ROM 6:19 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 I speak as a man because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and to more and more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

UST (I Paul am speaking in human terms, because you are spiritually immature.) Indeed, just as you previously used your body parts to live impurely and to increasingly break God’s laws, in the same way, now use your body parts to live righteously. This will cause you to live like God’s people should live.

BLB I speak in human terms on account of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you yielded your members in bondage to impurity and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto sanctification.

AICNT I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness into lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness into sanctification.

OEB I can but speak as people do because of the weakness of your earthly nature. Once you offered every part of your bodies to the service of impurity, and of wickedness, which leads to further wickedness. Now, in the same way, offer them to the service of righteousness, which leads to holiness.

WEBBE I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

LSV I speak in a human [way], because of the weakness of your flesh, for even as you presented your members servants to the uncleanness and to the lawlessness—to the lawlessness, so now present your members servants to righteousness—to sanctification,

FBV I'm using this everyday example because your human thinking is limited. Just as you once enslaved yourselves to immorality, piling up sin upon sin, now you must enslave yourselves to what is pure and right.

TCNT (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

T4T I am illustrating what I say by talking about slavery because your human nature prevents you from understanding spiritual truth easily. In the past you willingly did the immoral and unlawful things that your minds compelled your bodies to do [MET], just like slaves do what their masters compel them to do. As a result, you did even more unlawful things. Now, you need to willingly allow your minds to compel your bodies to act righteously [MET], in order that you will behave in a holy/pure way.

LEB (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members as slaves to immorality and lawlessness, leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.

BBE I am using words in the way of men, because your flesh is feeble: as you gave your bodies as servants to what is unclean, and to evil to do evil, so now give them as servants to righteousness to do what is holy.

Moff (I use this human analogy to bring the truth home to your weak nature.) As you once dedicated your members to the service of vice and lawlessness, so now dedicate them to the service of righteousness that means consecration.

Wymth your human infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures—and just as you once surrendered your faculties into bondage to Impurity and ever-increasing disregard of Law, so you must now surrender them into bondage to Righteousness ever advancing towards perfect holiness.

ASV I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.

DRA I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification.

YLT In the manner of men I speak, because of the weakness of your flesh, for even as ye did present your members servants to the uncleanness and to the lawlessness — to the lawlessness, so now present your members servants to the righteousness — to sanctification,

Drby I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For even as ye have yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto holiness.

RV I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.
(I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye/you_all presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification. )

SLT (I speak as man through the weakness of your flesh:) for as ye presented your members to uncleanness and iniquity; so now present ye your members servants to justice for consecration.

Wbstr I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, to (work ) iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness, to (work ) holiness.

KJB-1769 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
(I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye/you_all have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. )

KJB-1611 I speake after the maner of men, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as yee haue yeelded your members seruants to vncleannesse and to iniquitie, vnto iniquitie: euen so now yeelde your members seruants to righteousnesse, vnto holinesse.
(I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as ye/you_all have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, unto iniquity: even so now yield your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness.)

Bshps I speake after the maner of men, because of the infirmitie of your fleshe. As ye haue geuen your members seruauntes to vncleannesse and iniquitie, vnto iniquitie: euen so nowe geue your members seruauntes to righteousnesse, vnto holynesse.
(I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmitie of your flesh. As ye/you_all have given your members servants to uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity: even so now give your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness.)

Gnva I speake after the maner of man, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as yee haue giuen your members seruants to vncleannes and to iniquitie, to commit iniquitie, so now giue your mebers seruants vnto righteousnesse in holinesse.
(I speak after the manner of man, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as ye/you_all have given your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, to commit iniquity, so now give your mebers servants unto righteousness in holiness. )

Cvdl I wil speake grosly, because of the weaknes of youre flesh. Like as ye haue geuen ouer youre membres to the seruyce of vnclennesse, from one wickednesse to another: Eue so now also geue ouer youre membres to the seruyce of righteousnesse, that they maye be holy.
(I will speak grosly, because of the weaknes of your(pl) flesh. Like as ye/you_all have given over your(pl) membres to the service of unclenness, from one wickedness to another: Eve so now also give over your(pl) membres to the service of righteousness, that they may be holy.)

