Romans, Part 22

Posted on October 6, 2012 by admin

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous (Δικαιωθέντες, a form of δικαιόω) by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις), we have peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,¹ Paul continued. Jesus said, When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe (ἐν εἰρήνῃ; literally, “in peace”).² I take that to mean that one aspect of εἰρήνην with God is security or safety. The word also meant the typical cessation of hostilities. Jesus described a king going to battle, realizing he will not succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη).³ But Jesus took great pains to warn his followers what peace with God was not (Luke 12:51-53 NET).

Do you think I have come to bring peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη) on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! For from now on there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against⁴ son and son against father, mother against daughter⁵ and daughter against mother,⁶ mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.⁷

Do not think that I have come to bring peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη) to the earth, Jesus said. I have not come to bring peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη) but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.⁸ It is hard to imagine anything more divisive than Jesus’ exclusive claim, I am the way, and the truth, and the life.⁹ He did not say to those of the East, I know the way. He did not say to those of the West, I know the truth. He did not say to Israel, I know the life. He said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.¹⁰

Jesus was not a good man. He was clearly insane or He was Yahweh come in human flesh just as He claimed: I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!¹¹ He continued as recorded by Matthew to give his followers instruction in light of the division He had come to bring to families: Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.¹²

I have told you these things, Jesus comforted his followers, so that in me you may have peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη). In the world you have trouble and suffering (θλῖψιν, a form of θλίψις), but take courage – I have conquered (νενίκηκα, a form of νικάω) the world.¹³ Peace is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, flowing from God through his Spirit to each and every believer. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (εἰρήνη), patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law [Table].¹⁴

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, Paul wrote the Romans, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith (πίστει, another form of πίστις) into this grace (χάριν, a form of χάρις) in which we stand (ἑστήκαμεν, a form of ἵστημι), and we rejoice (καυχώμεθα, a form of καυχάομαι) in the hope (ἐλπίδι, a form of ἐλπίς) of God’s glory (δόξης, a form of δόξα).¹⁵

Boasting or glorying (καύχησις) in ourselves is excluded…by the principle of faith.¹⁶ It is through Christ that believers have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand; namely, the righteousness of God [Table]¹⁷ by the fruit of his Spirit. So believers boast or rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. This is the glory which was withheld from God when people did not glorify (ἐδόξασαν, a form of δοξάζω) him as God or give him thanks.¹⁸ And believers rejoice in hope because they do not yet see the fullness of this glory in themselves, not merely that they do not praise themselves, nor that they praise God with mere words, but that they glorify Him with lives that are reflections of his gift of righteousness by the fruit of his Spirit.

This grace in which we stand (ἑστήκαμεν, a form of ἵστημι) was difficult for me to comprehend. It is the same word as uphold in the answer to Paul’s question, Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold (ἱστάνομεν, a form of ἱστάνω) the law.¹⁹ [Addendum March 7, 2024: According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online, ἱστάνομεν is a form of ἱστάνω.] The King James translation had it, we establish the law. I had trouble squaring grace and establishing the law because I thought establishing the law meant an evenhanded application of the punishments for sin listed in Leviticus 20, for instance. I thought the law could not or would not be established or upheld until those punishments were implemented on the whole planet, whether by believers or by Christ Himself I was never quite certain.

I was Abin Cooper from Kevin Smith’s “Red State” (played brilliantly by Michael Parks, by the way) in spirit if not in action (my “faith” was completely devoid of works, thankfully, in this particular case). Long before Kevin Smith penned “Red State” the Lord used Nietzsche’s hot wind to unmask me. “And again, there are those who hold it a virtue to say: ‘Virtue is necessary’: but fundamentally they believe only that the police are necessary.”²⁰ I argued for a time that Nietzsche had not aptly described me, but lost that argument in the end. “Sometimes when you lose, you win.”²¹ Once I acknowledged that I didn’t know what it meant to uphold or establish the law, I began to learn.

