ROM 8:15 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.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to fear again, but rather it was the spirit of adoption as children that you all received, and with his help we call out, ‘Father, father.’

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect 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 For you did not receive again a spirit of slavery leading to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

UST Indeed, God has not given you believers an enslaved mind to terrify you, such as you had before. Rather, God has given you the Holy Spirit to spiritually adopt you as his children. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to cry out, “Abba, my Father!”

BLB For you have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of divine adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

AICNT For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption, by which we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

OEB For you did not receive the spirit of a slave, to fill you once more with fear, but the spirit of a child by adoption, which leads us to cry “Abba, our Father.”

2DT For you did not receive slavery’s spirit again into being scared, but you received family-placement’s Spirit, in whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”

WEBBE For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba![fn] Father!”

8:15 Abba is an Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy”, which can be used affectionately and respectfully in prayer to our Father in heaven.

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”

LSV for you did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but you received [the] Spirit of adoption in which we cry, “Abba! Father!”

FBV You were not given a spirit to enslave and terrify you once more. No, what you received was the spirit that makes you children in God's family. Now we can shout out, “God is our Father!”

TCNT For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but a spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

T4T You have showed that this is true, because you received from God a Spirit that is not one that makes you fear God again. You are not like slaves who fear their masters [MET]. On the contrary, we have received a Spirit by whose work in our hearts God has adopted us. The Spirit now enables us to cry out to God, “You(sg) are my Father [DOU]!”

LEB For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba![fn] Father!”

8:15 “Abba” means “father” in Aramaic

BBE For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father.

Moff You have received no slavish spirit that would make you relapse into fear; you have received the Spirit of sonship. And when we cry, "Abba! Father!",

Wymth You have not for the second time acquired the consciousness of being—a consciousness which fills you with terror. But you have acquired a deep inward conviction of having been adopted as sons—a conviction which prompts us to cry aloud, "Abba! our Father!"

ASV For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

DRA For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father).

YLT for ye did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye did receive a spirit of adoption in which we cry, 'Abba — Father.'

Drby For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

RV For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(For ye/you_all received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye/you_all received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. )

SLT For ye have not received the Spirit of servitude again for fear; but have received the Spirit of adoption as a son, in which we cry, Abba, Father.

Wbstr For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father.

KJB-1769 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(For ye/you_all have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye/you_all have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. )

KJB-1611 For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare: but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For ye haue not receaued the spirite of bondage agayne to feare: but ye haue receaued the spirite of adoption, wherby we cry, Abba, father.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva For ye haue not receiued the Spirit of bodage, to feare againe: but ye haue receiued the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.
(For ye/you_all have not received the Spirit of bodage, to fear again: but ye/you_all have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. )

Cvdl are Gods childre: for ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare eny more, but ye haue receaued ye sprete of adopcion, wherby we crye: Abba, deare father.
(are Gods children: for ye/you_all have not received the spirit of bondage to fear any more, but ye/you_all have received ye/you_all spirit of adopcion, whereby we crye: Abba, dear father.)

TNT For ye have not receaved the sprete of bondage to feare eny moare but ye have receaved the sprite of adopcion wherby we crye Abba father.
(For ye/you_all have not received the spirit of bondage to fear any more but ye/you_all have received the sprite of adopcion whereby we cry Abba father. )

Wycl For ye han not take eftsoone the spirit of seruage in drede, but ye han taken the spirit of adopcioun of sones, in which we crien, Abba, fadir.
(For ye/you_all have not take soon_afterward the spirit of servitude in dread, but ye/you_all have taken the spirit of adopcioun of sons, in which we crien, Abba, father.)

Luth Denn ihr habt nicht einen knechtischen Geist empfangen, daß ihr euch abermal fürchten müßtet, sondern ihr habt einen kindlichen Geist empfangen, durch welchen wir rufen: Abba, lieber Vater!
(Because you(pl)/their/her have not a knechtischen spirit received, that you(pl)/their/her you again fear(v) would_have_to, rather you(pl)/their/her have a kindlichen spirit received, through which_(ones) we/us call/cry/shout: Abba, love(v) father!)

