ROM 3:5 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. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. 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=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But if our sinfulness highlights God’s sinlessness, what can we say about that? So isn’t God, the one inflicting the severe anger, wrong to punish us. (Of course this is reasoning from a human perspective.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? God is not unrighteous for imposing his wrath, is he? (I speak according to men.)

UST But you might say, “Suppose this is true and how unrighteous we Jews are actually confirms how righteous God is. That could not possibly mean that God is unrighteous because he punishes us!” (When I talk like this, I am expressing how human beings think.)

BSB § But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

BLB But if our unrighteousness shows God's righteousness, what shall we say? God, inflicting the wrath, is unrighteous? I speak according to man.

AICNT But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust to inflict wrath? I am speaking in human terms.

OEB But what if our wrongdoing makes God’s righteousness all the clearer? Will God be wrong in inflicting punishment? (I can but speak as a person.) Heaven forbid!

WEBBE But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)

LSV And if our unrighteousness establishes God’s righteousness, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man.)

FBV But if the fact that we're wrong helps to show that God is right, what should we conclude? That God is wrong to pronounce judgment on us? (I'm talking from a human perspective here.)

TCNT § But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God, who inflicts wrath, unrighteous? (I speak in a human way.)

T4T So if we Jews’ being wicked [PRS] shows that it is right that God does not bless us, what shall we say/conclude? Shall we conclude that it is not right for God to be angry and punish us Jews [MTY]? I should not be saying these things, but I am speaking as ordinary humans speak.

LEB But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.)

BBE But if the righteousness of God is supported by our wrongdoing what is to be said? is it wrong for God to be angry (as men may say)?

Moff No Moff ROM book available

Wymth But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous—I speak in our everyday language— when He inflicts punishment?

ASV But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

DRA But if our injustice commend the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who executeth wrath?

YLT And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

Drby But if our unrighteousness commend [fn]God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is [fn]God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.

3.5 Elohim

RV But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

Wbstr But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man.)

KJB-1769 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

KJB-1611 But if our vnrighteousnesse commend the righteousnesse of God, what shall we say? is God vnrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speake as a man)
(But if our unrighteousnesse commend the righteousnesse of God, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man))

Bshps But yf our vnrighteousnes setteth foorth the righteousnes of God, what shall we saye? Is God vnryghteous which taketh vengeaunce? I speake after the maner of men,
(But if our unrighteousness setteth forth the righteousness of God, what shall we saye? Is God unryghteous which taketh vengeaunce? I speak after the manner of men,)

Gnva Now if our vnrighteousnes comend the righteousnes of God, what shall we say? Is God vnrighteous which punisheth? (I speake as a man.)
(Now if our unrighteousness comend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous which punisheth? (I speak as a man.) )

Cvdl But yf it be so, that oure vnrighteousnes prayseth ye righteousnes of God, what shal we saye? Is God then vnrighteous, that he is angrie therfore? (I speake thus after the maner off men)
(But if it be so, that our unrighteousness prayseth ye/you_all righteousness of God, what shall we saye? Is God then unrighteous, that he is angry therefore? (I speak thus after the manner off men))

TNT Yf oure vnrightewesnes make the rightewesnes of God more excellent: what shall we saye? Is God vnrighteous which taketh vengeauce? I speake after the maner of men.
(If our unrighteousness make the righteousness of God more excellent: what shall we saye? Is God unrighteous which taketh vengeauce? I speak after the manner of men. )

Wycl But if oure wickidnesse comende the riytwisnesse of God, what shulen we seie? Whether God is wickid, that bryngith in wraththe?
(But if our wickednesse comende the righteousness of God, what shulen we seie? Whether God is wicked, that bryngith in wraththe?)

Luth Ist‘s aber also, daß unsere Ungerechtigkeit Gottes Gerechtigkeit preiset, was wollen wir sagen? Ist denn GOtt auch ungerecht, daß er darüber zürnet? (Ich rede also auf Menschenweise.)
(Ist‘s but also, that unsere Ungerechtigkeit God’s Gerechtigkeit preiset, what/which wollen we/us say? Is because God also ungerecht, that he darüber zürnet? (I rede also on Menschenweise.))

ClVg Si autem iniquitas nostra justitiam Dei commendat, quid dicemus? Numquid iniquus est Deus, qui infert iram?[fn]
(When/But_if however iniquitas nostra justitiam of_God commendat, quid dicemus? Numquid iniquus it_is God, who infert iram? )

3.5 Si autem iniquitas. Dixit quod Deus verax et omnis homo mendax, et quod indignis dat bona, in quo commendabilior apparet ejus justitia et gratia: unde carnalis dicens Deum uti malis, quasi instrumento ad gloriam suam, eo rem deducit, ut dicat iniquum Deum qui punit peccata quæ sibi prosunt. Quod removet, dicens: Nunquid iniquus. Deus verax et homo mendax. Si autem hoc est, et ita iniquitas nostra justitiam Dei commendat, quid sequi videtur? Quod Deus iniquus est. Sed nunquid iniquus Deus qui infert mala?

