ROM 2:21 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) then why do you teach others when you haven’t even taught yourself? You announce that stealing is wrong, but you’re a thief.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, magenta:vocative, 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 then you, the one teaching another, do you not teach yourself? You, the one preaching not to steal, do you steal?

UST So even though you Jews have convinced yourself that these things are true, you should teach yourselves to do what you teach others to do because you do not do those things! You keep telling others that they should not steal, but you steal!

BLB then you teaching another, do you do not teach yourself? You preaching not to steal, do you steal?

AICNT you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

OEB Why, then, you teacher of others, don’t you teach yourself? Do you preach against stealing, and yet steal?

WEBBE You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?

WMBB You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who proclaim that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?

NET therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

LSV You, then, who are teaching another, do you not teach yourself?

FBV So if you're busy teaching others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell people not to steal, but are you stealing?

TCNT Yoʋ then who teach others, do yoʋ not teach yoʋrself? Yoʋ who preach against stealing, do yoʋ steal?

T4T Since you claim that you have all these advantages because you are a Jew, ◄it is disgusting that you who teach other people that they should obey the laws God gave Moses do not obey the laws that you yourself teach!/why is it that you who teach other people that they should obey the laws God gave Moses do not obey the laws that you yourself teach?► [RHQ] You who preach that people should not steal things, it is disgusting that you yourself steal things! [RHQ]

LEB Therefore, the one who teaches someone else, do you not teach yourself? The one who preaches not to steal, do you steal?

BBE You who give teaching to others, do you give it to yourself? you who say that a man may not take what is not his, do you take what is not yours?

Moff well then, do you ever teach yourself, you teacher of other people? You preach against stealing; do you steal?

Wymth you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?

ASV thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

DRA Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest:

YLT Thou, then, who art teaching another, thyself dost thou not teach?

Drby thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal?

RV thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
(thou/you therefore that teachest/teach another, teachest/teach thou/you not thyself/yourself? thou/you that preachest a man should not steal, dost/do thou/you steal? )

SLT Therefore teaching another, teachest thou not thyself proclaiming not to steal, stealest thou?

Wbstr Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

KJB-1769 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
(Thou/You therefore which teachest/teach another, teachest/teach thou/you not thyself/yourself? thou/you that preachest a man should not steal, dost/do thou/you steal? )

KJB-1611 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest a man should not steale, doest thou steale?
(Thou/You therefore which teachest/teach another, teachest/teach thou/you not thyself/yourself? thou/you that preachest a man should not steale, dost/do thou/you steale?)

Bshps Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thy selfe? Thou preachest a man shoulde not steale, yet thou stealest.
(Thou/You therefore which teachest/teach another, teachest/teach not thyself/yourself? Thou/You preachest a man should not steale, yet thou/you stealest.)

Gnva Thou therefore, which teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest, A man should not steale, doest thou steale?
(Thou/You therefore, which teachest/teach another, teachest/teach thou/you not thyself/yourself? thou/you that preachest, A man should not steale, dost/do thou/you steale? )

Cvdl Now teachest thou other, and teachest not thy selfe. Thou preachest that a man shulde not steale, and thou stealest.
(Now teachest/teach thou/you other, and teachest/teach not thyself/yourself. Thou/You preachest that a man should not steale, and thou/you stealest.)

TNT But thou which teachest another teachest not thy selfe. Thou preachest a man shuld not steale: and yet thou stealest.
(But thou/you which teachest/teach another teachest/teach not thyself/yourself. Thou/You preachest a man should not steale: and yet thou/you stealest. )

Wycl what thanne techist thou another, and techist not thi silf? Thou that prechist that me schal not stele, stelist?
(what then teachest/teach thou/you another, and teachest/teach not thyself/yourself? Thou/You that prechist that me shall not stele, stelist?)

Luth Nun lehrest du andere und lehrest dich selber nicht. Du predigest, man solle nicht stehlen, und du stiehlst.
(Now you_teach you(sg) other/different and you_teach you/yourself himself not. You(sg) preachst, man should not steal, and you(sg) stiehlst.)

ClVg Qui ergo alium doces, teipsum non doces: qui prædicas non furandum, furaris:
(Who therefore another teachs, yourself not/no teachs: who/which beforedicas not/no furandum, furaris: )

UGNT ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις? ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις?
(ho oun didaskōn heteron, seauton ou didaskeis? ho kaʸrussōn maʸ kleptein, klepteis?)

