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Parallel COL 2:11

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not necessarily 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 Bible-translators and others 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 early looks into the drafted texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

B I ◄ ← Col 2:11 ↓ → ► ≡ ═ ©  

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

OET (OET-RV) It wasn’t just human hands that circumcised you by cutting off part of the body, but Messiah circumcised you all by cutting you away from your sinful acts.OET logo mark

OET-LV in whom also you_all_were_circumcised with_circumcision not_hand_made, in the disarmament of_the body of_the flesh by the circumcision of_the chosen_one/messiah,OET logo mark

SR-GNT ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ ˚Χριστοῦ, ‡
   (en hō kai perietmaʸthaʸte peritomaʸ aⱪeiropoiaʸtōi, en taʸ apekdusei tou sōmatos taʸs sarkos, en taʸ peritomaʸ tou ˚Ⱪristou,)

Key: khaki:verbs, 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).


GHT in to {whom} also you-are-circumcised to {un-hand-made circumcision} in to {the out-clothe/disrobe-off/away} of {the body} of {the flesh} in to {the circumcision} of {the Anointed},

ULT in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ,

UST When God united you to the Messiah, it was as if God the Father had circumcised you. I do not mean that a human physically cut flesh off you. Rather, instead of cutting off flesh, God removed your weak and sinful parts. God circumcised you in this way through what the Messiah accomplished.

BSB In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of [your] sinful nature, with the circumcision [performed] by Christ[fn] [and] not by human hands.


2:11 Literally in the cutting away of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ

MSB In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of [your] sinful nature, with the circumcision [performed] by Christ[fn] [and] not by human hands.


2:11 Literally in the cutting away of the body of sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ

BLB in whom also you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

AICNT In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body [[of the sins]][fn] of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,


2:11, of the sins: Included in BYZ TR.

OEB By your union with him you received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ.

WEBBE In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

WMBB In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah,

NET In him you also were circumcised – not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.

LSV in whom you also were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Christ,

FBV You were “circumcised” in him but not by human hands. You have been set free from sinful human nature by the “circumcision” Christ performed.[fn]


2:11 Clearly this is not talking about physical circumcision but what it was supposed to mean spiritually.

TCNT In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by hands, by putting off the body [fn]of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ.


2:11 of the sins 92.3% ¦ — CT 6.9%

T4T Specifically, because of your close relationship with Christ, it is as though [MET] you were circumcised {Christ circumcised you} spiritually. This does not mean that someone circumcised you physically [MTY], but it means that Christ completely removed your self-directed nature.

LEB in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

BBE In whom you had a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

Moff in him you have been circumcised with no material circumcision that cuts flesh from the body, but with Christ's own circumcision,

Wymth In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not performed by hand, when you threw off your sinful nature in true Christian circumcision;

ASV in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

DRA In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ:

YLT in whom also ye were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of the Christ,

Drby in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;

RV in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
   (in whom ye/you_all were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;)

SLT In whom also were ye circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ;

Wbstr In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

KJB-1769 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
   (In whom also ye/you_all are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:)

KJB-1611 In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without handes, in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh, by the Circumcision of Christ:
   (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps In whom also ye are circumcised with circumcisio made without handes, by puttyng of the body of sinnes of the fleshe, in the circumcision of Christe:
   (In whom also ye/you_all are circumcised with circumcisio made without hands, by putting of the body of sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ:)

Gnva In whome also yee are circumcised with circumcision made without handes, by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ,
   (In whom also ye/you_all are circumcised with circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ,)

Cvdl in whom also ye are circumcysed with circumcision without handes, by puttynge of the synfull body of the flesh: (namely) with the circumcysion of Christ,
   (in whom also ye/you_all are circumcysed with circumcision without hands, by putting of the sinful body of the flesh: (namely) with the circumcysion of Christ,)

TNT in whom also ye are circucised with circumcision made mith out hondes by puttinge of the sinfull boddy of the flesshe thorow the circumcision that is in Christ
   (in whom also ye/you_all are circucised with circumcision made mith out hands by puttinge of the sinful body of the flesh through the circumcision that is in Christ)

Wycl In whom also ye ben circumcidid in circumcisioun not maad with hoond, in dispoyling of the bodi of fleisch, but in circumcisioun of Crist;
   (In whom also ye/you_all been circumcidid in circumcision not made with hand, in dispoyling of the body of flesh, but in circumcision of Christ;)

Luth in welchem ihr auch beschnitten seid mit der Beschneidung ohne Hände, durch Ablegung des sündlichen Leibes im Fleisch, nämlich mit der Beschneidung Christi,
   (in which_one you(pl)/their/her also circumcised are with the/of_the clipping/trimming(n) without hands, through Ablegung the sinfuln body in_the flesh, namely with the/of_the clipping/trimming(n) of_Christ,)

ClVg in quo et circumcisi estis circumcisione non manu facta in expoliatione corporis carnis, sed in circumcisione Christi:
   (in/into/on where and circumcisi you_are circumcision not/no by_hand facts in/into/on expoliatione body of_flesh, but in/into/on circumcision Christi:)

UGNT ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ;
   (en hō kai perietmaʸthaʸte peritomaʸ aⱪeiropoiaʸtōi, en taʸ apekdusei tou sōmatos taʸs sarkos, en taʸ peritomaʸ tou Ⱪristou;)

SBL-GNT ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ ⸀σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
   (en hō kai perietmaʸthaʸte peritomaʸ aⱪeiropoiaʸtōi en taʸ apekdusei tou ⸀sōmatos taʸs sarkos, en taʸ peritomaʸ tou Ⱪristou,)

