TIT 3:9 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/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 But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and strife and conflict about the law because they are unprofitable and worthless.

UST But many people will want to debate with you about senseless things, such as about lists of Jewish ancestors. They will want to dispute with you about religious law and argue with you about many things. Do not engage with them in any of that. Those kinds of things are useless and they do not help you in any way.

BLB But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.

AICNT But avoid foolish disputes and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless.

OEB But have nothing to do with foolish controversies, or with genealogies, or with quarrels, or fights about the Law. They are useless and futile.

WEBBE but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(3-11)It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, easy marks for sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

NET But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.

LSV but stand away from foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about law—for they are unprofitable and vain.

FBV Avoid pointless discussions, and obsessions about ancestry. Don't get into arguments, and avoid fights over the Jewish laws—they're useless and don't help at all.

TCNT But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and [fn]disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and futile.

3:9 disputes ¦ any dispute PCK WH

T4T but there are people who foolishly dispute/argue with you, wanting you to believe senseless ◄myths/stories that came from your ancestors►, stories in which there are ◄genealogies/lists of your ancestors’ names►. They argue and quarrel with you, ◄insisting/telling you► that you must obey the Jewish laws. ◄Stay completely away from/Do not talk with► them, because arguing about such things is not profitable for anyone. It is completely worthless!

LEB But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and fruitless.

BBE But have nothing to do with foolish questionings, and lists of generations, and fights and arguments about the law; for they are of no profit and foolish.

Moff But avoid foolish controversy, and let genealogies and dissensions and strife over the Law alone, for these are fruitless and futile.

Wymth But hold yourself aloof from foolish controversies and pedigrees and discussions and wrangling about the Law, for they are useless and vain.

ASV but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

DRA But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.

YLT and foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about law, stand away from — for they are unprofitable and vain.

Drby But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the law, shun; for they are unprofitable and vain.

RV but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

SLT And foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and conflicts pertaining to the law, avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Wbstr But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

KJB-1769 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

KJB-1611 But auoyd foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striuings about the lawe; for they are vnprofitable and vaine.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps But foolishe questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striuinges about the lawe, auoyde: for they are vnprofitable and vayne.
(But foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivinges about the law, avoide: for they are unprofitable and vain.)

Gnva But stay foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and brawlings about the Lawe: for they are vnprofitable and vaine.
(But stay foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and brawlings about the Law: for they are unprofitable and vain. )

Cvdl As for folish questions, and genealogies, and braulynges and stryuynges aboute ye lawe, auoyde the, for they are vnprofitable and vayne.
(As for foolish questions, and genealogies, and braulynges and strivings about ye/you_all law, avoide them, for they are unprofitable and vain.)

TNT Folisshe questions and genealogies and braulinges and stryfe aboute the lawe avoyde for they are vnproffitable and superfluous.
(Folisshe questions and genealogies and braulinges and strife about the law avoyde for they are unproffitable and superfluous. )

Wycl And eschewe thou foltische questiouns, and genologies, and stryues, and fiytyngis of the lawe; for tho ben vnprofitable and veyn.
(And eschewe thou/you foltische questions, and genologies, and strives, and fightingis of the law; for those been unprofitable and vain.)

Luth Der törichten Fragen aber, der Geschlechtsregister, des Zankes und Streites über dem Gesetz entschlage dich; denn sie sind unnütz und eitel.
(The foolishn Fragen but, the/of_the descendantsregister, the quarrel(n)es and battlees above to_him law entschlage you/yourself; because/than they/she/them are unnütz and vain.)

ClVg Stultas autem quæstiones, et genealogias, et contentiones, et pugnas legis devita: sunt enim inutiles, et vanæ.
(Stultas however questiones, and genealogias, and contentiones, and fights law devita: are because inutiles, and vanæ. )

UGNT μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις, καὶ γενεαλογίας, καὶ ἔρεις, καὶ μάχας νομικὰς, περιΐστασο; εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι.
(mōras de zaʸtaʸseis, kai genealogias, kai ereis, kai maⱪas nomikas, periistaso; eisin gar anōfeleis kai mataioi.)

SBL-GNT μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ⸀ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι.
(mōras de zaʸtaʸseis kai genealogias kai ⸀ereis kai maⱪas nomikas periistaso, eisin gar anōfeleis kai mataioi.)

RP-GNT μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο· εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι.
(mōras de zaʸtaʸseis kai genealogias kai ereis kai maⱪas nomikas periistaso; eisin gar anōfeleis kai mataioi.)