3.5 When/But_if however iniquitas. Dixit that God verax and everyone human mendax, and that indignis dat bona, in quo commendabilior apparet his justitia and gratia: whence carnalis saying God uti malis, as_if instrumento to gloriam his_own, eo rem deducit, as let_him_say iniquum God who punit sins which sibi prosunt. That removet, saying: Nunquid iniquus. God verax and human mendax. When/But_if however this it_is, and ita iniquitas nostra justitiam of_God commendat, quid sequi videtur? That God iniquus it_is. But nunquid iniquus God who infert mala?

UGNT εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν? μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν? (κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.)
(ei de haʸ adikia haʸmōn, Theou dikaiosunaʸn sunistaʸsin, ti eroumen? maʸ adikos ho Theos, ho epiferōn taʸn orgaʸn? (kata anthrōpon legō.))

SBL-GNT εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν; μὴ ἄδικος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.
(ei de haʸ adikia haʸmōn theou dikaiosunaʸn sunistaʸsin, ti eroumen; maʸ adikos ho theos ho epiferōn taʸn orgaʸn; kata anthrōpon legō.)

TC-GNT § Εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησι, τί ἐροῦμεν; Μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν;—κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω—
( § Ei de haʸ adikia haʸmōn Theou dikaiosunaʸn sunistaʸsi, ti eroumen; Maʸ adikos ho Theos ho epiferōn taʸn orgaʸn;—kata anthrōpon legō— )

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

εἰ δὲ

if but

In this verse, Paul is speaking as if he were an unbelieving Jew and is challenging the statement that Paul made in the previous verse. But here indicates that what follows is a response to what Paul said in the previous verse. If it might be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [If indeed that is true] or [Now if]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν? μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν?

if but the unrighteousness ˱of˲_us ˱of˲_God /the/_righteousness /is/_demonstrating what ˱we˲_/will_be/_saying not unrighteous_‹is› ¬the God the_‹one› inflicting the wrath

In these sentences Paul is speaking as if he were a non-Christian Jew arguing against Paul. It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν?

if & the unrighteousness ˱of˲_us ˱of˲_God /the/_righteousness /is/_demonstrating what ˱we˲_/will_be/_saying

Paul is using a hypothetical situation to develop the argument that an unbelieving Jew would make. Alternate translation: [suppose our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God. Then what will we say]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμῶν & ἐροῦμεν

˱of˲_us & ˱we˲_/will_be/_saying

Here, our and we are used exclusively to speak of Paul and other Jews. Your language may require you to mark these forms. Alternate translation: [Jewish … will we Jews say]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην

the unrighteousness ˱of˲_us ˱of˲_God /the/_righteousness

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of unrighteousness or righteousness, you could express these ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [how unrighteous we are … how righteous God is]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν?

not unrighteous_‹is› ¬the God the_‹one› inflicting the wrath

In this sentence Paul is not asking for information, but is using this question here to express an objection that a Jew might have to what Paul said in the previous verse. This sentence is also the answer to the hypothetical question that precedes it. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [God certainly cannot be unrighteousness for imposing his wrath!]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

εἰ & ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν? μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν?

if & the unrighteousness ˱of˲_us ˱of˲_God /the/_righteousness /is/_demonstrating what ˱we˲_/will_be/_saying not unrighteous_‹is› ¬the God the_‹one› inflicting the wrath

If it would be more natural in your language, you could combine the hypothetical conditional statement of the first sentence with the rhetorical question of the second sentence. Alternate translation: [if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, then we certainly cannot say that God is unrighteousness for imposing his wrath!]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν

¬the the_‹one› inflicting the wrath

Here Paul uses imposing his wrath to refer to the outcome of God’s anger, which is carried out by judging and punishing people because they are unrighteous. See how you translated the same use of wrath in 1:18.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / aside

(κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.)

according_to human_origin ˱I˲_/am/_speaking

Paul could be saying this as an aside in order to show that he is not trying to challenge the righteousness of God. If this would be confusing in your language, you could add parentheses, as seen in the ULT, or use a natural way in your language to indicate an aside. Alternate translation: [I am reasoning like a human being]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

(κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.)

according_to human_origin ˱I˲_/am/_speaking

Here, the phrase according to men is an idiom meaning “the way people do” or “like a human being.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent idiom or use plain language. Alternate translation: [I speak based on how human beings perceive things] or [I speak according to mere human reasoning]

Parallel ROM 3:5