ROM 1:20 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

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 For his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and divine nature, are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

UST This is true because people can clearly perceive those things about God that they cannot see with their eyes. These things are how powerful God is and the fact that he is God. People could perceive these things since the time God created the universe. The things that God has made have understood these things. For this reason, people cannot excuse themselves from acknowledging that God exists.

BLB For from the creation of the world His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and divinity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, for them to be without excuse.

AICNT For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

OEB For ever since the creation of the universe God’s invisible attributes – his everlasting power and divinity – are to be seen and studied in his works, so that people have no excuse;

WEBBE For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

LSV for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead—to their being inexcusable;

FBV Ever since the creation of the world, the invisible aspects of God—his eternal power and divinity—are clearly visible in what he has made. Such people have no excuse,

TCNT For his invisible qualities, both his everlasting power and his divinity, have been plainly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

T4T People cannot see what God is like. But ever since he created the world, by means of what he created he has clearly revealed what he is like. He has made clear to everyone that he has always been able to do very powerful things. Therefore, we should recognize that God is powerful, completely different from all that he created. So no one has a basis for saying, “We never knew about God.”

LEB For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse.

BBE For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrongdoing:

Moff for ever since the world was created, his invisible nature, his everlasting power and divine being, have been quite perceptible in what he has made. So they have no excuse.

Wymth For, from the very creation of the world, His invisible perfections—namely His eternal power and divine nature—have been rendered intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse.

ASV For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:

DRA For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.

YLT for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, by the things made being understood, are plainly seen, both His eternal power and Godhead — to their being inexcusable;

Drby — for from [the] world's creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, — so as to render them inexcusable.

RV For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:

SLT For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, being understood by things made, are inspected, truly both his eternal power and divinity; so that they are inexcusable:

Wbstr For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

KJB-1769 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

KJB-1611 For the inuisible things of him from the Creation of the world, are clearely seene, being vnderstood by the things that are made, euen his eternall Power and Godhead, [fn]so that they are without excuse:
(For the inuisible things of him from the Creation of the world, are clearely seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse:)

1:20 Or, that they may be.

Bshps For his inuisible thinges, being vnderstanded by his workes, through the creation of the worlde, are seene, that is, both his eternall power and godhead: So that they are without excuse.
(For his inuisible things, being understandd by his works, through the creation of the world, are seen, that is, both his eternal power and godhead: So that they are without excuse.)

Gnva For the inuisible things of him, that is, his eternal power and Godhead, are seene by ye creation of the worlde, being considered in his workes, to the intent that they should be without excuse:
(For the inuisible things of him, that is, his eternal power and Godhead, are seen by ye/you_all creation of the world, being considered in his works, to the intent that they should be without excuse: )

Cvdl that the inuisible thinges of God (that is, his euerlastinge power and Godheade) mighte be sene whyle they are considered by the workes from the creacion of the worlde: so that they are without excuse,
(that the inuisible things of God (that is, his everlasting power and Godheade) might be seen while they are considered by the works from the creacion of the world: so that they are without excuse,)

TNT So that his invisible thinges: that is to saye his eternall power and godhed are vnderstonde and sene by the workes from the creacion of the worlde. So that they are without excuse
(So that his invisible things: that is to say his eternal power and godhed are understood and seen by the works from the creacion of the world. So that they are without excuse )

Wycl For the vnuysible thingis of hym, that ben vndurstondun, ben biholdun of the creature of the world, bi tho thingis that ben maad, yhe, and the euerlastynge vertu of hym and the godhed, so that thei mowe not be excusid.
(For the invisible things of him, that been understondun, been biholdun of the creature of the world, by those things that been made, yea/yes, and the everlasting virtue of him and the godhed, so that they more not be excusid.)

Luth damit, daß Gottes unsichtbares Wesen, das ist, seine ewige Kraft und GOttheit, wird ersehen, so man des wahrnimmt an den Werken, nämlich an der Schöpfung der Welt, also daß sie keine Entschuldigung haben,
(with_it/so_that, that God’s unsichtbares beings, the is, his eternal strength/power and Godheit, becomes ersehen, so man the truenimmt at/to the works, namely at/to the/of_the Schöpfung the/of_the world, also that they/she/them no Entschuldigung have,)

ClVg Invisibilia enim ipsius, a creatura mundi, per ea quæ facta sunt, intellecta, conspiciuntur: sempiterna quoque ejus virtus, et divinitas: ita ut sint inexcusabiles.[fn]
(Invisibilia because of_his/her_own, from creature world, through them which facts are, understood, they_lookur: everlasting too his virtue, and divinity: so/thus as let_them_be inexcusable. )

1.20 A creatura. GREG., lib. XXIX Moral., c. 8. Ab homine per excellentiam, quia excellit inter alias creaturas, vel propter convenientiam quam habet cum omnibus creaturis: est enim localiter in loco cum corporibus, sentit cum animalibus, intelligit cum angelis, unde: Prædicate Evangelium omni creaturæ Marc. 16.. Cum cognovissent, etc. AUG., Serm. LV de Verb. Dom. Viderunt quo veniendum esset, etc., usque ad quod enim Deus dederat gratis, tulit ingratis.

1.20 From creature. GREG., lib. 29 Moral., c. 8. From man through excellentiam, because excellit between others creatures, or because convenientiam how has when/with to_all creatures: it_is because localiter in/into/on instead when/with to_the_bodybus, feels when/with animals, understands when/with to/by/with_the_messengers/angels, from_where/who: Prædicate the_Gospel all creatures Marc. 16.. Since they_would_have_known, etc. AUG., Serm. LV from/about Verb. Dom. Seerunt where I_cameendum was, etc., until to that because God had_given for_free, took ingratis.

