ROM 2:20 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.
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 an instructor of foolish men, a teacher of little children, having in the law the form of the knowledge and of the truth,

UST You have convinced yourself that you should instruct people who are foolish. You have convinced yourself that you should teach people who are as ignorant as infants. You think this way because you know the laws God gave the Jews, which fully contain what we can know and what is true.

BLB an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth--

AICNT an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law;

OEB and a teacher of the childish, because in the Law you possess the outline of all knowledge and truth.

WEBBE a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth –

LSV a corrector of foolish ones, a teacher of babies, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the Law.

FBV You think you can set ignorant people straight, a teacher of “children,” because you know from the law all the truth there is to know.

TCNT an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of children, because yoʋ have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and [fn]truth.

2:20 truth. Yoʋ ¦ truth—yoʋ CT

T4T You are certain that you can instruct/correct non-Jews, whom you consider foolish because of their not understanding God’s message. Because you have in God’s laws a written expression of true knowledge [HEN], you are certain that you can teach people who, being like children, do not know God’s truth [MET].

LEB an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

BBE A teacher of the foolish, having in the law the form of knowledge and of what is true;

Moff a tutor for the foolish, a teacher of the simple, because in the Law you have the embodiment of knowledge and truth —

Wymth a schoolmaster for the dull and ignorant, a teacher of the young, because in the Law you possess an outline of real knowledge and an outline of the truth:

ASV a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

DRA An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.

YLT an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Drby an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law:

RV a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

SLT An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the inexperienced, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.

Wbstr An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law:

KJB-1769 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

KJB-1611 An instructour of the foolish, a teacher of babes: which hast the forme of knowledge and of the trueth in the Law:
(An instructour of the foolish, a teacher of babes: which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law:)

Bshps An infourmer of them whiche lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned: which hast the fourme of knowledge, & of the trueth in the lawe.
(An infourmer of them which lack discretion, a teacher of the unlearned: which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law.)

Gnva An instructer of them which lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned, which hast the forme of knowledge, and of the truth in ye Law.
(An instructer of them which lack discretion, a teacher of the unlearned, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in ye/you_all Law. )

Cvdl an enformer of ye vnwyse: a teacher of ye symple: which hast the ensample of knowlege & of the trueth in the lawe.
(an enformer of ye/you_all unwise: a teacher of ye/you_all simple: which hast the ensample/example of knowledge and of the truth in the law.)

TNT an informer of them which lacke discrecion a teacher of vnlearned which hast the ensample of that which ought to be knowen and of the truth in the lawe.
(an informer of them which lack discretion a teacher of unlearned which hast the ensample/example of that which ought to be known and of the truth in the law. )

Wycl a techere of vnwise men, a maistir of yonge children, that hast the foorme of kunnyng and of treuthe in the lawe;
(a teacher of unwise men, a master of young children, that hast the foorme of cunning and of truth in the law;)

Luth ein Züchtiger der Törichten, ein Lehrer der Einfältigen, hast die Form, was zu wissen und recht ist im Gesetz.
(a Züchtiger the/of_the Törichten, a teacher the/of_the simple_(people), have the Form, what/which to/for realise and right is in_the law.)

ClVg eruditorem insipientium, magistrum infantium, habentem formam scientiæ, et veritatis in lege.[fn]
(instructsorem insipientium, teacher infantium, having form of_knowledge, and to_the_truths in/into/on lawfully. )

2.20 Habentem formam. Ut aliis exemplum scientiæ legis sis et veritatis. Quidam enim scientiam et intellectum alicujus libri habent et ita sentiunt sicut auctor ipse sensit, non tamen habent inde veritatem: quia nesciunt quomodo sit verum, nec etiam esse verum: sed Judæus jactat se habere sensum legis, et scire verum esse sensum illum legis, ita ut aliis scire volentibus sit exemplar.

2.20 Habentem form. As to_others exemplum of_knowledge law you_are and to_the_truths. Quidam because knowledge and understanding alicuyus books they_have and so/thus they_feel like author exactly_that/himself felt, not/no nevertheless they_have therefore/from_there the_truth: because they_don't_know how be true, but_not also to_be true: but Yudahus yactat himself to_have sense law, and to_know true to_be sense him law, so/thus as to_others to_know volentibus be examplesr.

