ROM 12:1 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
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 I urge you therefore, brothers, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

UST So then, considering everything that I have told you, I exhort you fellow believers, based on how compassionate God is: Devote yourselves to God, as if you were living animals someone offers to God. Be holy and please God. Doing so is the reasonable way for you to serve God.

BLB Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your reasonable service.

AICNT Therefore, I urge you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to God, your rational[fn] service.

12:1, rational: Pertaining to being carefully thought through, thoughtful (BDAG, λογικός).

OEB I entreat you, then, friends, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship.

CSB Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

CEV Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.

ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

NASB Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

LSB Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

WEBBE Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG Place Your Life Before God (1-2) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

NET Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.

LSV I call on you, therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies [as] a sacrifice—living, sanctified, acceptable to God—your intelligent service;

FBV So I encourage you, my brothers and sisters, because of God's compassion[fn] for you, to dedicate your bodies as a living offering that is holy and pleasing to God. This is the logical way to worship.

12:1 Or “mercy.”

TCNT I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, your reasonable religious service.

T4T My fellow believers, since God has acted mercifully toward you in so many ways, I appeal to all of you that you present yourselves [SYN] to him by making yourselves like holy sacrifices [MET]. Make yourselves sacrifices that he is pleased with, sacrifices that are living/alive, not ones that are dead/killed. Since God has done so much for you/us, this is the only appropriate way to serve him.

LEB Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.

NRSV I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

NAB I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.

BBE For this reason I make request to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him.

Moff Well then, my brothers, I appeal to you by all the mercy of God to dedicate your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated and acceptable to God; that is your cult, a spiritual rite.

Wymth I plead with you therefore, brethren, by the compassionsof God, to present all your faculties to Him as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to Him. This with you will be an act of reasonable worship.

ASV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

DRA I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.

YLT I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice — living, sanctified, acceptable to God — your intelligent service;

Drby I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of [fn]God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to [fn]God, [which is] your intelligent service.

12.1 Elohim

RV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
(I beseech/implore you therefore, brethren/brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. )

SLT I Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, your reasonable service.

Wbstr I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

KJB-1769 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(I beseech/implore you therefore, brethren/brothers, by the mercies of God, that ye/you_all present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. )

KJB-1611 ¶ I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee present your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, which is your reasonable seruice.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I beseche you therfore brethren, by the mercifulnesse of God, that ye geue vp your bodyes a quicke sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, whiche is your reasonable seruice:
(I beseech/implore you therefore brethren/brothers, by the mercifulness of God, that ye/you_all give up your bodies a quick sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service:)

Gnva I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, which is your reasonable seruing of God.
(I Beseech you therefore brethren/brothers, by the mercies of God, that ye/you_all give up your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable seruing of God. )

Cvdl I beseke you brethre by the mercyfulnesse of God, that ye geue ouer youre bodies for a sacrifice, yt is quycke holy, and acceptable vnto God, which is yor reasonable seruynge off God.
(I beseke you brethren/brothers by the mercyfulness of God, that ye/you_all give over your(pl) bodies for a sacrifice, it is quick holy, and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serving off God.)

TNT I beseche you therfore brethren by the mercyfulnes of God that ye make youre bodyes aquicke sacrifise holy and acceptable vnto God which is youre resonable seruynge of god.
(I beseech/implore you therefore brethren/brothers by the mercyfulnes of God that ye/you_all make your(pl) bodies aquick sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your(pl) resonable serving of god. )

Wycl Therfore, britheren, Y biseche you bi the mercy of God, that ye yyue youre bodies a lyuynge sacrifice, hooli, plesynge to God, and youre seruyse resonable.
(Therefore, brethren/brothers, I beseech/implore you by the mercy of God, that ye/you_all give your(pl) bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasinge to God, and your(pl) service resonable.)

Luth Ich ermahne euch, liebe Brüder, durch die Barmherzigkeit Gottes, daß ihr eure Leiber begebet zum Opfer, das da lebendig, heilig und GOtt wohlgefällig sei, welches sei euer vernünftiger Gottesdienst.
(I admonish/rebuke you, love(v) brothers, through the compassion God’s, that you(pl)/their/her your(pl) bodies begebet for_the victim/prey, the there lively/alive, holy and God probably/wellgefällig be, which be your(pl) reasonable God’sdienst.)

ClVg Obsecro itaque vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem, rationabile obsequium vestrum.[fn]
(Please therefore you(pl) brothers through mercy of_God, as exhibeatis bodies your victim living, holy, to_God pleaseem, rationabile obsequium of_you. )

12.1 Obsecro vos. Hucusque satis utramque partem humiliavit, et gloriam de priori statu annulavit, modo quasi finito negotio deinceps ad moralitatem tendit. Obsecro vos. Hucusque ne alter adversus alterum superbiret; hinc ut alter de alterius utilitate laboret. Obsecro per, etc. Id est per apostolatum misericorditer a Deo mihi commissum, vel misericordiam a Deo vobis factam et exhibitam. Hostiam, etc. AUG., lib. 10, de Civit., cap. 6. Verum sacrificium est omne opus quod agitur, etc, usque ad adjungit dicens: Sed reformamini in novitate mentis vestræ, etc.