TNT I will speake grossly because of the infirmitie of youre flesshe. As ye have geve youre membres servauntes to vnclennes and to iniquitie from iniquitie vnto iniquitie: even so nowe geve youre membres servantes vnto rightewesnes that ye maye be sanctified.
(I will speak grossly because of the infirmitie of your(pl) flesh. As ye/you_all have give your(pl) membres servants to uncleanness and to iniquity from iniquity unto iniquity: even so now give your(pl) membres servants unto rightewesnes that ye/you_all may be sanctified. )

Wycl Y seie that thing that is of man, for the vnstidefastnesse of youre fleisch. But as ye han youun youre membris to serue to vnclennesse, and to wickidnesse `in to wickidnesse, so now yyue ye youre membris to serue to riytwisnesse in to hoolynesse.
(I say that thing that is of man, for the unsteadfastness of your(pl) flesh. But as ye/you_all have given your(pl) members to serve to unclenness, and to wickedness in to wickedness, so now give ye/you_all your(pl) members to serve to righteousness in to wholeyness.)

Luth Ich muß menschlich davon reden um der Schwachheit willen eures Fleisches. Gleichwie ihr eure Glieder begeben habt zu Dienste der Unreinigkeit und von einer Ungerechtigkeit zu der andern, also begebet nun auch eure Glieder zu Dienste der Gerechtigkeit, daß sie heilig werden.
(I must human of_that talk around/by/for the/of_the weakness will yours(pl) fleshes. Equally you(pl)/their/her your(pl) limbs begeben have to/for service(n)e the/of_the uncleanness and from one/a injustice to/for the/of_the change/modify, also begebet now also your(pl) limbs to/for service(n)e the/of_the justice, that they/she/them holy become.)

ClVg Humanum dico, propter infirmitatem carnis vestræ: sicut enim exhibuistis membra vestra servire immunditiæ, et iniquitati ad iniquitatem, ita nunc exhibete membra vestra servire justitiæ in sanctificationem.[fn]
(Humanum I_mean/say, because weakness of_flesh yours: like because exhibuistis members your to_serve uncleanness, and iniquitati to iniquity, so/thus now exhibete members your to_serve justice in/into/on sanctification. )

6.19 Humanum, etc. Hactenus ostendit Apostolus non esse peccandum. Hic dicit quid deinceps sit agendum ut scilicet serviatur justitiæ, de qua nullus est qui possit se excusare, quia nullus est qui non possit bene operari, saltem voluntate: quod idem est per gratiam. Sicut enim exhibuistis, etc. AUG. Si non plus, vel quantum tunc, ne fides quasi aspera et importabilis fugeretur. Sicut tunc nullus timor cœgit, sed libido voluptasque peccati duxit, sic modo delectatio justitiæ adultæ, etsi nondum perfecta; unde dixit: Humanum. Ita nunc. Quia plus etiam deberet amari justitia, quam tunc fuit iniquitas, ut pro justitia toleret homo dolores, et contemnat omnia, etiam mortem.

6.19 Humanum, etc. Hactenus he_showed Apostolus not/no to_be peccandum. Here/This he_says what onwards/afterwards be agendum as namely serveur justice, from/about which none it_is who/which can himself excusare, because none it_is who/which not/no can well to_work, at_least/after_all willingly: that the_same it_is through grace. Like because exhibuistis, etc. AUG. When/But_if not/no plus, or quantum then, not faith as_if rough and importabilis to_fleetur. Like then none fear forced, but libido pleasureque of_sin led, so just/only pleasure/delight justice adultæ, even_though not_yet perfecta; from_where/who he/she_said: Humanum. Ita now. Because plus also to_have_tot amari justice, how then it_was iniquity, as for justice toleret human pains, and contemnat everything, also death.