SBL-GNT ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις; ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν κλέπτεις;
(ho oun didaskōn heteron seauton ou didaskeis; ho kaʸrussōn maʸ kleptein klepteis;)

RP-GNT ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις; Ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις;
(ho oun didaskōn heteron, seauton ou didaskeis; Ho kaʸrussōn maʸ kleptein, klepteis;)

TC-GNT ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις; Ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις;
(ho oun didaskōn heteron, seauton ou didaskeis; Ho kaʸrussōn maʸ kleptein, klepteis; )

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

2:21a–23b

These verses are the then-clause of the if-clause in 2:17–20.In this case, the if-clause has multiple clauses in it, and the then-clause does too. But since there is only one “if” and one “then,” the singular “if-clause” and “then-clause” is used. Paul probably expected any religious Jew or Jewish Christian to agree that he or she is like the person described in the if-clause. Now he asked if they follow that religion properly. Or were they hypocritical, saying what was good but doing evil?

Paul used four rhetorical questions and an accusation to point out possible ways of being hypocritical. If they were being hypocritical, these rhetorical questions and accusation were a rebuke to them to stop doing those evil deeds. Consider how to translate that meaning here.

2:21a

you, then, who teach others,

then, although you^(sing) teach others the ways/teachings of God,
then, what about yourselves? You teach other people about God,

you, then, who teach others: The word then connects to the if-clause of 2:17–20. See the above note.

In some languages the word then must be first in the clause. For example:

then you who teach others

General Comment on 2:17a–2:21a

The if-clause begins in 2:17a and continues to 2:20c. Such a long if-clause may not be natural or easy to follow in some languages. If that is true in your language, you may want to use grammar or words that indicate the possibility of 2:17a–20c and put the if-clause at the beginning of 2:21a. For example:

^17aBut you may call yourself a Jew…. ^19aand you may be convinced that you are a guide for the blind…^20chaving in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth. ^21aIf you think like that, then you who teach others…

2:21b

do you not teach yourself?

do you not follow/obey what you teach?
but you do not follow/obey what you teach.

do you not teach yourself?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that this person should teach himself. That is, he should follow or obey what he teaches. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
why don’t you teach yourself? (GNT)
do you obey/follow what you teach?
As a statement. For example:
you do not obey/follow what you teach
maybe you do not teach yourself

2:21c

You who preach against stealing,

You preach that stealing is evil/bad,
You proclaim, “It is not right to steal.”

preach: The Greek word that the BSB translates as preach means “announce important information or news in public.” Here are other ways to translate this word:

announce

proclaim (REB)

stealing: This refers to taking other people’s possessions when they do not want you to. It usually implies taking them secretly.

2:21d

do you steal?

but do you steal?
So do not steal other people’s things!

do you steal?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that this person should not steal. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
but do you yourself steal? (GNT)
As a statement. For example:
you yourself steal
maybe it is you who steals things

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις? ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις?

you therefore teaching another (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον σεαυτόν οὒ διδάσκεις Ὁ κηρύσσων μή κλέπτειν κλέπτεις)

In [2:21–23](../02/21.md) Paul transitions from his description of the Jews in [2:17–20](../02/17.md) to a series of rhetorical questions. These questions emphasize the hypocrisy of the Jews, who thought they were superior to non-Jews because they knew the law of Moses. If you would not use rhetorical questions for this purpose in your language, you could translate Paul’s words as statements or exclamations and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [then you, who teach another, do not teach yourself! You, who preach not to steal, actually steal!]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

therefore

Here, then indicates that what follows is the second half of the factual conditional statement that Paul began with “if you name yourself a Jew” in [2:17](../02/17.md). Paul wants to show that what the Jews believe and how they live are in contrast. If you divided [2:17–21](../02/17.md) into separate sentences, then you may need to include a short form of the “if” statement here. Alternate translation: [if all this is really true, then] or [since all this is really true, then]

Note 3 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

ἕτερον

another

Here, another is a singular pronoun that refers to a group of people. If your language does not use singular pronouns in that way, you can use a different expression. Alternate translation: [other people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ οὖν διδάσκων ἕτερον σεαυτόν οὒ διδάσκεις Ὁ κηρύσσων μή κλέπτειν κλέπτεις)

Here Paul implies that the Jews need to teach themselves, because they do not actually obey the laws that they teach. They live their lives as if they do not know the law of Moses. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [since you yourself don’t obey the law, do you not teach yourself]