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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) [ref]He didn’t falter in his faith, seeing that his body was already infertile being about a hundred years old and with Sarah being past menopause,
OET-LV And not having_faltered in_the faith, he_observed the of_himself body already having_been_made_dead, a_hundred_year old about being, and the death of_the womb of_Sarra/(Sārāh),![]()
SR-GNT Καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας, ‡
(Kai maʸ asthenaʸsas taʸ pistei, katenoaʸsen to heautou sōma aʸdaʸ nenekrōmenon, hekatontaetaʸs pou huparⱪōn, kai taʸn nekrōsin taʸs maʸtras Sarras,)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 And not weakening in the faith, he considered his own body as already being dead (being about a hundred years old)—and the deadness of the womb of Sarah.
UST Abraham thought that his body was too old to produce children. (He was almost 100 years old!) He also thought that his wife Sarah was unable to become pregnant because she never had been able to do so before. Nevertheless, Abraham kept on trusting God.
BSB Without weakening in [his] faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
MSB Without weakening in [his] faith, he acknowledged neither[fn] the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) nor[fn] the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
BLB And not having become weak in the faith, he considered his body already having become dead, being about a hundred years old, and the lifelessness of Sarah's womb.
AICNT And not weakening in faith, {he considered}[fn] his own body [already][fn] as good as dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
4:19, he considered: ℵ(01) A(02) B(03) C(04) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Later manuscripts read “he did not consider.” D(05) BYZ TR
4:19, already: ℵ(01) A(02) C(04) D(05) NA28[] THGNT BYZ TR ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. B(03) SBLGNT
OEB Though he was nearly a hundred years old, yet his faith did not fail him, even when he thought of his own body, then utterly worn out, and remembered that Sarah was past bearing children.
WEBBE Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
LSV and having not been weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already become dead (being about one hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb,
FBV His trust in God didn't weaken even though he thought his body was practically dead (he was around a hundred years old), and knew that Sarah was too old to have children.
TCNT Because he was not weak in faith, he [fn]did not consider his own body, [fn]now as good as dead (since he was somewhere around a hundred years old), or the deadness of Sarah's womb.
T4T He did not doubt that God would do what he promised, even though he knew that his body was already as incapable of begetting children as if he were dead [MET] because he was about 100 years old. And even though he realized that Sarah had never been able to become pregnant [IDM],
LEB And not being weak in faith, he considered his own body as good as dead,[fn] because he[fn] was approximately a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
4:19 Some manuscripts have “already as good as dead”
4:19 *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as causal
BBE And not being feeble in faith though his body seemed to him little better than dead (he being about a hundred years old) and Sarah was no longer able to have children:
Moff His faith never quailed, even when he noted the utter impotence of his own body (for he was about a hundred years old) or the impotence of Sara's womb;
Wymth And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed—for he was nearly 100 years old—and Sarah's barrenness.
ASV And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
DRA And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.
YLT and not having been weak in the faith, he did not consider his own body, already become dead, (being about a hundred years old,) and the deadness of Sarah's womb,
Drby and not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body already become dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadening of Sarah's womb,
RV And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
SLT And not having been weak in faith, he observed not his own body already having been dead, being about a hundred years, and the death of Sarah’s womb:
Wbstr And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.
KJB-1769 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
KJB-1611 And being not weake in faith, hee considered not his owne body now dead, when hee was about an hundred yere old, neither yet the deadnes of Saraes wombe.
(And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred year old, neither yet the deadnes of Saraes womb.)
Bshps And he faynted not in the fayth, nor considered his owne body nowe dead, when he was almost an hundred yeres old, neither yet the deadnesse o Saraes wombe.
(And he fainted not in the faith, nor considered his own body now dead, when he was almost an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness o Saraes womb.)
Gnva And he not weake in the faith, considered not his owne bodie, which was nowe dead, being almost an hundreth yeere olde, neither the deadnes of Saraes wombe.
(And he not weak in the faith, considered not his own body, which was now dead, being almost an hundredth year old, neither the deadnes of Saraes womb. )
Cvdl Euen so shal thy sede be. And he was not faynte in faith, nether cosidred his awne body, which was deed allready, whyle he was almost an hundreth yeare olde, nether the deed wombe of Sara.
(Even so shall thy/your seed be. And he was not faint in faith, neither considered his own body, which was deed already, while he was almost an hundredth year old, neither the deed womb of Sara.)
TNT And he faynted not in the fayth nor yet consydered hys awne body which was now deed even when he was almost an hondred yeare olde: nether yet that Sara was past chyldeberinge.
(And he fainted not in the faith nor yet consydered his own body which was now deed even when he was almost an hondred year old: neither yet that Sara was past chyldeberinge. )
Wycl And he was not maad vnstidfast in the bileue, nether he biheelde his bodi thanne nyy deed, whanne he was almost of an hundrid yeer, ne the wombe of Sare nyy deed.
