power God’s, through weapons the/of_the justice to/for law/right and to/for left_(one);)

ClVg in verbo veritatis, in virtute Dei, per arma justitiæ a dextris et a sinistris,[fn]
(in/into/on word to_the_truths, in/into/on by_virtue of_God, through weapons justice from on_the_right and from on_the_left, )

6.7 In virtute Dei. Non speremus in homine vel in bonis; si quid boni est, Deo attribuamus. Vel hoc dicit, quia qui prædicta habet, miracula facit ad conversionem infidelium.

6.7 In by_virtue of_God. Not/No speremus in/into/on man or in/into/on good; when/but_if what good it_is, to_God attribuamus. Or this he_says, because who/which aforementioned has, miracles he_does to conversionm of_infidels.

UGNT ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ; διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν,
(en logōi alaʸtheias, en dunamei Theou; dia tōn hoplōn taʸs dikaiosunaʸs tōn dexiōn kai aristerōn,)

SBL-GNT ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ· διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν,
(en logōi alaʸtheias, en dunamei theou; dia tōn hoplōn taʸs dikaiosunaʸs tōn dexiōn kai aristerōn,)

RP-GNT ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ, διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν,
(en logōi alaʸtheias, en dunamei theou, dia tōn hoplōn taʸs dikaiosunaʸs tōn dexiōn kai aristerōn,)

TC-GNT ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ, διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν,
(en logōi alaʸtheias, en dunamei Theou, dia tōn hoplōn taʸs dikaiosunaʸs tōn dexiōn kai aristerōn, )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:3–10: Paul’s life showed he was a true apostle

In this section, Paul explained that he served God properly in all circumstances. This was also true about his coworkers. They did not purposely offend others (6:3). They showed that they were true servants of God by persevering in many kinds of difficulties (6:4–5), in the way they lived (6:6–7), and in the way they responded to others (6:8–10).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Our Lives Demonstrate That We Are God’s Servants (GW)

Proof that Paul and his coworkers were truly God’s servants

6:7a

in truthful speech and in the power of God;

by declaring the truth, and by the power of God.
when we^(excl) tell the true message, and when God’s power is clearly seen in our lives/ministry,

truthful speech: The Greek phrase is literally “word of truth.” There are three ways to interpret the Greek phrase:

It refers to speaking a true message. In this context the message is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For example:
our message of truth (GNT) (GNT, NLT, NET, REB)
Translate literally. For example:
the word of truth (NJB) (NJB, NASB, KJV)
It refers generally to talking truthfully. For example:
We have spoken the truth (CEV) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NABRE, GW, CEV, NCV, ESV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Harris says that “truth” refers to the gospel here, and that “word” refers to speaking (p. 476). He has in his translation “declaring the truth.” Thrall translates the text as “the declaration of the truth” (p. 450). Martin translates it as “the message of truth” (p. 160). But if a literal translation as in option (2) would allow or imply interpretation (1), you may want to follow that.

Other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1) are:

We faithfully preach the truth (NLT)

declaring the truth (REB)

the power of God: This phrase refers to the power that God gives to do things for him. This would include telling the gospel in a new place in a way that people would clearly understand, teaching well, and doing miracles and speaking prophecy. God demonstrated his power through Paul and the other evangelists. These deeds of God’s power commended Paul and the others to the believers in Corinth. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the presence of God’s power (GW)

God’s power is working in us (NLT)

the power of God, which he shows through us

the supernatural power of God in our lives

God’s power is clearly seen in our ministry

6:7b

with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

We also commend ourselves by using weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left hand,
when we use the ways of righteousness that are like weapons for the right hand and the left hand,
when we live/minister by means of the ways of righteousness that advance the kingdom of God and the ways of righteousness that defend us,

with: The Greek word that the BSB translates as with is often translated as “through.” Like the word “in” in 6:6c, “through” indicates that weapons of righteousness was another way in which Paul and the others commended themselves. They used these weapons properly, and that showed that people should accept them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

by (NASB)

through

by means of

the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left: This phrase is a metaphor. The weapons are the things that believers use while serving God and that God gives to them. These weapons are things such as faith, love, truth, prophecy, knowledge, and Scripture.

These weapons both protect us and enable us to advance the kingdom of God. For example, just as soldiers use swords to attack and gain ground, Paul and the other evangelists with him told the truth about Jesus, and, as a result, people believed, and so God’s kingdom grew larger. Just as soldiers use shields when people attack them, Paul and the others relied on Scripture to defend themselves. A soldier usually carried his sword in his right hand and his shield in his left. Paul spoke generally of weapons to indicate all the various ways in which they caused God’s kingdom to grow larger or to defended themselves in their faith.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to actual weapons. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate the phrase as a simile. For example:
ways of righteousness that are like weapons for the right hand and the left hand
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
ways of righteousness that advance the kingdom of God and ways of righteousness that defend us
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This phrase is a metaphor. The term “weapons” refers to things that believers use while serving God, such as faith, love, truth, prophecy, knowledge, and Scripture.

the weapons of righteousness: The word of indicates that the weapons are connected to the idea of righteousness. God, who enables people to be righteous, also supplies weapons for believers to use.Furnish says that the “weapons of righteousness” are another sign that Paul and his co-workers “have been fully equipped by God to do battle for the gospel in the world” (p. 357). When a believer uses these weapons, he is acting righteously. Examples are probably prayer, prophecy, doing miracles, and God’s word. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

weapons of God’s righteousness

our righteous deeds are like weapons

fighters have weapons, and in the same way, God empowers us to do righteous deeds

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ

in ˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth in ˓the˒_power ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of truth and power, you could express the ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [in the word about what is true, in God empowering us]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

λόγῳ

˓the˒_word

Here, the word word represents what someone says in words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the message] or [the communication]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας

in ˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth

Here Paul could use the possessive to describe: (1) a word about the truth. Alternate translation: [in the word about the truth] (2) a word that is characterized by truth. Alternate translation: [the truthful word]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ

in in ˓the˒_power ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe power that comes from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in the power that comes from God] or [in power given by God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ διά τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καί ἀριστερῶν)

Here Paul speaks as if righteousness were weapons for the right hand and the left. He means that the righteous way in which he and his fellow workers live their lives is like armor and swords which they use to protect themselves and fight against enemies. Paul does not state who the enemy is, but he implies that it is anyone and anything that acts against God and the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with simile form or in plain language. Alternate translation: [through righteousness, which is like weapons for the right hand and the left] or [through righteousness, which protects us from God’s enemies]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης

the weapons ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe weapons that could: (1) be righteousness. Alternate translation: [the weapons, which are righteousness,] (2) come from or be because of righteousness. Alternate translation: [the weapons that righteous provides] or [the weapons that come from righteousness] (3) defend or fight for righteousness. Alternate translation: [the weapons to defend righteousness]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης

the weapons ¬the ˱of˲_righteousness

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” or an adverb such as “righteously.” Alternate translation: [weapons, that is, how we live righteously,]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν

¬the ˱of˲_righteousness ˱of˲_the right (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ διά τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καί ἀριστερῶν)

Here, having weapons for the right hand and the left could describe how a soldier: (1) has an offensive weapon in one hand and a defensive weapon in the other. Alternate translation: [of righteous, both a sword and a shield] or [of righteousness for attack and defense] (2) is completely equipped for battle and able to defend against attacks from right and left. Alternate translation: [of righteous for defense on all sides] or [of righteousness with which we are fully equipped]

Parallel 2 COR 6:7

Section 6:3–10: Paul’s life showed he was a true apostle

6:7a

6:7b

Parallel 2 COR 6:7