UGNT ἀνθρώπινον λέγω, διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν. ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν, δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν.
(anthrōpinon legō, dia taʸn astheneian taʸs sarkos humōn. hōsper gar parestaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ akatharsia, kai taʸ anomia eis taʸn anomian, houtōs nun parastaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn, doula taʸ dikaiosunaʸ eis hagiasmon.)

SBL-GNT ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν.
(anthrōpinon legō dia taʸn astheneian taʸs sarkos humōn; hōsper gar parestaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ akatharsia kai taʸ anomia eis taʸn anomian, houtōs nun parastaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ dikaiosunaʸ eis hagiasmon.)

RP-GNT Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν.
(Anthrōpinon legō dia taʸn astheneian taʸs sarkos humōn; hōsper gar parestaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ akatharsia kai taʸ anomia eis taʸn anomian, houtōs nun parastaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ dikaiosunaʸ eis hagiasmon.)

TC-GNT Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτω νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν.
(Anthrōpinon legō dia taʸn astheneian taʸs sarkos humōn; hōsper gar parestaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ akatharsia kai taʸ anomia eis taʸn anomian, houtō nun parastaʸsate ta melaʸ humōn doula taʸ dikaiosunaʸ eis hagiasmon. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:15–23: Become as slaves to righteousness

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they must not sin even if they are not under the Laws of Moses. He told them that if they obey sin then they are slaves to sin. Instead, they must become slaves of righteousness, that is, doing things that God says are right to do. This command includes all parts of their lives.

Paul further explained that when they were always obeying the desires of sin, they were free from doing things that God says are right to do. He reminded them that they were now ashamed of those sins and the consequences. The final consequence of those sins is death. God had set them free from a life of sin and they had become like slaves of God. The consequences of that is becoming holy and receiving eternal life. For sinning earns a person death, but when that person believes in Jesus, God gives him eternal life.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must be slaves of God doing righteous deeds

We must always do what God says is right to do

We are servants of straight/upright behavior

6:19a

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.

I speak with that example from everyday life, because your^(plur) human nature is too weak to understand the truth easily.
It is hard for you to understand things beyond your life on this world, and so I speak with metaphors/illustrations from daily life.

I am speaking in human terms: This clause refers to Paul using words that refer to things that are familiar to people’s experience. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am using an example from everyday life (NIV11)

I am now using an illustration that people can easily understandKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

the weakness of your flesh: The BSB literally translates the Greek words here. Here the weakness of…flesh refers generally to people not always understanding things. The word your indicates that the believers in Rome also do not always understand things. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

you are weak in your natural selves (NIV)

you are still weak human beings (NJB)

according to ways of your bodies your understanding of things is weak

you still think as people of this world and not as mature believers

6:19b–d

Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness: The phrase Just as introduces something to be compared. Paul compared what the believers used to do (6:19b–c) to what they must now do (6:19d–e).

Some languages do not introduce the thing to be compared as Paul did here. For example:

you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so, in the same way, now offer them in slavery to righteousness

6:19b

Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity

For just as you offered/gave parts of your body in the past to be like/as slaves to the evil desires of the heart
Previously/Earlier you put parts of yourselves under the control of your sexual/body desires

The Greek of 6:19b begins with a word that is usually translated as “For” (as in the ESV). This word introduces the reason that Paul spoke in human terms because of the believers’ natural limitations (6:19a). He spoke that way because the believers had at an earlier time presented their members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness (6:19b–c). Some English versions omit this word, as the BSB does, allowing the context to imply that connection.

you used to offer: The word offer refers to giving something to someone for him to control. Believers used to allow themselves to be controlled by sin. See how you translated the word “present” in 6:13.

used to: Here this phrase refers to what believers did at one time before they believed in Jesus. It does not refer to only doing something one time.

the parts of your body: Here the word parts refers to parts of the human body and implies deeds done with those parts. See how you translated parts in 6:13.

in slavery to impurity: Here the word slavery is a figure of speech. It refers to believers allowing impurity to rule their lives, like a master rules the lives of his slaves. See how you translated the similar phrase in 6:17 (“slaves to sin”).

impurity: This word refers to deeds that are immoral to do. Here are other ways to translate this word:

uncleanness (KJV)

filthy practices

See how you translated this word in 1:24.