ClVg Non enim accepistis spiritum servitutis iterum in timore, sed accepistis spiritum adoptionis filiorum, in quo clamamus: Abba (Pater).[fn]
(Not/No because you_received spirit of_slavery again in/into/on with_fear, but you_received spirit adoptionis of_children, in/into/on where clamamus: Abba (Pater). )

8.15 Non enim accepistis, etc. Filii esse debetis, non servi, quia non accepistis spiritum servitutis: qui invitos timore pœnæ servire faciat. Sed accepistis spiritum adoptionis. Idem est spiritus, sed propter diversa opera dissimiliter appellatur: Spiritus iræ Ægyptiis dicitur, quibus aqua spiritu divisa nocuit. Filius Isræl non dicitur iræ, quibus aqua divisa profuit. Spiritus timoris est, his qui per legem, de peccatis et sua infirmitate convicti, gratiam spiritus non intelligebant. Spiritus libertatis ejus opere istis quibus regeneratio in vitam æternam et fides, quæ per dilectionem operatur, impertita est. Unus ergo spiritus qui duos timores facit. Qui et duo genera servorum faciunt. Est enim servus qui et filius, qui timet Dominum et honorat patrem, unde Malachias: Si Dominus sum, ubi est timor meus? Si pater, ubi est honor meus? Malach. 1.. Et est servus qui timet pœnam, sed non diligit justitiam. Et quia de timoribus fit mentio, sciendum est præter naturalem timorem, qui omnibus inest, quatuor esse timores, scilicet: mundanum, qui malus est nec a Deo; et servilem, qui bonus est et a Deo, sed non est sufficiens; initialem, qui bonus est et sufficiens; et castum, qui bonus est et perficiens, de quo hic agitur: Ipse enim generat nos filios Dei. In quo clamamus. Hoc iterum ex dono Spiritus, quod ita nos facit clamare Abba, Hebraice, pater Latine. Abba pater. Propter sacramentum, utrumque posuit Apostolus. Et in passione dixit Christus, Abba pater, quia Ecclesia est de utroque populo, cui compatiens in se ostendit filios ejus (martyres scilicet) non debere desperare, si qua tempore passionis ex humana fragilitate tristitia irrepat.

8.15 Not/No because you_received, etc. Children to_be you_must, not/no slaves, because not/no you_received spirit of_slavery: who/which invitos with_fear punishments to_serve let_him_do. But you_received spirit adoptionis. Idem it_is spirit, but because different works dislikewise is_called: Spirit anger of_Egyptis it_is_said, to_whom water in_spirit divided nocuit. Son Israel not/no it_is_said anger, to_whom water divided profuit. Spirit of_fear it_is, his who/which through the_law, from/about sins and his_own weakness convicti, grace spirit not/no intelligebant. Spirit libertatis his by_work to_these to_whom kingneration in/into/on life eternal and faith, which through love works, impertita it_is. One therefore spirit who/which two fears he_does. Who and two genera of_servants they_do. It_is because servant who/which and son, who/which he_is_afraid the_Master and honour/respect(n)at father, from_where/who Malachias: When/But_if Master I_am, where it_is fear mine? When/But_if father, where it_is honour/respect(n) mine? Malach. 1.. And it_is servant who/which he_is_afraid punishment, but not/no he_loves justice. And because from/about fearibus fit mentio, sciendum it_is besides naturalm fear, who/which to_all inest, four to_be fears, namely: cleannum, who/which bad it_is but_not from to_God; and servilem, who/which good/kind/gracious it_is and from to_God, but not/no it_is sufficiens; initialem, who/which good/kind/gracious it_is and sufficiens; and castum, who/which good/kind/gracious it_is and perficiens, from/about where this/here is_being_done: Exactly_that because generat us children of_God. In where clamamus. This again from gift Spirit, that so/thus us he_does clamare Abba, Hebraice, father Latin. Abba father. Because sacrament, both put Apostolus. And in/into/on passionately he/she_said Christ/Messiah, Abba father, because Assembly/Church it_is from/about both to_the_people, to_whom compatiens in/into/on himself he_showed children his (martyres namely) not/no to_have_to desperare, when/but_if which at_the_time passion from human fragilitate sadness irrepat.

