ROM 2:17 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, light-green:nominative/subject, 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).

UST Now, I am addressing you who identify yourselves as Jews: You depend on the laws God gave you to avoid God’s judgment. You brag that you know God.

BSB Now you, if you call [yourself] a Jew; [if you] rely on [the] law and boast in God;

MSB Behold, you call [yourself] a Jew. You[fn] rely on the law and boast in God.

2:17 CT Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you

AICNT {But if you}[fn] call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God,

2:17, But if you: Later manuscripts read “Behold you.” BYZ TR

OEB But, perhaps, you bear the name of “Jew,” and are relying on Law, and boast of belonging to God, and understand his will,

WEBBE Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, rest on the law, glory in God,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God

LSV Behold, you are named a Jew, and rest on the Law, and boast in God,

FBV What about you who call yourself a Jew? You rely on the written law and boast about having a special relationship to God.

TCNT [fn]Behold, yoʋ call yoʋrself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in [fn]God.

2:17 Behold, ¦ But if CT

2:17 God. Yoʋ ¦ God; if yoʋ CT

T4T Now I have something to say to any one of you Jews to whom I am writing: You (sg) boast about yourself saying, “I am a Jew.” You (sg) trust that God will save you because you possess the laws that he gave to Moses. You boast that you belong to God.

LEB ¶ But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

BBE But as for you who have the name of Jew, and are resting on the law, and take pride in God,

Moff If you bear the name of "Jew," relying on the Law, priding yourself on God,

Wymth And since you claim the name of Jew, and find rest and satisfaction in the Law, and make your boast in God,

ASV But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God,

DRA But if thou art called a Jew and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

YLT Lo, thou art named a Jew, and dost rest upon the law, and dost boast in God,

Drby But if thou art named a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in [fn]God,

2.17 Elohim

RV But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God,
(But if thou/you bearest/bear the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloryst in God, )

SLT Behold, thou art named a Jew, and restest upon the law, and boastest thyself in God,

Wbstr Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

KJB-1769 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
(Behold, thou/you art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest/make thy/your boast of God, )

KJB-1611 Behold, thou art called a Iew, and restest in the Law, and makest thy boast of God:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Behold, thou art called a Iewe, and restest in the lawe, and makest thy boast of God,
(Behold, thou/you art called a Yewe, and restest in the law, and makest/make thy/your boast of God,)

Gnva Beholde, thou art called a Iewe, and restest in the Lawe, and gloriest in God,
(Behold, thou/you art called a Yewe, and restest in the Law, and gloryst in God, )

Cvdl But take hede, thou art called a Iewe, and trustest in the lawe, & makest thy boost of God,
(But take heed, thou/you art called a Yewe, and trustest in the law, and makest/make thy/your boost of God,)

TNT Beholde thou arte called a Iewe and trustest in the lawe and reioysist in God
(Behold thou/you art called a Yewe and trustest in the law and reioysist in God )

Wycl But if thou art named a Jew, and restist in the lawe, and hast glorie in God,
(But if thou/you art named a Yew, and restist in the law, and hast glory in God,)

Luth Siehe aber zu, du heißest ein Jude und verlässest dich aufs Gesetz und rühmest dich Gottes
(See/Look but to/for, you(sg) hottest a Yude and leave you/yourself onto law and boast/praisest you/yourself God’s)

ClVg Si autem tu Judæus cognominaris, et requiescis in lege, et gloriaris in Deo,[fn]
(When/But_if however you(sg) Yudahus cognominaris, and rest/reposecis in/into/on lawfully, and to_boasts in/into/on to_God, )

2.17 Si autem tu, etc. Hic Judæos aggreditur, gravius accusans eos de peccatis, eo quod plura haberent auxilia.

2.17 When/But_if however you(sg), etc. Here/This Yudahos aggreditur, heavier accusans them from/about sins, by_him that more they_would_have auxilia.

UGNT εἰ δὲ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ, καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ, καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ,
(ei de su Youdaios eponomazaʸ, kai epanapauaʸ nomōi, kai kauⱪasai en Theōi,)

SBL-GNT ⸂Εἰ δὲ⸃ σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ ⸀νόμῳ καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν θεῷ
(⸂Ei de⸃ su Youdaios eponomazaʸ kai epanapauaʸ ⸀nomōi kai kauⱪasai en theōi)

RP-GNT Ἴδε σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ, καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ τῷ νόμῳ, καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν θεῷ,
(Ide su Youdaios eponomazaʸ, kai epanapauaʸ tōi nomōi, kai kauⱪasai en theōi,)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἴδε σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ, καὶ ἐπαναπαύῃ [fn]τῷ νόμῳ, καὶ καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ,
(Ide su Youdaios eponomazaʸ, kai epanapauaʸ tōi nomōi, kai kauⱪasai en Theōi, )

2:17 ιδε ¦ ει δε CT

2:17 τω ¦ — CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:17–29: The Jews and the law of Moses

In this section, Paul talked to the Jews about themselves. He continued to use the singular “you,” as in the previous section. This form of teaching is called a “diatribe.” (See Section 2:1–16.)

