ROM 1:21 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) [ref]Even though they know about God, they didn’t honour or thank him, but their theories made them incompetent and their minds turned from perception towards darkness.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 having known God, they did not glorify him as God, nor did they give him thanks. Instead, they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless heart was darkened.

UST People cannot excuse themselves because they do not honor him as God, even though they know that he exists. They also refuse to thank him. In contrast, they think about worthless things, and they are unable to understand spiritual things.

BLB For having known God, they glorified Him not as God, or were thankful; but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish heart was darkened.

AICNT For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

OEB because, although they learned to know God, yet they did not offer him as God either praise or thanksgiving. Their speculations about him proved futile, and their undiscerning minds were darkened.

WEBBE Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

LSV because, having known God they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened,

FBV because even though they knew God, they did not praise him or thank him, but instead their thinking about God turned into complete foolishness, and darkness filled their empty minds.

TCNT For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

T4T Although the non-Jews knew what God is like, they did not honor him as God, nor did they thank him for what he had done. But instead, they began to think foolish things about him, and they became unable to understand [MET] what he wanted them to know.

LEB For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

BBE Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark.

Moff Though they knew God, they have not glorified him as God nor given thanks to him; they have turned to futile speculations till their ignorant minds grew dark.

Wymth For when they had come to know God, they did not give Him glory as God nor render Him thanks, but they became absorbed in useless discussions, and their senseless minds were darkened.

ASV because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.

DRA Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.

YLT because, having known God they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor gave thanks, but were made vain in their reasonings, and their unintelligent heart was darkened,

Drby Because, knowing [fn]God, they glorified [him] not as [fn]God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened:

1.21 Elohim

RV because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.

SLT Wherefore having known God, not as God did they honour or return thanks; but were rendered vain in their conversations, and their heart without understanding was darkened.

Wbstr Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

KJB-1769 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

KJB-1611 Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened:
(Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened:)

Bshps Because that when they knewe God, they glorified hym not as God, neither were thankefull, but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations, and their foolishe heart was blynded.
(Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but waxed/grew full of vanities in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was blinded.)

Gnva Because that when they knewe God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their thoughtes, and their foolish heart was full of darkenesse.
(Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was full of darkness. )

Cvdl in as moch as they knewe, that there is a God, and haue not praysed him as God ner thanked him, but became vayne in their ymaginacions, and their foolish hert was blynded.
(in as much as they knew, that there is a God, and have not praised him as God nor thanked him, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was blinded.)

TNT in as moche as when they knewe god they glorified him not as God nether were thakfull but wexed full of vanities in their imaginacions and their folisshe hertes were blynded.
(in as much as when they knew god they glorified him not as God neither were thakfull but waxed/grew full of vanities in their imaginacions and their folisshe hearts were blinded. )

Wycl For whanne thei hadden knowe God, thei glorifieden hym not as God, nether diden thankyngis; but thei vanyschiden in her thouyts, and the vnwise herte of hem was derkid.
(For when they had know God, they glorified him not as God, neither did thankings; but they vanyschiden in her thoughts, and the unwise heart of hem was derkid.)

Luth dieweil sie wußten, daß ein GOtt ist, und haben ihn nicht gepreiset als einen GOtt noch gedanket, sondern sind in ihrem Dichten eitel worden, und ihr unverständiges Herz ist verfinstert.
(meanwhile they/she/them knew, that a God is, and have him/it not priced as a God still gedanket, rather are in their compositions vain been, and you(pl)/their/her unsensible/understanding heart is darkened.)

ClVg Quia cum cognovissent Deum, non sicut Deum glorificaverunt, aut gratias egerunt: sed evanuerunt in cogitationibus suis, et obscuratum est insipiens cor eorum:[fn]
(Because when/with they_would_have_known God, not/no like God glorificaverunt, or graces they_did: but evanuerunt in/into/on thoughts to_his_own, and darktum it_is stupid heart their: )

1.21 Obscuratum. AMBR. Nebula enim erroris texit cor illorum, quia cum Creatorem ex iis quæ fecit pulchra, amplius honorificare debuerint, obtusi sunt, relicto illo.

1.21 Obscuratum. AMBR. Nebula because error covered heart of_them, because when/with Creatorem from to_them which he_did beautiful, more honour/respect(n)ificare debuerint, obtusi are, leaving that/there.

UGNT διότι γνόντες τὸν Θεὸν, οὐχ ὡς Θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ ηὐχαρίστησαν, ἀλλ’ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία;
(dioti gnontes ton Theon, ouⱪ hōs Theon edoxasan aʸ aʸuⱪaristaʸsan, all’ emataiōthaʸsan en tois dialogismois autōn, kai eskotisthaʸ haʸ asunetos autōn kardia;)

SBL-GNT διότι γνόντες τὸν θεὸν οὐχ ὡς θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ ηὐχαρίστησαν, ἀλλὰ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία·
(dioti gnontes ton theon ouⱪ hōs theon edoxasan aʸ aʸuⱪaristaʸsan, alla emataiōthaʸsan en tois dialogismois autōn kai eskotisthaʸ haʸ asunetos autōn kardia;)

RP-GNT διότι γνόντες τὸν θεόν, οὐχ ὡς θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ εὐχαρίστησαν, ἀλλ' ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία.
(dioti gnontes ton theon, ouⱪ hōs theon edoxasan aʸ euⱪaristaʸsan, all' emataiōthaʸsan en tois dialogismois autōn, kai eskotisthaʸ haʸ asunetos autōn kardia.)

