TIT 2:9 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, 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 Slaves, to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not to argue,

UST As for those believers who are slaves, teach them that they should always submit to their masters. Tell them to live in a way that pleases their masters in every way, and to not argue with them.

BLB Servants are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not gainsaying,

AICNT Slaves should be submissive to their own masters in all things, pleasing them, not talking back,

OEB Tell slaves to respect their owner’s authority in all circumstances, and to try their best to please them.

WEBBE Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back,

LSV Servants [are] to be subject to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting,

FBV Tell servants to always obey their masters. They should try to please them and not talk back to them.

TCNT Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters and well-pleasing in everything, not talking back,

T4T As for slaves, specifically, urge them to be submissive to their masters in everything. They should please their masters; specifically, they should not ◄contradict/refuse to obey► their masters.

LEB Slaves must be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not to talk back,

BBE Servants are to be under the authority of their masters, pleasing them in all things, without argument;

Moff Tell servants to be submissive to their masters and to give them satisfaction all round, not to be refractory,

Wymth Exhort slaves to be always obedient to their owners, and to give them satisfaction in everything, not contradicting and not pilfering,

ASV Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;

DRA Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, in all things pleasing, not gainsaying:

YLT Servants — to their own masters [are] to be subject, in all things to be well-pleasing, not gainsaying,

Drby bondmen to be subject to their own masters, to make themselves acceptable in everything; not gainsaying;

RV Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;

SLT Servants to be subordinate to their own masters, to be pleasing in all things; not contradicting;

Wbstr Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things ; not answering again;

KJB-1769 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

KJB-1611 Exhort seruants to be obedient vnto their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not [fn]answering againe:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

2:9 Or, gaine saying.

Bshps Exhort seruauntes, to be obedient vnto their owne maisters, and to please them in all thynges, not aunsweryng agayne:
(Exhort servants, to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them in all things, not answering again:)

Gnva Let seruants be subiect to their masters, and please them in al things, not answering again,
(Let servants be subject to their masters, and please them in all things, not answering again, )

Cvdl Exhorte the seruauntes, to be obedient vnto their masters, to please in all thinges, not answeringe agayne,
(Exhorte the servants, to be obedient unto their masters, to please in all things, not answeringe again,)

TNT The servautes exhorte to be obediet vnto their awne masters and to please in all thynges not answerynge agayne
(The servantes exhorte to be obedient unto their own masters and to please in all things not answeringe again )

Wycl Moneste thou seruauntis to be suget to her lordis; in alle thingis plesinge, not ayenseiynge, not defraudynge,
(Moonste thou/you servants to be subject to her lords; in all things plesinge, not againsteiing, not defrauding,)

Luth Den Knechten daß sie ihren Herren untertänig seien, in allen Dingen zu Gefallen tun, nicht widerbellen,
(The servants that they/she/them your(pl) gentlemen submissive/subservient be, in all/everyone things to/for fallen_(one) do/put, not againstbellen,)

ClVg Servos dominis suis subditos esse, in omnibus placentes, non contradicentes,
(Servos masters to_his_own subjects to_be, in/into/on to_all pleasees, not/no contrasaying, )

UGNT δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι ἐν πᾶσιν, εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,
(doulous idiois despotais hupotassesthai en pasin, euarestous einai, maʸ antilegontas,)

SBL-GNT Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι ἐν πᾶσιν, εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,
(Doulous idiois despotais hupotassesthai en pasin, euarestous einai, maʸ antilegontas,)

RP-GNT Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,
(Doulous idiois despotais hupotassesthai, en pasin euarestous einai, maʸ antilegontas,)

TC-GNT Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,
(Doulous idiois despotais hupotassesthai, en pasin euarestous einai, maʸ antilegontas, )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Titus what he should teach about Christian behavior

In this section, Paul explained the behavior that Titus should encourage in various groups of believers. He did not want anyone to say bad things about the word of God based on the behavior of Christians. He also encouraged Titus to let his own behavior be a good example for others. The reason to act in these ways is because the grace of God has appeared to us all, teaching us how to act while we wait for Jesus’ return.

2:9a

Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything,

¶ Teach believing slaves to be respectful of their masters’ authority in every way.
¶ Teach the slaves in your congregations/churches always to obey their masters.

There is no verb in Greek at the beginning of this verse, but many English versions supply a verb. For example:

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters (NIV)

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters (NASB)

Slaves: This word refers to a person who is legally owned by someone else. In Paul’s time it was very common for wealthy people to buy and sell slaves. Sometimes people were captured during war and became slaves. Sometimes they fell into debt and sold themselves to pay it off. The owner of the slave had complete control of his life and could make him do any kind of work without pay. Here Paul was talking about believers who were slaves.

If slaves are unknown in your area, use an expression for someone who is forced to work for no pay.

are to submit to: The Greek word that the BSB translates as submit to means “to be under the authority of.” It is the same verb that Paul used in 2:5c when he said women should be “submissive to” their husbands.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

to be subject to (NIV)

to respect their master’s authority (REB)

to place themselves under (GW)

their own masters: The Greek word that the BSB translates as masters is the regular term for the owner of property.

in everything: There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

It belongs with the verb “be subject to” in 2:9a. For example: ^9aUrge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything (NASB) (BSB, NIV, NET, ESV, NASB, REB, NJB, NABRE, NCV, GW, NRSVUE)
It belongs with the verb “please” in 2:9b. For example: ^9aSlaves are to submit to their masters ^9band please them in all things. (GNT) (RSV/NRSV, GNT, CEV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). See Colossians 3:22a, where the phrase in everything must belong with the verb “obey.”

2:9b

to be well-pleasing,

Tell them to try to please/satisfy them,
Tell them to try to do what will make their masters happy.

to be well-pleasing: This phrase describes behavior that makes the master happy or satisfied.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

try to make their master happy

to give them satisfaction

2:9c

not argumentative,

not to argue with them,
They should not argue with them

not argumentative: This Greek verb means “speak against.” Here it probably means that the slaves should not argue with their masters or be rude to them.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

They must not talk back to them (GNT)

not arguing with them (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι μή ἀντιλέγοντας)

As in 2:2 and 2:3, Paul is leaving out a word that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. If it would be clearer in your language, you could apply the verbal idea from verse 6 to here, which is “urge” or “exhort.” Alternate translation: [Exhort slaves to be subject to their own masters] or [Exhort slaves to obey their own masters]

ἐν πᾶσιν

in all_‹things›

Alternate translation: [in every situation] or [always]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εὐαρέστους εἶναι

well_pleasing to_be

The implication is that the slaves are to be pleasing to their masters. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [to please their masters] or [to satisfy their masters]

Parallel TIT 2:9

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Titus what he should teach about Christian behavior

2:9a

2:9b

2:9c