UGNT οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε Πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας, ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν, Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ!
(ou gar elabete pneuma douleias palin eis fobon, alla elabete Pneuma huiothesias, en hō krazomen, Abba, ho Pataʸr!)

SBL-GNT οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν· Αββα ὁ πατήρ·
(ou gar elabete pneuma douleias palin eis fobon, alla elabete pneuma huiothesias en hō krazomen; Abba ho pataʸr;)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, ἀλλ' ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας, ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν, Ἀββᾶ, ὁ πατήρ.
(Ou gar elabete pneuma douleias palin eis fobon, all' elabete pneuma huiothesias, en hō krazomen, Abba, ho pataʸr.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας, ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν, Ἀββᾶ, ὁ πατήρ.
(Ou gar elabete pneuma douleias palin eis fobon, all elabete pneuma huiothesias, en hō krazomen, Abba, ho pataʸr. )

8:15 αλλ ¦ αλλα NA²⁷ SBL TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–17: Believers live by the Holy Spirit

In this section Paul reminded the believers in Rome that God does not condemn them, because the Holy Spirit has set them free from sin and death. Jesus became like an Old Testament sin offering to remove the consequences of our sin. The laws of Moses demanded a righteous life, and in the Holy Spirit we can live that way.

The people who live according to the sinful nature seek to do things that are in accord with that nature. Also, they cannot please God, cannot follow his laws, are hostile to him, and will be punished with death forever. The people who live according to the Holy Spirit seek to do things that are in accord with his desire.

Christians allow the Holy Spirit to work in them. When they do that, they are as if dead to sin and God will give them life. Those without the Holy Spirit do not belong to Jesus Christ.

We put to death the deeds of the sinful nature. We do that by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are God’s children and can do as he does (again, by the power of the Holy Spirit). If we suffer as Jesus suffered, God will give to us his promised inheritance in heaven.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must live according to the Holy Spirit, not according to sinfulness

Be Ruled by the Spirit (NCV)

Living by the Power of God’s Spirit (CEV)

8:15a

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear,

For you^(plur) received the Spirit who does not give to you the attitude/mindset of slaves/slavery to live again in fear,
And God gave the Holy Spirit to you, and that Spirit does not make you slaves and cause you to be fearful/afraid again.

For: Here this word introduces an explanation of 8:14.Moo (on TW) and Jewett (page 497).

you did not receive a spirit of slavery: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as spirit:

It refers to an attitude or mindset of slavery. As believers in our new life, we do not have the feeling of being oppressed, of having no say about our own life, of being required to do things that we may not want to do, and other things of the life of a slave. For example:
you did not receive a spirit of slavery (NABRE) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NLT, NABRE, ESV, KJV, GW, NET)
It refers to the Holy Spirit. For example:
The Spirit we received does not make us slaves (NCV) (NIV11, GNT, CEV, REB, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it seems unlikely that the Holy Spirit would be connected to slavery with the connection of of.Moo (page 500) says, “In Gal. 4:1–7 the idea of slavery is specifically tied to the situation of being ‘under the law’ (see also the contrast in Heb. 12:18–24, cited by Calvin). But it may be questioned whether Paul would speak of this effect of the law as brought about by God’s Spirit, in light of the contrast between ‘letter’ and ‘Spirit’ in 7:6 and 2 Cor. 3:6–18. This makes it unlikely that ‘spirit of slavery’ refers directly to the Holy Spirit.”

you did not receive: In English, receive indicates that someone gave, but the word “take” does not. In some languages there is only one word that means both receive and “take.” If your word here would indicate that God did not give the Holy Spirit but that the believers just took him, translate in a way that indicates that God gave the Spirit. For example:

God did not give to you

that returns you to fear: This phrase refers to the result of being made slaves or having the attitude of a slave.Moo (page 500) says, “The Spirit that believers have received does not bring about ‘again’ that anxiety and fear of judgment which they suffered in their pre-Christian state (compare Gal. 4:8–10).”

