ROM 10:8 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.)

OET (OET-RV) So what does the righteousness based on faith say? It says: ‘The message is close to you—it’s in your mouth and heart.’ That’s the message of faith that we’ve been preaching:

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

ULT But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”
¶  This is the word of faith, which we proclaim.

UST However, Moses also said this in the Scriptures about people becoming righteous by trusting in God, “You can easily know what God said. You can proclaim it and know it personally.” This refers to what God said about trusting in him. This is what we believers in the Messiah keep announcing.

BLB But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart." That is, the word of faith which we proclaim,

AICNT But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith which we proclaim.[fn]

10:6-8, Deuteronomy 30:12-14

OEB No, but what does it say? “The message is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (which means “The message of faith” which we proclaim).

WEBBE But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach:

WMBB But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we proclaim:

NET But what does it say? “ The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach),

LSV But what does it say? “The saying is near you—in your mouth, and in your heart”: that is, the saying of the faith that we preach;

FBV What Scripture actually says is: “The message is very close to you—it's what you talk about and what's in your mind.”[fn] In fact it's this message based on trust that we're presenting.

10:8 These allusions are to Deuteronomy 30:11-14. They were originally applied to the law, and were to indicate that the law was not distant and unapproachable, clearly denying it was difficult to observe. Paul now applies this to the person of Christ, making it clear that this “message of the law” was fulfilled in him.

TCNT But what does it say? “The word is near yoʋ, in yoʋr mouth and in yoʋr heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach),

T4T But instead, those who believe in Christ [PRS] can say what [RHQ] Moses also said, “You (sg) can find out about God’s message very easily. You can speak [MTY] about it; you can think [MTY] about it.” This is the message that we proclaim, that people must believe in Christ.

LEB But what does it say? “The word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart”[fn] (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),

10:8 A quotation from Deut 30:14|link-href="None"

BBE But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart: that is, the word of faith of which we are the preachers:

Moff No, what it does say is this: — The word is close to you, in your very mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach).

Wymth But what does it say? "The Message is close to you, in your mouth and in your heart;" that is, the Message which we are publishing about the faith—

ASV But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

DRA But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. This is the word of faith, which we preach.

YLT But what doth it say? 'Nigh thee is the saying — in thy mouth, and in thy heart:' that is, the saying of the faith, that we preach;

Drby But what says it? The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

RV But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
(But what saith/says it? The word is nigh thee/you, in thy/your mouth, and in thy/your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: )

SLT But what does it say? The word is near thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we proclaim;

Wbstr But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

KJB-1769 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(But what saith/says it? The word is nigh thee/you, even in thy/your mouth, and in thy/your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; )

KJB-1611 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps But what sayth he? The worde is nye thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thy heart. This same is the worde of faith, which we preache
(But what saith/says he? The word is nigh/near thee/you, even in thy/your mouth, and in thy/your heart. This same is the word of faith, which we preach)

Gnva But what sayth it? The worde is neere thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thine heart. This is the worde of faith which we preach.
(But what saith/says it? The word is near thee/you, even in thy/your mouth, and in thine/your heart. This is the word of faith which we preach. )

Cvdl But what sayeth the scripture? The worde is nye the, euen in thy mouth and in thine hert. This is ye worde of faith yt we preach.
(But what saith/says the scripture? The word is nigh/near them, even in thy/your mouth and in thine/your heart. This is ye/you_all word of faith it we preach.)

TNT But what sayth the scripture? The worde is nye the even in thy mouth and in thyn herte. This worde is the worde of fayth which we preache.
(But what saith/says the scripture? The word is nigh/near the even in thy/your mouth and in thine/your heart. This word is the word of faith which we preache. )

Wycl But what seith the scripture? The word is nyy in thi mouth, and in thin herte; this is the word of bileue, which we prechen.
(But what saith/says the scripture? The word is nigh/near in thy/your mouth, and in thin heart; this is the word of believe, which we preaching.)

Luth Aber was sagt sie? Das Wort ist dir nahe, nämlich in deinem Munde und in deinem Herzen. Dies ist das Wort vom Glauben, das wir predigen.
(But what/which says they/she/them? The word is you/to_you(sg) near, namely in your mouth and in your heart(s). This/These is the word from_the faith, the we/us preaching.)