6:19c

and to escalating wickedness,

and to deeds of breaking the law leading to a life of breaking the law,
and under the control of lawbreaking resulting in complete lawlessness.

and: Here this word indicates another thing to which the believers in Rome used to present their members as slaves.

to escalating wickedness: The Greek phrase is literally “to lawlessness into lawlessness.” It indicates that a person does things that ignore the law or disobeys it.Jewett (page 420) says it refers to “the general condition which results from such acts.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to lawlessness for lawlessness (NABRE)

lawlessness for a life of lawlessnessCranfield (page 321).

to lawlessness resulting in anarchyJewett (page 413).

Some other English versions add the word escalating or “increasing” (NIV: “ever-increasing”). But it is not clear to this author how the Greek words support that meaning.Cranfield (page 327) and Morris speak against any meaning of “more” here.

6:19d

so now offer them in slavery to righteousness

so offer/give^(plur) the parts of your body now to be like/as slaves to deeds of righteousness
In the same way you must now put the parts of yourselves under the control of deeds that are right before God to do,

so: The Greek word here introduces what is compared to the words in 6:19b–c. In some languages the word or phrase of comparison is put here. For example:

In the same way (GNT)

now: Here this word means “at this time.” It refers to the time that Paul was writing, but can imply now for any reader of this verse.

righteousness: Here this word refers to deeds and thoughts that God says are right to do or think, as in 6:18.

6:19e

leading to holiness.

leading you to become more and more holy.
resulting in you becoming increasingly holy.

leading to: The Greek word is literally “to,” as in 6:19c. Living a life of righteousness causes the person to become more and more holy. For example:

for (NABRE)

for a life of

resulting in (NASB)

holiness: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as holiness. Here are the two main ways:

It means being made holy here. Every righteous deed makes believers more holy. For example:
you will become holy (NLT) (RSV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, ESV, NET, NLT)
It means already having been made holy and remaining holy here. For example:
holiness (NIV) (BSB, NIV, KJV, GW, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Greek words with this particular Greek ending usually refer to a process of becoming something.See Morris (on TW), Cranfield (page 327), or Lenski (page 432).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἀνθρώπινον λέγω, διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διά τήν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκός ὑμῶν ὥσπερ Γάρ παρεστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δούλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καί τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τήν ἀνομίαν οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δούλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: [Because of the weakness of your flesh, I speak as a man] or [Because you are still immature, I have to speak in simple terms]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀνθρώπινον λέγω

Here, as a man 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 am speaking based on how human beings perceive things] or [I am talking like a mere human being]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν & τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν & τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of weakness, uncleanness, lawlessness, righteousness, and sanctification, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [how weak your flesh is … to act impurely and to be more and more lawless … for living righteously, which leads to being sanctified]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

Here, flesh is an idiom that refers to human nature. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent idiom or use plain language. Alternate translation: [your human weakness] or [your natural limitations]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

For indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, it introduces an explanation of what Paul said in [6:17–18](../06/17.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [Moreover,]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ὥσπερ & οὕτως

as & thus

See how you translated just as and so in the [5:19](../05/19.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν & παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν, δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

˱you_all˲_presented (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διά τήν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκός ὑμῶν ὥσπερ Γάρ παρεστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δούλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καί τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τήν ἀνομίαν οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δούλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν)

Paul speaks of body parts as if they were slaves that could be offered to someone or used by someone. He means that his readers used to use their body parts to act impurely and to disobey God’s laws, but now they should use them to live in the way God wants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated similar phrases in [6:13](../06/13.md). Alternate translation: [you used your members to act uncleanly and to disobey God more and more … use your members to act righteously]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς ἁγιασμόν

to to holiness

The phrase leading to indicates result. Use a natural way in your language to indicate result. Alternate translation: [resulting in sanctification] or [causing sanctification]