(And he was not made unsteadfast in the believe, neither he beheld his body then nigh/near deed, when he was almost of an hundred year, nor the womb of Sara nigh/near deed.)
Luth Und er ward nicht schwach im Glauben, sah auch nicht an seinen eigenen Leib, welcher schon erstorben war, weil er fast hundertjährig war, auch nicht den erstorbenen Leib der Sara.
(And he what/which not weak in_the faith, saw also not at/to his own Leib, which already erstorben was, because he nearly hundredannual was, also not the erstorbenen body the/of_the Sara.)
ClVg Et non infirmatus est fide, nec consideravit corpus suum emortuum, cum jam fere centum esset annorum, et emortuam vulvam Saræ.[fn]
(And not/no weaktus it_is with_faith, but_not consideravit body his_own emortuum, when/with already almost hundred was of_years, and emortuam womb Saræ. )
4.19 Non est infirmatus. Aliqui ratione mundi inflati, Deum neglexerunt: ideo quæ mundo sunt impossibilia, Deus fecit, ut per hæc credentes, salvarentur.
4.19 Not/No it_is weaktus. Aliqui by_reason world inflati, God neglexerunt: therefore/for_that_reason which to_the_world are impossibilia, God he_did, as through these_things believers, to_saventur.
UGNT καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας;
(kai maʸ asthenaʸsas taʸ pistei, katenoaʸsen to heautou sōma aʸdaʸ nenekrōmenon, hekatontaetaʸs pou huparⱪōn, kai taʸn nekrōsin taʸs maʸtras Sarras;)
SBL-GNT καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ ⸀πίστει κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ⸀σῶμα νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας,
(kai maʸ asthenaʸsas taʸ ⸀pistei katenoaʸsen to heautou ⸀sōma nenekrōmenon, hekatontaetaʸs pou huparⱪōn, kai taʸn nekrōsin taʸs maʸtras Sarras,)
RP-GNT Καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, οὐ κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον - ἑκατονταέτης που ὑπάρχων - καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας·
(Kai maʸ asthenaʸsas taʸ pistei, ou katenoaʸsen to heautou sōma aʸdaʸ nenekrōmenon - hekatontaetaʸs pou huparⱪōn - kai taʸn nekrōsin taʸs maʸtras Sarras;)
TC-GNT Καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, [fn]οὐ κατενόησε τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα [fn]ἤδη νενεκρωμένον—ἑκατονταέτης που ὑπάρχων—καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν [fn]τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας·
(Kai maʸ asthenaʸsas taʸ pistei, ou katenoaʸse to heautou sōma aʸdaʸ nenekrōmenon—hekatontaetaʸs pou huparⱪōn—kai taʸn nekrōsin taʸs maʸtras Sarras; )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
In this section, Paul showed that God’s promise of blessing to Abraham and his descendants was made because Abraham believed God. God did not promise blessing because Abraham obeyed the law of Moses. Paul then described how Abraham believed and why God called him righteous. Paul then explained that God also calls the people who believe in God (and his Messiah, Jesus) righteous.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
God counts people as righteous through faith, not through the Law Of Moses
God also called us(incl) righteous because we believe
The lesson/model of God calling Abraham righteous applies to us/believers
Without weakening in his faith,
His believing did not weaken/fall
He/Abraham stayed strong/well in his faith,
Without weakening in his faith: This clause indicates that Abraham continued believing in God well. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
his faith did not decreaseUma Back Translation on TW.
Abraham did not stop believingOtomi Back Translation on TW.
his faith was still strongWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.
his believing in God did not fall/move
his: This word refers to Abraham here. In some languages 4:18d might imply that his here refers to God. If that is true in your language, use the name here. For example:
Abraham’s
he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body
when he thought about his own body and knew it was like a dead body regarding fathering children
even though he knew that his body was too old for having children
In this verse part, Paul speaks of Abraham’s body as if it were dead. The BSB translates the meaning of this metaphor with the phrase “the decrepitness of his body.” In order to comment directly on the metaphor, the notes use the ESV in this verse part.
(ESV:) when he considered his own body: There is a textual issue in 4:19b: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word considered (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, NABRE, REB, ESV, NCV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words considered not (KJV only). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The word considered means “thought about.” For example:
he contemplated his own body (NASB)
when he thought of his body (GNT)
(ESV:) which was as good as dead: There is a textual issue here:
The Greek is having been dead. For example:
as good as dead (NIV) (RSV, NIV, NJB, ESV, NABRE, NLT, CEV, NET, REB, NCV)
The Greek is already having been dead. For example:
which was already as good as dead (NRSV) (GNT, NRSV, NASB, GW, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), because it is harder to find a reason for a copyist to omit it if it was originally there than finding a reason for a copyist to add it.The UBS GNT includes it but indicates the Committee had difficulty deciding. Morris (on TW) says, “The committee was divided and in the end put the word in square brackets. Not much hangs on this question, but it does seem as though the word is not original, and it is not read in most modern translations.”