Using this diatribe, Paul rebuked the Jews because they had the law of Moses but they disobeyed it.

Paul showed them that an outward sign of religion is of no use to people if they did not do what is right. He told them that God praises those whose heart is right with God.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God praises a changed heart

Truly following God comes from the heart

2:17a

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew;

¶ But if you^(sing) say that you are a Jew
¶ Now, many of you^(plur) are Jewish.

Now: There is a textual issue in 2:17a: (1) Earlier Greek manuscripts have the words and/but if (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, NABRE, REB, ESV, NCV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the word look (KJV only). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The Greek word that the BSB translates as Now introduces a new part of Paul’s talk about the Jews. There is some contrast here with what he said about the Gentiles. Here is another way to translate this word:

But (ESV)

if: Paul used if here to cause the Roman believers to evaluate their own lives and determine if these verses apply to them. He probably expects some of them to say that they are like what he said here. Consider how to translate that meaning for the word if.

In the Greek text, this one if affects all of 2:17a–20c. (The word “then” does not occur until 2:21a.) Consider how to include all of 2:17a–20c in the if clause in your language.

Some languages may need to repeat the word if to make this clear. The BSB repeats it once in 2:18 and again in 2:19. But in some languages it is more natural to repeat it more often. For example:

¹⁷Now if you call yourself a Jew and if you rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸and if you know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

¹⁷Now if you call yourself a Jew and if you rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸and if you know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of infants, because you are convinced that you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

In some languages it is more natural not to repeat the word if at all, including 2:19a. For example:

¹⁷But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸and know his will and approve what is superior, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹and are sure that you yourself are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,

you call yourself a Jew: This clause refers to this person knowing that his parents were Jews, therefore he was a Jew. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you say you are Jewish

you have the name “Jew”

you are of the Jewish people

you: This letter was for all Roman believers to read. But here Paul wrote as if he was talking to a Jew. This Jew was someone who was proud of having the Law of Moses and all the knowledge and insight that it gave him.

In some languages a footnote to explain would be helpful to the readers. Here is an example footnote:

Paul now wrote to the Roman believers as if speaking to a Jew. This Jew was proud of having the Law of Moses and all the knowledge and insight that it gave him.

2:17b

if you rely on the law

and trust in the law of Moses
If you^(plur) are sure that God accepts you because you know God’s laws,

rely on the law: Here the phrase rely on means “to depend on.” The Jews regarded their possession of the laws that God gave to Moses as something that made them right with God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

depend on the Law (GNT)

trust in the law of Moses (NCV)

trust in your having the law to save you

say that God will accept you^(sing) because you have the Law of Moses

2:17c

and boast in God;

and brag about your God
and boast about how great God is,

boast in God: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as in:

It indicates that the Jews spoke proudly about God. For example:
boast about God (GNT) (BSB, ESV, NIV11, GNT, NJB, NASB, NABRE, GW, CEV, REB, KJV)
It indicates that the Jews spoke proudly about their relationship with God. For example:
boast of your relationship to God (NET) (RSV, NIV84, NLT, NET, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the simple meaning of the Greek word.Morris (on TW) says, “Paul is not referring to relationship to God, but to God himself.” Moo, Barrett, Nicoll, and Schreiner also support interpretation (1). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

boast about how great God is

brag about your God (GW)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ σύ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καί ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ καί καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ)

But here indicates that in [2:17–29](../02/17.md) Paul changes topics from talking about non-Jewish people who don’t know the law of Moses to Jews who know the law. He explains why the Jews as well cannot escape God’s judgment. Alternate translation: [You also need to know that] or [However]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

Here, if indicates the beginning of a conditional sentence that extends from this verse to [2:21](../02/21.md). Paul speaks as if these descriptions of Jews were hypothetical possibilities, but he means that they are actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might misunderstand and think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can translate his words as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: [since] or [because]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σὺ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ σύ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καί ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ καί καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ)

Even though Paul is speaking to Jewish people, he is hypothetically addressing an individual, so you and your and yourself is singular throughout [2:17–27](../02/17.md) unless otherwise noted. 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 forms of you and your and yourself in your translation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ σύ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ καί ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ καί καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ)

Paul speaks of the Jews as if they named themselves. He means that they consider themselves to be Jews. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you call yourself Jewish] or [you regard yourself as truly Jewish]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ,

˓are˒_resting_on ˱on˲_˓the˒_law

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context, which is God’s judgment of sinners. Alternate translation: [rely upon the law to escape God’s judgment] or [rely upon the law to save you from God’s judgment]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

καυχᾶσαι ἐν Θεῷ

˓are˒_boasting in God

Paul speaks of the Jews as if they were boasting inside of God. He means that the Jews brag that they are the only nation that knows God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [brag that you are the only ones who know God]

Parallel ROM 2:17

Section 2:17–29: The Jews and the law of Moses

2:17a

2:17b

2:17c