TC-GNT μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ [fn]ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο· εἰσὶ γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι.
(mōras de zaʸtaʸseis kai genealogias kai ereis kai maⱪas nomikas periistaso; eisi gar anōfeleis kai mataioi. )

3:9 ερεις ¦ ερις PCK ¦ εριν WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–11: Christians should live good lives among unbelievers

This section contains the last major theme in this letter. In 2:1–14, Paul had discussed relationships between Christians. Now in 3:1–11, he wrote about relationships that Christians have with non-Christians. He once more gave Titus instructions to pass on to the believers: they must submit to government authorities, be kind to other people, and not participate in useless arguments. God has given them new life because of what Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have done, and they should live in peace and be generous to others.

Paragraph 3:9–11

In this paragraph Paul gave his final instructions to Titus and the Christians on the island of Crete. He told them to avoid foolish arguments and to avoid people who cause division among Christians.

3:9a

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law,

¶ But avoid pointless discussions, debates about genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the Jewish law.
¶ But stay away from people who argue about stupid things, people who argue about lists of ancestors, people who like to argue, and people who quarrel about the law that God gave to Moses.

But: The word But indicates that verse 3:9 contrasts with the previous verses. In 3:4–8 Paul wrote about parts of the Christian faith that were “excellent and profitable” for everyone. But now he will talk about things that are not excellent or profitable for people.

avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law: Paul lists four things that Titus should avoid. None of these are physical items. They all refer to actions that Titus should not get involved in. So in some languages it may be more natural to use a different verb or verbs. For example:

do not get involved in foolish controversies, in discussing genealogies, or in arguing and quarreling about the law

do not take part in foolish arguments about controversial things and family histories. Do not argue or quarrel about the law.

foolish controversies: Titus must avoid foolish controversies. These are foolish issues that people argue about unnecessarily.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

stupid arguments (GNT)

foolish discussions (NLT)

genealogies: Paul told Titus to avoid genealogies. A “genealogy” is a list of the names of ancestors.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

lists of ancestors

family histories

Paul did not condemn all genealogies. The Bible contains many genealogies. It seems that Paul wanted Titus not to argue about genealogies. We do not know exactly which genealogies Paul was talking about, but it was something to do with religion, and something that people studied and argued about.Some commentators think that the false teachers in Crete studied the Jewish genealogies in the Old Testament and tried to find secret meaning in them. Other commentators think that the false teachers studied lists of names of angels and other supernatural beings that they thought could help them reach God.

In 1 Timothy 1:4 Paul spoke to Timothy about a similar problem with genealogies.

arguments, and quarrels about the law: The law here refers to the Jewish law, the law that God gave to Moses. The words arguments and quarrels are similar in meaning. Both words refer to fighting with words, not physical fighting. If your language does not have two words for arguments and quarrels you can combine them and say:

arguments about the Jewish law

3:9b

because these things are pointless and worthless.

These are not helpful or useful.
Avoid these arguments because they do not help anyone. They are of no benefit to anyone.

because these things are pointless and worthless: In 3:8 Paul said that Christian teachings were “excellent and profitable.” Now, in contrast, he said that arguing about unimportant things was pointless and worthless.

In some languages it may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Also, you may want to repeat the main verb “avoid.” For example:

Avoid these arguments because they do not help anyone and are useless.

because: The word because here introduces the reason why Titus must avoid meaningless arguments. He must avoid them because they do not help anyone and they are of no use.

pointless: The word pointless means “of no help.” Things that are pointless do not help us to grow in the Christian faith. This is the opposite of the word translated as “profitable” in 3:8d.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

they do not help us to grow in the faith

nothing is gained from them

worthless: The word worthless means “useless” or “futile.” It is similar in meaning to “pointless.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

useless

empty

a waste of time (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ & περιΐστασο

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μωράς Δέ ζητήσεις καί γενεαλογίας καί ἔρεις καί μάχας νομικάς περιΐστασο εἰσίν γάρ ἀνωφελεῖς καί μάταιοι)

The word But here indicates a contrast between good things to do (verse 8) and bad things to avoid doing (verse 9). In your translation, indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [In contrast, avoid]

μωρὰς & ζητήσεις

Alternate translation: [arguments concerning unimportant matters]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γενεαλογίας

genealogies

The word genealogies refers to the study of family kinship relationships. See the Introduction to Titus for more information. Paul assumes that Titus will understand that he means for Titus to avoid arguing about genealogies. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [arguing about genealogies]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἔρεις

strifes

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of strife, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [arguing with people] or [fighting with people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

νομικὰς

Paul assumes that Titus will understand that he is referring to the law of Moses, not Roman law. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [about the law of Moses]

Parallel TIT 3:9

Section 3:1–11: Christians should live good lives among unbelievers

Paragraph 3:9–11

3:9a

3:9b