(ESV:) which: This word introduces how Paul described Abraham’s body. In some languages a different word or phrase must be used for the correct meaning. This also may require a new sentence. For example:
It was as good as dead
(ESV:) was as good as dead: The Greek is more literally “having been dead.” It is a figure of speech here. It indicates that Abraham was too old to produce child. Here are other ways to translate these words:
as dead (NET)
it was no longer possible for him to have any childrenWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.
which was too old to father a child
much past the age for having children (NCV)
(since he was about a hundred years old)
because he was about one hundred years old at that time,
(since he was about a hundred years old): This clause is background information: additional information that is not a main part of what Paul was talking about. So the BSB and some other English versions put this clause in parentheses to indicate that. It explains “good as dead” in 4:19b. Here are other ways to punctuate this clause:
—since he was about a hundred years old— (NIV)
because he was about a hundred years old, (RSV)
In some languages, it is more natural to begin a sentence with background information. See General Comment at 4:19d.
he was about a hundred years old: This phrase refers to how many years Abraham had lived about the time that Sarah became pregnant.Genesis 17:1–4, 16–19; 21:1–2. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
Abraham’s age was close to a hundred yearsUma Back Translation on TW.
his years were about 100Yongkom Back Translation (unpublished manuscript).
and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
or when he thought about Sarah’s womb and knew it was also like/as dead regarding bearing children
He also knew that his wife Sarah had not been able to bear a child.
the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb: The Greek word which the BSB translates as lifelessness is literally “deadness.” Here it implies “unable to have children.” Paul used this word instead of the usual Greek word for lifelessness to connect it to “as good as dead” in 4:19b.
In some languages a literal translation would have the correct meaning. For example:
the deadness of Sarah’s womb (NASB)
that Sarah’s womb was dead (NJB)
his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb (NLT)
But in some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
Sarah was unable to have children (GW)
Sara his wife was barrenKankanaey Back Translation on TW.
she could not give birthYakan Back Translation on TW.
Sarah’s womb: This phrase refers to the place where a baby lives and grows before the mother gives birth. Some languages have a polite way to refer to this place. For example:
Sarah’s tummy/stomach
Also see the examples above.
Sarah’s: Sarah was Abraham’s wife. In some languages people would not know that. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain that here. For example:
his wife Sarah’s
4:19b–d is background information to 4:19a. In some languages it is more natural to have the background information first. For example:
19bWhen he acknowledged his own body, which was as good as dead 19c(since he was about a hundred years old), 19dor when he acknowledged the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb, 19ahe did not weaken in faith.
19bHe acknowledged his own body as good as dead 19cbecause he was about a hundred years old, 19dand acknowledged Sarah’s womb also as good as dead, 19abut he did not weaken in faith.
People of some language groups are not familiar with the story of Abraham, and so the purpose of 4:18 may not be clear until reading 4:19. If that is true of people in your language, you may want to have the words of 4:19 first. For example:
19bWhen he acknowledged his own body, which was as good as dead 19c(since he was about a hundred years old), 19dor when he acknowledged the barrenness of Sarah’s womb, 19ahe did not weaken in faith. 18aIn hope he believed against hope, 18bthat he should become the father of many nations, 18cas he had been told, 18d“So shall your offspring be.”
You will then need to mark these two verses as 18–19.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure
καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [He considered his own body as already having died (being about a hundred years old)—and the deadness of the womb of Sarah—but he was not weakening in the faith]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes
καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Here Paul uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you can express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [And being strengthened in the faith] or [And being strong in the faith]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Paul speaks of Abraham’s faith as if it were something in which a person could be weakening. He means that Abraham kept trusting God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [not ceasing to trust]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῇ πίστει
˱in˲_the faith
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: [in how he trusted God]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἤδη νενεκρωμένον
already ˓having_been˒_made_dead
Paul speaks of Abraham as if he actually thought his body was dead. Paul means that Abraham knew he was too old to produce a child. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [unable to father a child] or [useless for procreating]
Note 6 topic: writing-background
ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων
˓a˒_hundred_year_‹old› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Here Paul provides background information about Abraham’s age to help his readers understand why Abraham considered his own body as already being dead. Use the natural form in your language for expressing background information. Alternate translation: [since he was about 100 years old]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Here 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 previous clause. Alternate translation: [he also considered the deadness of the womb of Sarah]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of deadness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [that the womb of Sarah was dead]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Paul speaks of Sarah’s womb as if it were dead. He means that she was unable to conceive children. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [how Sarah was unable to conceive] or [that Sarah could not bear children]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει κατενόησεν τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής πού ὑπάρχων καί τήν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας)
Paul assumes that his readers would know that Sarah had been unable to become pregnant throughout her life, as described in the Old Testament book of Genesis. This fact makes Abraham’s faith even more amazing. If your readers would be unfamiliar with the story of Abraham and Sarah, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [the deadness of the womb of Sarah, since she could never become pregnant before] or [the deadness of the womb of Sarah, which had always been dead]