12.1 Please you(pl). So_far enough both part he_humbled, and glory from/about priori state annulavit, just/only as_if finito business onwards/afterwards to moralitatem tends. Please you(pl). So_far not the_other against the_other proudret; from_here as the_other from/about another's usefulness work. Please per, etc. That it_is through apostolatum miserablecorditer from to_God to_me commissum, or mercy from to_God to_you(pl) made and exhibitam. Hostiam, etc. AUG., lib. 10, from/about Civit., chapter. 6. Verum sacrifice it_is everything work/need that is_being_done, etc, until to adjoins saying: But reformamini in/into/on he_knowsate of_the_mind yours, etc.

UGNT παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ, παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν, ἁγίαν, εὐάρεστον, τῷ Θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν.
(parakalō oun humas, adelfoi, dia tōn oiktirmōn tou Theou, parastaʸsai ta sōmata humōn thusian zōsan, hagian, euareston, tōi Theōi, taʸn logikaʸn latreian humōn.)

SBL-GNT Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν ⸂εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ⸃, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν·
(Parakalō oun humas, adelfoi, dia tōn oiktirmōn tou theou parastaʸsai ta sōmata humōn thusian zōsan hagian ⸂euareston tōi theōi⸃, taʸn logikaʸn latreian humōn;)

RP-GNT Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ, παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν, ἁγίαν, εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν,
(Parakalō oun humas, adelfoi, dia tōn oiktirmōn tou theou, parastaʸsai ta sōmata humōn thusian zōsan, hagian, euareston tōi theōi, taʸn logikaʸn latreian humōn,)

TC-GNT Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν [fn]οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ, παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν, ἁγίαν, [fn]εὐάρεστον τῷ Θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν,
(Parakalō oun humas, adelfoi, dia tōn oiktirmōn tou Theou, parastaʸsai ta sōmata humōn thusian zōsan, hagian, euareston tōi Theōi, taʸn logikaʸn latreian humōn, )

12:1 οικτιρμων ¦ οικτειρμων TH

12:1 ευαρεστον τω θεω ¦ τω θεω ευαρεστον WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

In this section, Paul taught that believers should use their bodies in ways that are holy and acceptable to God. Our thinking must change so that it follows the will of God and not the thinking of the people of this world.

Paul also taught that believers should not be more proud of themselves than what is right before God. We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we should use them.

Believers should love in a genuine way, avoid evil deeds, honor others, be full of eagerness to serve the Lord. They should rejoice, be patient, pray, help others, and show hospitality.

Believers should bless the people who persecute them, and live in sympathy and harmony with other believers. They are not to be proud such that they avoid people with no status in society. They are not to think of themselves as wise.

Believers are not to take revenge, but leave that for God to do something about the evil done to them. They are to do things that are honorable and live at peace with others, if they can. They are to bless their enemies by doing good to them.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The New Life in Christ (NRSV)

Our bodies, thinking, and deeds must be holy and good

12:1a

Therefore I urge you, brothers,

¶ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I urge you
¶ So, thinking about all those things, my fellow believers, I advise you,

Therefore I urge you, brothers: In many languages the word brothers must be first in the clause. But also in many languages the word Therefore must be first in the clause. Order the words in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Therefore, brothers, I appeal to you

Brothers, I therefore appeal to you

Therefore: This word introduces a result of what Paul said in earlier chapters, not just 11:36.Moo (page 748) connects it to all previous chapters. Morris (page 432) says, “Paul is…telling the Romans what their conduct must be in the light of what God has done.” For example:

considering all those things

I urge you: The Greek word that the BSB translates as urge has a wide range of meaning. Many scholars believe it means “exhort” here, rather than “command” or “beg.”For example, Cranfield (page 597), Dunn (page 708), or Jewett (page 726). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I appeal to you (ESV)

I encourage you (GW)

brothers: Here this word refers to all the believers living in Rome, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship between believers because God has made them his (adopted) children. See how you translated this word in 1:13 or 11:25.

12:1b

on account of God’s mercy,

by God’s compassion
through God having compassion in various ways on you,

on account of God’s mercy: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as on account of:

It introduces the means or instrument by which Paul urged them. For example:
by the mercies of God (ESV) (ESV, RSV, NABRE, KJV, NASB, NET, REB)
It introduces the circumstances in which Paul urged them. For example:
in view of God’s mercy (NIV) (NIV, NJB)
It introduces the reason why Paul urged them. For example:
because of God’s great mercy to us (GNT) (GNT, BSB, GW, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports both (1) and (2), and (1) seems more likely here.

mercy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mercy refers to concern for someone with troubles and here implies helping that person. It is one of the ways a father feels toward his children when they are in trouble and need help. (It is not the usual Greek word translated mercy.) Here are other ways to translate this word:

compassion (GW)

sympathyKittel (page 680).