UGNT παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ—
(paideutaʸn afronōn, didaskalon naʸpiōn, eⱪonta taʸn morfōsin taʸs gnōseōs kai taʸs alaʸtheias en tōi nomōi—)

SBL-GNT παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ—
(paideutaʸn afronōn, didaskalon naʸpiōn, eⱪonta taʸn morfōsin taʸs gnōseōs kai taʸs alaʸtheias en tōi nomōi—)

RP-GNT παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ·
(paideutaʸn afronōn, didaskalon naʸpiōn, eⱪonta taʸn morfōsin taʸs gnōseōs kai taʸs alaʸtheias en tōi nomōi;)

TC-GNT παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ·
(paideutaʸn afronōn, didaskalon naʸpiōn, eⱪonta taʸn morfōsin taʸs gnōseōs kai taʸs alaʸtheias en tōi nomōi; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (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

2:20a

an instructor of the foolish,

a corrector of the foolish (NRSV)
and if you^(plur) teach God’s ways to people who are foolish

The “if” from 2:17a in the Greek affects this verse as well. Consider how to make that connection clear in your language. See the note on “if” at 2:17a.

an instructor of the foolish: This phrase probably refers to teaching someone who is foolish. The Jews generally considered Gentiles to be foolish.

The word foolish means “lacking good sense” or “without understanding.” Some people lack good sense regarding spiritual matters; they chose to do deeds that are morally wrong. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

instruct those who have no spiritual wisdom (JBP)

show foolish people what is right (NCV)

2:20b

a teacher of infants,

and someone who teaches children,

a teacher of infants: There are two ways to interpret Greek word that the BSB translates as infants:

It has the literal meaning of infants or “children” here. (BSB, RSV, NIV, ESV, KJV, NLT, GW, CEV, NET)
It has the figurative meaning of people immature in understanding or faith. The Jews sometimes referred to converts to Judaism with this word. For example:
immature (NASB) (GNT, NJB, NASB, REB, NABRE, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many English versions support it. In English it is also possible to understand the word infants in the sense of interpretation (2). But if the major language version in your area follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

infants: The Greek word that the BSB translates as infants refers to children approximately one to four years old.

2:20c

because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

having the law of Moses, which represents knowledge and truth,
because the law of Moses enables you to know about God and to know what is true,

the embodiment of knowledge and truth: The Greek word that the BSB translates as embodiment refers to the structure and shape of something. The laws that God gave to the Jews show his knowledge and the truth of all he spoke of. God’s truth is contained within the law. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the Law embodies all knowledge and all truth (NJB)

God’s law which is the location of what is correct and trueKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

true knowledge/teaching is only in the law of Moses

knowledge and truth: In some languages these two words cannot be translated as nouns. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning using the proper kinds of words. For example:

knowing about God and those teachings are true

truly knowing about God

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: παιδευτήν ἀφρόνων διδάσκαλον νηπίων ἔχοντα τήν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καί τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases, since the third phrase gives the reason for the result that the first two phrases describe. Alternate translation: [since having in the law the form of the knowledge and of the truth, you believe you should be an instructor of foolish men, a teacher of little children]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, ἔχοντα & ἐν τῷ νόμῳ

These two phrases mean the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize how strongly the Jews believed that non-Jews were ignorant about God’s truth. If saying the same thing twice might be confusing for your readers, you can combine the phrases into one. Alternate translation: [the only people who can instruct those people who are as foolish as children and are the only people who have in the law]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

διδάσκαλον νηπίων

˓a˒_teacher ˱of˲_infants

Paul speaks of the non-Jews as if they were little children. He means that they are ignorant about God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [people who are spiritually ignorant]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ

having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παιδευτήν ἀφρόνων διδάσκαλον νηπίων ἔχοντα τήν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καί τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ)

Paul speaks of the law as if it were a physical shape that someone could possess. He means that the law contains God’s true knowledge that the Jews think they exclusively own. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [understanding through God’s law how a person can truly know God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας

Paul is using the possessive forms of the knowledge and of the truth to describe the form of the law. Here, of knowledge and of the truth could indicate: (1) what the law contains. Alternate translation: [the form that contains the knowledge and the truth] (2) what the law represents. Alternate translation: [what represents knowledge and truth]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας

¬the ˱of˲_knowledge ˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παιδευτήν ἀφρόνων διδάσκαλον νηπίων ἔχοντα τήν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καί τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of knowledge and truth, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [of what we know about God and what is true about God]

Parallel ROM 2:20

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

2:20a

2:20b

2:20c