ClVg Sed quid dicit Scriptura? Prope est verbum in ore tuo, et in corde tuo: hoc est verbum fidei, quod prædicamus.[fn]
(But what he_says Scriptura? Prope it_is the_word/saying in/into/on vocally your, and in/into/on heart your: this it_is the_word/saying of_faith, that beforedicamus. )

10.8 Prope est verbum. Id est utile est, vel non est aliquid inconveniens vel dicere vel credere. Vel prope, quia non est longe a natura animorum: et loquendi ratione, quod nobis dicitur ut credamus. Hoc est verbum. AUG., Tract. 80, in Joannem. De quo Dominus ait: Nam vos mundi estis propter verbum quod locutus sum vobis, etc., usque ad nam et in ipso verbo aliud est sonus transiens, aliud est virtus remanens.

10.8 Prope it_is the_word/saying. That it_is useful it_is, or not/no it_is something inconveniens or to_say or to_believe. Or near, because not/no it_is far_away from nature/element in_mindrum: and to_speak by_reason, that us it_is_said as let_us_believe. This it_is the_word/saying. AUG., Tract. 80, in/into/on Yoannem. From/About where Master he_said: For/Surely you(pl) world you_are because the_word/saying that spoke I_am to_you(pl), etc., until to for/surely and in/into/on himself word something_else it_is sound/noise passing_by, something_else it_is virtue remanens.

UGNT ἀλλὰ τί λέγει? ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου, καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου; τοῦτ’ ἔστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν.
(alla ti legei? engus sou to ɽaʸma estin, en tōi stomati sou, kai en taʸ kardia sou; tout’ estin to ɽaʸma taʸs pisteōs ho kaʸrussomen.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; Ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν.
(alla ti legei; Engus sou to ɽaʸma estin, en tōi stomati sou kai en taʸ kardia sou, toutʼ estin to ɽaʸma taʸs pisteōs ho kaʸrussomen.)

RP-GNT Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; Ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· τοῦτ' ἔστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν·
(Alla ti legei; Engus sou to ɽaʸma estin, en tōi stomati sou kai en taʸ kardia sou; tout' estin to ɽaʸma taʸs pisteōs ho kaʸrussomen;)

TC-GNT Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; Ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου· τοῦτ᾽ ἔστι τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν·
(Alla ti legei; Engus sou to ɽaʸma estin, en tōi stomati sou kai en taʸ kardia sou; tout esti to ɽaʸma taʸs pisteōs ho kaʸrussomen; )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:5–15: Salvation for everyone is by faith not works

In this section Paul spoke about righteousness based on the Law of Moses and righteousness based on faith. The righteousness which comes from the Law is based on doing what the Law says. The righteousness which comes from faith is not based on what a person does but is instead a matter of the heart.

God rescues the person who believes in Jesus and announces that Jesus is his Lord. Paul said that this is true for both Jews and people who are not Jews. Jesus is Lord of all of them. and blesses them very much.

Paul then asked several questions for the believers in Rome to think about. He implied that someone must be sent and preach, and people must hear, believe, and call on Jesus. Paul ended the section with a quote from the Old Testament about how it is good to preach the good news.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God saves anyone, Jew or Gentile, who believes in Jesus

Salvation by faith and the need for preaching near and far

10:8a

But what does it say?

¶ But what does it/he say? It/He says,
¶ But people who believe in Jesus and so God has said they are right with him, they say like God’s word says,

what does it say?: This is a rhetorical question. It draws attention to what Paul said next. Paul did not expect the readers to answer this question. But he did expect the readers to agree with what he said next. Here are other ways to translate this question:

what else does it say? (GW)

what does it say next? (REB)

In some languages the correct meaning is indicated by using a statement instead of a question. For example:

it says, (NLT)

This clause introduces a quote from Scripture. Some language translations always note that in their translations. For example:

what does it say? It says as Scripture says,

it: The word it refers here to the righteousness based on faith (10:6). You should refer to that here.

10:8b

“The word is near you;

“The message is close to you^(sing/plur).
“The statement/declaration is easy for you to find.

The word is near you: Here the word near indicates that the word is within reach. It is not hard to get, like going up to heaven or down to the place of the dead is hard to do. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

The message is very close at hand (NLT)

The word is not far from you

The message is easy to get/find

word: This Greek word refers to what was said. It implies many words, unified in some way. It does not refer to a single word. Here are other ways to translate this word:

message (NLT)

news/statement

Paul explained which word he meant in 10:8d. You should not explain it here.

you: The Greek word is singular, but refers in general to anyone. In some languages the plural is used for that meaning.