12:1c

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God,

to offer your bodies as a sacrifice that is alive, holy to God, and it pleases him.
that you should give your bodies completely to him. It should be as if it was a sacrifice, but alive, belonging to him alone, which will make God happy.

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices: This is a figure of speech. It indicates that believers should allow God to say what they should do with their bodies. So the BSB and other English versions add the word as. In some languages it will be more clear to:

Explain the figure of speech in your translation. For example:
give your life to serving God as if a sacrifice
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
These words indicate that we are to wholly serve God.

to offer: Here the word offer refers to putting something in front of someone, either as a gift or for that person to do something with it. Here are other ways to translate this word:

present (ESV)

give (NLT)

as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God: The Greek is more literally “a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God.” The words living and holy and the phrase pleasing to God all describe what kind of sacrifice this is. For example:

a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God (NET)

a sacrifice that is living and holy and pleases God

living: Here this word indicates that this sacrifice still lives and therefore is able to do God’s will. This is unlike usual sacrifices, which are killed at the altar and therefore not able to do anything.

sacrifices: As a part of the Jewish religion, people would kill an animal, put it over a fire, then offer it to God. They sometimes burnt the animal whole and sometimes they or the priests ate it, depending on the type of “sacrifice” that they were offering. This was done to honor and worship God. The Greeks and Romans did something similar for their gods.

Here are other ways to translate this word:

offering

gift for God to use

holy: Here this word means “set apart for God’s use.” It also implies that it is special, because it belongs to God. See how you translated this word in 11:16.

pleasing to God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as pleasing also means “acceptable.” Presenting one’s body has to be the proper kind of sacrifice, so that God accepts it.

12:1d

which is your spiritual service of worship.

That is your worship in your thoughts/heart.
That is a way for you to worship him in your mind/inner-being.

which is your spiritual service of worship: These words further describe presenting your bodies as a sacrifice. It does not separate this presenting from other presentings. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word which. For example:

This is the way to worship him in your mind

That is your worship custom that is appropriateUma Back Translation on TW.

spiritual: The Greek word here was used to describe a human being’s ability to think, an action that makes us different from animals. Paul probably used it here to describe worship that is true and proper. Here are other ways to translate this word:

the worship offered by mind and heart (REB)

intelligent (JBP)

service of worship: This word refers to religious activities done for the purpose of honoring God.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

παρακαλῶ

˱I˲_˓am˒_exhorting

The pronoun I here and throughout this chapter refers to Paul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [I, Paul, urge]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὑμᾶς & ὑμῶν & ὑμῶν

you_all & ˱of˲_you_all & ˱of˲_you_all

The pronouns you and your here and throughout most of this chapter are plural and refer to the believers in Rome to whom Paul wrote this letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: [you believers … your … your]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς

˱I˲_˓am˒_exhorting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Οὖν ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί διά τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τά σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν τῷ Θεῷ εὐάρεστον τήν λογικήν λατρείαν ὑμῶν)

The word Therefore indicates that what follows is a logical conclusion. Here, therefore indicates that what follows in the rest of this letter is what Paul wants his readers to do in response to what he has written in chapters 1–11. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a fuller expression. Alternate translation: [Since everything I have said is true, I urge you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοί

brothers

See how you translated this word in [1:13](../01/13.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν & θυσίαν ζῶσαν & τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν

the compassions & ˓a˒_sacrifice living & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Οὖν ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί διά τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τά σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν τῷ Θεῷ εὐάρεστον τήν λογικήν λατρείαν ὑμῶν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of compassions, sacrifice, and service, you could express the same ideas in another way. These words indicate different ways in which people serve God. Alternate translation: [the ways that God is compassionate … a living one that is sacrificed … which is how you reasonably serve]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν

˓to˒_present (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Οὖν ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί διά τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τά σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν τῷ Θεῷ εὐάρεστον τήν λογικήν λατρείαν ὑμῶν)

Here Paul refers to a believer in Christ who obeys God as if that person were one of the animals that the Jews killed and then offered to God as a sacrifice, except that this sacrifice is still living. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [to offer yourselves completely to God while you are alive, as if you were a living sacrifice on the temple altar]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Οὖν ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί διά τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τά σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν τῷ Θεῷ εὐάρεστον τήν λογικήν λατρείαν ὑμῶν)

Here, bodies refers to whole people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [your whole selves]

Parallel ROM 12:1

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

12:1a

12:1b

12:1c

12:1d