UGNT τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου, τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα, καθορᾶται; ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους.
(ta gar aorata autou apo ktiseōs kosmou, tois poiaʸmasin nooumena, kathoratai; haʸ te aidios autou dunamis kai theiotaʸs, eis to einai autous anapologaʸtous.)

SBL-GNT τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους,
(ta gar aorata autou apo ktiseōs kosmou tois poiaʸmasin nooumena kathoratai, haʸ te aidios autou dunamis kai theiotaʸs, eis to einai autous anapologaʸtous,)

RP-GNT Τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους·
(Ta gar aorata autou apo ktiseōs kosmou tois poiaʸmasin nooumena kathoratai, haʸ te aidios autou dunamis kai theiotaʸs, eis to einai autous anapologaʸtous;)

TC-GNT Τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασι νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους·
(Ta gar aorata autou apo ktiseōs kosmou tois poiaʸmasi nooumena kathoratai, haʸ te aidios autou dunamis kai theiotaʸs, eis to einai autous anapologaʸtous; )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:18–32: God is angry with people because they sin

In this section, Paul said that it is clear that God is angry about the bad things that people do. God has shown all people who he is, but they have rejected him. So they became fools and worshiped things instead of God. And so God put them under the control of sinful desires even more.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The reason why God is angry with people

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness (ESV)

People do what is not right in God’s sight and so God is angry

1:20a

For since the creation of the world

For from the creation of the world until now/today,
For, from the beginning when God first made all things,

For: This word introduces an explanation of the idea that what can be known about God is plain to people (1:19a).

since the creation of the world: This phrase indicates that all people who have lived on this earth, from creation until now, perceive who God is. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

ever since the creation of the world (ESV)

from the creation of the world until now/today

the creation of the world: This phrase refers to God creating the world and all of the other things that people can see, the sun, moon, stars, and such things.BDAG, kosmos, sense 3 (page 561). Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

when God created/made the world/universe

when God made all that people/they can see

1:20b

God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,

they see and understand the things about him that people are not able to see, his everlasting power and his divinity/god-ness,
they all see and understand things that people cannot see, his/God’s eternal power and the kind of being/god he is,

1:20c

being understood from His workmanship,

by the things that he has made.
from looking at those things.

1:20b–c

God’s invisible qualities: The Greek is literally “the invisible (things) of God.” Here it refers to the kind of person God is. These are not things that someone can see directly. Immediately after this phrase Paul explained it as “his eternal power and divine nature.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

his invisible attributes (ESV)

There are things about him that people cannot see (NCV)

His eternal power and divine nature: The Greek grammar indicates that the words His eternal power and divine nature describe what Paul meant with the words “the invisible (things) of God.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

that is to say his everlasting power and deity (REB)

God’s invisible qualities: his eternal power and divine nature,

In some languages it is not natural to speak generally of something then specifically of the same thing. If that is true in your language, omit the word “qualities” (as the BSB translates). For example:

God’s eternal power and his divine nature, which people cannot see,

His eternal power: God’s power will never end. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

his everlasting power (REB)

his strength that will not endYongkom Back Translation, by this author, unpublished manuscript.

God has power that doesn’t leaveYakan Back Translation on TW.

divine nature: The Greek word that the BSB translates as divine nature refers to the characteristics of God. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

deity (REB)

divinity (JBP)

his godhoodKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

what God is likeUma Back Translation on TW.

have been clearly seen, being understood: The Greek is literally “being understood are clearly seen.” This phrase indicates that people look at the world and understand that God is powerful and that he is God.

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

people see and understand his invisible qualities, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,

they all clearly perceive his invisible qualities, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,

from His workmanship: The word from here indicates that when people look at the things that God has made, they will realize that he has great power and that he is God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

from what has been made (NIV)

through what has been made (NASB)

1:20d

so that men are without excuse.

So they have no good reason for their bad behavior.
That is why people cannot say that God has no reason/basis to blame them for their sins.

so that: This phrase introduces the result of God’s “invisible qualities” being clearly seen (1:20b).

men are without excuse: The word excuse refers to an explanation of behavior when asked about that behavior. In this case, people knew about God but still were ungodly and unrighteous (1:18). They have no good reason for that bad behavior. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they have no defense

they have no answer for their sins

they have nothing with-which-to-answer GodKankanaey Back Translation on TW, based on Romans 2:1.

No one is able to say to God, “I never knew about you, so why do you blame/accuse me of wrongdoing?”

men: The word men refers here generally to people. Specifically, it refers to the people Paul was talking about in 1:18–19.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὰ & ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ & καθορᾶται; ἥ τε ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τά Γάρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπό κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται ἡ τέ ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καί θειότης εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτούς ἀναπολογήτους)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of qualities, power, and nature, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [what people cannot see about God, both how eternally powerful he is and who he is are clearly seen]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

καθορᾶται

˓is_being˒_clearly_seen

Paul uses seen to refer to perceiving something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [are clearly perceived]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καθορᾶται

˓is_being˒_clearly_seen

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [people can clearly see]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

κόσμου

˱of˲_˓the˒_world

Paul uses the world figuratively to refer to the whole universe. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of all that God made]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα

˱by˲_the workmanship ˓being˒_understood

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [which the things God has made understand]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους

in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τά Γάρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπό κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται ἡ τέ ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καί θειότης εἰς τό εἶναι αὐτούς ἀναπολογήτους)