10:8c

it is in your mouth and in your heart,”

It is in your mind and in your insides/liver/stomach,”
You are able to say it and it is already in your inner being.”

in your mouth: This is a figure of speech. It refers to the things a person knows and therefore he is able to talk about them. God’s words, either received through Moses or Paul, are known. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

on your lips/tongue

in your mindsKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

you are able to speak it

heart: This word refers to a person’s inner being. See how you translated it in 10:6.

General Comment on 10:8b–c

These words are a quote of Deuteronomy 30:14. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

10:8d

that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

namely, the message concerning faith that we^(excl) preach.
I, Paul, mean the statement/declaration of believing in Jesus that we tell people.

that is: Translate this as you did in 10:6.

the word of faith: Here the word of indicates that God’s message calls people to have faith in God and the Christ/Messiah, as now known to be Jesus.Moo (page 656) and Cranfield say the word of means “that calls for.” Jewett (page 629) says, “When one follows the logic of the speech-in-character, however, this is clearly the word of missionaries that proclaims faith.” But this seems to divorce “the word of faith” from “the word (that) is near you.” Dunn (page 606) says the phrase means both “the word ‘which calls for (the response of) faith’ (and) the word which proclaims the faith that is believed.”

the word: Translate this as you did in 10:8b.

proclaiming: The Greek word that the BSB translates as proclaiming means “speak loudly in public important information or news.” Here are other ways to translate this word:

announce

preach (NJB)

See how you translated this word in 2:21, where the BSB translates it as “preach.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

τί λέγει?

what ˱it˲_˓is˒_saying

Here Paul uses this clause to introduce a quotation from an Old Testament book ([Deuteronomy 30:14](../deu/30/14.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase that indicates that Paul is quoting from an important text. Alternate translation: [what does it say in the Scriptures]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί λέγει?

what ˱it˲_˓is˒_saying

Paul is not asking for information, but is using the question form here to emphasize the truth of what he is saying. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [it surely says,]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

τί λέγει?

what ˱it˲_˓is˒_saying

The word it refers to “the righteousness” referred to in [10:6](../10/06.md). Here Paul continues to describe righteousness as if it were a person who could speak. See how you translated “the righteousness by faith says” in [10:6](../10/06.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει

˱it˲_˓is˒_saying

Here Paul uses the present tense verb say to refer to something that happened in the past. If it would not be natural to do that in your language, you could use the past tense in your translation. Alternate translation: [did it say]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου, καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τί λέγει Ἐγγύς σοῦ τό ῥῆμα ἐστίν ἐν τῷ στόματι σοῦ καί ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σοῦ τοῦτʼ ἐστίν τό ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὅ κηρύσσομεν)

In this sentence Paul quotes [Deuteronomy 30:14](../deu/30/14.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου, καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

Paul quotes Moses speaking of the word as if it were an object that could be near or in someone. He means that God’s message could be easily known and spoken by Moses’ audience. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [You can easily know and speak the word]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸ ῥῆμά

Paul quotes Moses using word to describe what God has spoken by using words. This general reference to God’s word would include what God had said about the Messiah. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [God’s message]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σου & σου & σου

Here Paul quotes Moses addressing the people of Israel as if he were speaking to only one person. The pronouns you and your are singular. If the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural form of “your” in your translation.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν τῷ στόματί σου

in the in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τί λέγει Ἐγγύς σοῦ τό ῥῆμα ἐστίν ἐν τῷ στόματι σοῦ καί ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σοῦ τοῦτʼ ἐστίν τό ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὅ κηρύσσομεν)

The phrase in your mouth refers to being able to say something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in what you say]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

in in the heart (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά τί λέγει Ἐγγύς σοῦ τό ῥῆμα ἐστίν ἐν τῷ στόματι σοῦ καί ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σοῦ τοῦτʼ ἐστίν τό ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὅ κηρύσσομεν)

See how you translated heart in [10:1](../10/01.md).

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως

Paul is using the possessive form to describe a word that is about faith. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the word about faith]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς πίστεως

¬the ˱of˲_faith

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [about believing]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

κηρύσσομεν

˱we˲_˓are˒_proclaiming

Here, we refers to Paul and other Christians who proclaim the gospel, so we would be exclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Parallel ROM 10:8

Section 10:5–15: Salvation for everyone is by faith not works

10:8a

10:8b

10:8c

General Comment on 10:8b–c

10:8d