TC-GNT διότι γνόντες τὸν Θεόν, οὐχ ὡς Θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ [fn]εὐχαρίστησαν, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία.
(dioti gnontes ton Theon, ouⱪ hōs Theon edoxasan aʸ euⱪaristaʸsan, all emataiōthaʸsan en tois dialogismois autōn, kai eskotisthaʸ haʸ asunetos autōn kardia. )

1:21 ευχαριστησαν ¦ ηυχαριστησαν CT

1:21 αλλ ¦ αλλα SBL WH

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

1:21a

For although they knew God,

¶ For even though they know what God is like,
¶ For they know about God from what they see.

For: This word introduces an explanation for why people are without excuse.

although they knew God: The word although introduces something that is true and contrasts it with something else. Here the clause they knew God is contrasted with what Paul said in 1:21b. For example:

they knew God, but…

they knew God: This clause refers to what people can know about God by looking at the world.Cranfield (page 116). It does not refer to full knowledge of God. It refers to the same thing as “what may be known about God” in 1:19a. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

They knew about God (CEV)

they know that God existsKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

1:21b

they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him,

they did not praise him as God or say any thanks to him.
But they did not respect him in the way people should respect God, and they did not say “Thank you” to him.

they neither glorified Him as God: This clause indicates that people did not praise God or show respect to him because he is God and the Creator. They did not say things like “You are God” to him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they did not praise him saying, “You are God”

they did not honor him as is proper for GodUma Back Translation on TW.

they knew that He is worthy to be honored, but they didn’t honor HimBased on the Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

nor gave thanks to Him: In some languages it is more natural to use “said” instead of gave. People should be thankful to God, because he has given them life and all good things.

1:21c

but they became futile in their thinking

And/But/Instead their thinking became worth nothing,
They began to think foolish/useless thoughts

but: The Greek word indicates contrast but both 1:21b and 1:21c are bad things, so some languages would not indicate contrast here. For example:

Their thoughts… (CEV)

and

they became futile in their thinking: The Greek word that the BSB translates as became futile means “do and think things that are worth nothing.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Their thinking became useless (NCV)

their thinking became foolish

1:21d

and darkened in their foolish hearts.

and their hearts/insides became without understanding and like a dark room/house.
and changed their lives to be unthinking and unable to understand.

and darkened in their foolish hearts: This is a metaphor that means “they became unable to understand.” These people were not able to understand moral, ethical, or spiritual truth. This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as something other than a passive clause. For example:

God/he filled their foolish minds with darkness

God made their foolish hearts unable to understand

their foolish minds became full of darkness

their foolish hearts became unable to understand

their foolish hearts: In some languages the word foolish cannot connect directly to hearts. If that is true in your language, translate naturally. For example:

their hearts are foolish

they are foolish and their hearts were darkened

foolish: The Greek word here refers to not being able to understand things well. It implies that such a person does things that do not make much sense. Here are other ways to translate this word:

senseless (RSV)

stupid (CEV)

which is without wisdom/understandingTagbanwa Back Translation on TW.

hearts: In Greek, the word hearts refers figuratively to the inner person, which includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. In some languages, another body part is used to describe this. For example:

liver

stomach

throat

If a literal translation of hearts (or another body part) would not refer to the inner person, you should translate the meaning directly. For example:

insides

minds

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γνόντες τὸν Θεὸν

˓having˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διότι γνόντες τόν Θεόν οὐχ ὡς Θεόν ἐδόξασαν ἤ ηὐχαρίστησαν ἀλλʼ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καί ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία)

Here Paul uses having known to imply that these people know about God or know that God exists. He does not mean that they know God personally. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [having known about God]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

οὐχ ὡς Θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ ηὐχαρίστησαν

not as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διότι γνόντες τόν Θεόν οὐχ ὡς Θεόν ἐδόξασαν ἤ ηὐχαρίστησαν ἀλλʼ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καί ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία)

Here, not glorify him and nor give him thanks mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize that ungodly people dishonor God. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: [they thanklessly despise God] or [they completely disregard God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ηὐχαρίστησαν

˱they˲_gave_thanks

Here Paul speaks of expressions of thanks as if they were something that could be given to a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [did they thank him]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία

˱they˲_˓were˒_made_useless in the speculations ˱of˲_them (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διότι γνόντες τόν Θεόν οὐχ ὡς Θεόν ἐδόξασαν ἤ ηὐχαρίστησαν ἀλλʼ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καί ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία)

These two phrases mean the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize how foolish these ungodly people became by refusing to honor God. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you can combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: [they became completely senseless in the way they think]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν

˱they˲_˓were˒_made_useless in the speculations ˱of˲_them

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: [they began to think futile things]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία

˓was˒_darkened the unintelligent ˱of˲_them heart

Here Paul speaks of the heart as if it could mentally sense things or could become black in color. He also uses darkened to refer to someone losing the ability to understand something. He means that these people lack spiritual sensitivity and are unable to understand spiritual things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [their heart became incapable of feeling or understanding spiritual things]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

καρδία

heart

Here Paul uses heart to refer a person’s inner being or mind. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [inner being] or [mind]

Note 8 topic: grammar-collectivenouns