RP-GNT ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ χριστοῦ,
   (en hō kai perietmaʸthaʸte peritomaʸ aⱪeiropoiaʸtōi, en taʸ apekdusei tou sōmatos tōn hamartiōn taʸs sarkos, en taʸ peritomaʸ tou ⱪristou,)

TC-GNT ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος [fn]τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
   (en hō kai perietmaʸthaʸte peritomaʸ aⱪeiropoiaʸtōi en taʸ apekdusei tou sōmatos tōn hamartiōn taʸs sarkos, en taʸ peritomaʸ tou Ⱪristou,)


2:11 των αμαρτιων 92.3% ¦ — ᴄᴛ 6.9%

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


SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:6–23: Behave as God’s people should behave and do not follow false teaching

Theme: Paul told the Colossians to behave correctly because they belong to Christ. They should not follow those who teach a false message. He also reminded them that God had accepted them completely because they belong to Christ.

In 1:13–2:5 Paul had reminded the Colossians what is true about Christ and had told them that God had always planned to make them his people. Beginning in 2:6, Paul urged them to continue to believe in Christ. He assured them that this was the same message that Epaphras and others had taught them. Therefore, they should continue to trust in Christ more and more and act in ways that honor God. They should not believe any other message.

Paragraph 2:8–15

Theme: Paul warned the Colossians to make sure that the false teachers did not deceive them with their deceptive Greek philosophies and ideas about the spirit world.

Paul stated his main point at the beginning of this paragraph: “See to it that no one takes you captive…” (2:8a). You need to make this main point clear in your translation.

2:11–15

In 2:10 Paul said “you have been given fullness in Christ.” This was a general statement. Here in 2:11–15 Paul described in more detail the fullness believers have in Christ through salvation.

2:11a

In Him you were also circumcised,

In Him you were also circumcised: In this verse Paul used the Jewish rite of circumcision as a figure of speech for what Christ has done for believers. You should keep this figure of speech in your translation if possible. Paul used this figure of speech for two reasons:

  1. When the Jews circumcised a baby boy, they removed a piece of skin, and Paul was comparing this to Christ removing the sinful nature of those who believe in him.

  2. Also, circumcision was the rite that marked the Jews as God’s people. When a boy was circumcised, this was the sign that he was part of God’s people, the Jews. Here Paul was saying that the Colossian Christians did not become the people of God because someone physically circumcised them, but because Christ freed them from the old sinful way they used to behave.

2:11b

in the putting off of your sinful nature,

in the putting off of your sinful nature: The Greek word apekdusis that the BSB translates as putting off is used for “removing, stripping off” something, such as clothes. In this context Paul used it as a figure of speech. When a person is circumcised, the priest removes a piece of skin from his body. In the same way, when a person is united with Christ, Christ removes his sinful nature.

sinful nature: Literally “body of flesh.” Paul was referring to human nature, which is naturally sinful. GNT translates it, “this sinful self” (see 2:11 in GNT). If it is not possible in your language to talk about “removing” sins, you can say:

he freed us from the power that sin has in our hearts

2:11c

with the circumcision performed by Christ

with the circumcision performed by Christ: Paul said it was Christ who removed a person’s sinful nature. It is "the circumcision done by Christ" (see 2:11 in GNT, NIV).

2:11d

and not by human hands.

and not by human hands: By saying this, Paul explained that he was not writing about literal circumcision. The phrase not by human hands means “this is not something that people did to you,” or “you were not circumcised physically.”

General Comment about 2:11

It may be clearer in some languages to reorder the parts of 2:11. One way to do this might be:

When you were united to Christ, it is as if you were circumcised. You were not circumcised physically. No, rather it was Christ who circumcised you spiritually; he cut away and removed your sinful nature.


UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν ᾧ καί περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ)

Paul uses circumcision as an image to describe what happens to believers when they are united to the Messiah. In the metaphor, the circumcision is completed without hands, which means that God accomplishes it. What is “removed” or cut off is the body of flesh, which refers to the broken and sinful parts of the person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea with the language of analogy or express it plainly. Alternate translation: [you were also marked off by God as his own when he took away your body of flesh by the work of the Messiah]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε

in whom in by (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν ᾧ καί περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could translate this verb in active form, with God as the subject. Alternate translation: [in whom God also circumcised you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός

in in the disarmament ˱of˲_the body ˱of˲_the flesh

If your language does not use an abstract noun to express the idea behind removal, you could express the idea with a verb such as “remove.” Alternate translation: [when he removed the body of flesh]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ

in in the by the circumcision ˱of˲_the Messiah

Paul uses the possessive form to connect circumcision with Christ. This does not refer to when Christ himself was circumcised or how he himself circumcises believers. Instead, the possessive form connects the extended metaphor of circumcision with Christ’s work: the circumcision that Paul speaks about is accomplished in what Christ has done. If your language does not use this form to express that idea, you could make the relationship between circumcision and Christ more explicit. Alternate translation: [in the circumcision accomplished by Christ] or [in the circumcision caused by Christ]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοῦ Χριστοῦ

˱of˲_the ˱of˲_the Messiah

Here Paul uses the word Christ to refer primarily to what Christ has accomplished. If your language does not use a person’s name to identify something that they have done, you could clarify that Paul is speaking of the “work” of Christ. Alternate translation: [that comes from what Christ did] or [that Christ’s work accomplished]

B I ◄ ← Col 2:11 ↑ → ► ≡ ═ ©