These words in the Greek are literally “again to fear.” The Holy Spirit does not cause us to be fearful. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

so that you live in fear again (NIV11)

and cause you to be afraid again

8:15b

but you received the Spirit of sonship,

but you received the Spirit who made you God’s adopted children.
Instead, the Spirit whom God gave to you made the way for God to adopt you as his children.

but you received: As in 8:15a, God gave the Holy Spirit.

the Spirit of sonship: Here the word of indicates that the Holy Spirit causes believers to be adopted as God’s children.Jewett (page 498) says “a Spirit producing sonship,” Witherington (page 217) says the Holy Spirit “brings sonship,” and Morris (on TW) says, “The Spirit does not make people slaves but sons.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship (NIV11)

the Spirit made you God’s children

sonship: The word sonship refers to taking someone who is not your child and making them legally your child. Here it refers to the Holy Spirit making a believer God’s adopted child when he or she becomes a believer. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

adopted as God’s children

caused you to become God’s adopted children

General Comment on 8:15a–b

What the Holy does do (8:15b) comes after what the Holy Spirit does not do (8:15a). In some languages it is more natural to have 8:15b first. For example:

For you received the Spirit and he made you God’s adopted children. This Spirit does not give to you the attitude/mindset of slaves/slavery to live again in fear.

8:15c

by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

And through the power of the Spirit we^(incl) call out to God, “Abba, Dad/Father.”
And the Spirit gives us the power to call God our Father.

by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”: The words by whom indicate that the Holy Spirit makes us able to call out to God as a son calls out to his father. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and with his strength we can cry/shout to God, “Abba! Father!”

we cry: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as cry refers to speaking with strong emotion. It could be just about any emotion, including being sad, desperate, happy, enthusiastic, or afraid of something. In many languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to being in pain with tears in the eyes, or wailing. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

we call out (GW)

say strongly

Abba! Father: Abba is the word in the Aramaic languageThis was the language spoken by most of the Jews in Palestine at that time. that means “father.” At that time it was used by both children and adults for their fathers. Here it would remind readers that Jesus used it when praying to God. So it would imply a similar relationship for believers to God.

In some languages people will not know what Abba means. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

The word “Abba” means “father” in Aramaic. Jesus used this word (Mark 14:36).

Some languages must indicate whose father this is. For example:

Abba, my-father!

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον ἀλλά ἐλάβετε Πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν Ἀββα ὁ Πατήρ)

For indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, it introduces an explanation of what Paul said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάλιν

again

Here, again indicates that Paul’s readers had a spirit of slavery before they became Christians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [for a second time]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πνεῦμα

˓a˒_spirit

Here, spirit could refer to: (1) a person’s attitude or emotional state. Alternate translation: [a mental state] (2) a demonic spirit. Alternate translation: [a demonic spirit]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

πνεῦμα δουλείας & Πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας

˓a˒_spirit ˱of˲_slavery & ˓the˒_Spirit ˱of˲_adoption_as_sons

In both of these phrases Paul is using the possessive form to describe something that causes something else to happen. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use different expressions. Alternate translation: [a spirit that causes slavery … the Spirit that causes adoption]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δουλείας & φόβον & υἱοθεσίας

˱of˲_slavery & fear & ˱of˲_adoption_as_sons

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of slavery, fear, and adoption, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [of being a slave … you being afraid … of those who have been adopted]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς φόβον

to fear

Here, leading to indicates that fear is the result of receiving a spirit of slavery. Use a natural way in your language for indicating result. Alternate translation: [resulting in fear]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Πνεῦμα

˓the˒_Spirit

Here, the Spirit could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit, as indicated by the use of Spirit in the ULT. Alternate translation: [the Holy Spirit] (2) a person’s attitude or emotional state, as with the previous use of spirit in this verse. Alternate translation: [a mental state]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ

Here, cry out indicates that what follows is an emotional exclamation. Use an exclamation that is natural in your language for communicating this. Alternate translation: [O Abba! Father!]

Note 9 topic: translate-transliterate

Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ

Paul writes out the sounds of this Jewish Aramaic word Abba with Greek letters, which means Father. Since Paul translates the meaning next in the verse, you should write out this word using the most similar sounds in your language.

Note 10 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

ὁ Πατήρ

¬the Father

Father is an important title for God.

Parallel ROM 8:15

Section 8:1–17: Believers live by the Holy Spirit

8:15a

8:15b

General Comment on 8:15a–b

8:15c