We who through Jesus Christ have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand do not glorify God or uphold his law by seeking to punish evildoers, but by demonstrating the love that is the fulfillment of the law.²²

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing [Table]. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit [Table]. Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside [Table]. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside [Table]. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But²³ when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.²⁴

And the fruit of the Spirit is love…²⁵

Addendum: March 7, 2024
According to a note (69) in the NET, Jesus alluded to Micah 7:6. A table comparing the Greek of Micah 7:6 with Matthew 10:35b, 36 follows.

Matthew 10:35b, 36 (NET Parallel Greek)	Micah 7:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Micah 7:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ θυγατέρα κατὰ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ νύμφην κατὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς αὐτῆς, (36) καὶ ἐχθροὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οἱ οἰκιακοὶ αὐτοῦ	διότι υἱὸς ἀτιμάζει πατέρα θυγάτηρ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς ἐχθροὶ ἀνδρὸς πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ	διότι υἱὸς ἀτιμάζει πατέρα, θυγάτηρ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς, νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς, ἐχθροὶ πάντες ἀνδρὸς οἱ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ
Matthew 10:35b, 36 (NET)	Micah 7:6 (NETS)	Micah 7:6 (English Elpenor)
a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, (36) and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.	for a son dishonors a father, a daughter shall rise up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; the enemies of a man are the men in his house.	For the son dishonours his father, the daughter will rise up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: those in his house [shall be] all a man’s enemies.

Tables comparing Micah 7:6 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Micah 7:6 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Luke 12:53; Matthew 10:36 and 1 Corinthians 13:11 the NET and KJV follow.

Micah 7:6 (Tanakh)	Micah 7:6 (KJV)	Micah 7:6 (NET)
For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.	For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.	For a son thinks his father is a fool, a daughter challenges her mother, and a daughter-in-law her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are his own family.

Micah 7:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Micah 7:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
διότι υἱὸς ἀτιμάζει πατέρα θυγάτηρ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς ἐχθροὶ ἀνδρὸς πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ	διότι υἱὸς ἀτιμάζει πατέρα, θυγάτηρ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς, νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτῆς, ἐχθροὶ πάντες ἀνδρὸς οἱ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ
Micah 7:6 (NETS)	Micah 7:6 (English Elpenor)
for a son dishonors a father, a daughter shall rise up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; the enemies of a man are the men in his house.	For the son dishonours his father, the daughter will rise up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: those in his house [shall be] all a man’s enemies.

Luke 12:53 (NET)	Luke 12:53 (KJV)
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”	The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Luke 12:53 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 12:53 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 12:53 (Byzantine Majority Text)
διαμερισθήσονται πατὴρ ἐπὶ υἱῷ καὶ υἱὸς ἐπὶ πατρί, μήτηρ ἐπὶ \|τὴν\| θυγατέρα καὶ θυγάτηρ ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα, πενθερὰ ἐπὶ τὴν νύμφην αὐτῆς καὶ νύμφη ἐπὶ τὴν πενθεράν	διαμερισθησεται πατηρ εφ υιω και υιος επι πατρι μητηρ επι θυγατρι και θυγατηρ επι μητρι πενθερα επι την νυμφην αυτης και νυμφη επι την πενθεραν αυτης	διαμερισθησεται πατηρ επι υιω και υιος επι πατρι μητηρ επι θυγατρι και θυγατηρ επι μητρι πενθερα επι την νυμφην αυτης και νυμφη επι την πενθεραν αυτης

Matthew 10:36 (NET)	Matthew 10:36 (KJV)
and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.	And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Matthew 10:36 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 10:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 10:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐχθροὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οἱ οἰκιακοὶ αὐτοῦ	και εχθροι του ανθρωπου οι οικιακοι αυτου	και εχθροι του ανθρωπου οι οικειακοι αυτου

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NET)	1 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV)
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.	When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 13:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 13:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὅτε ἤμην νήπιος, ἐλάλουν ὡς νήπιος, ἐφρόνουν ὡς νήπιος, ἐλογιζόμην ὡς νήπιος· ὅτε γέγονα ἀνήρ, κατήργηκα τὰ τοῦ νηπίου	οτε ημην νηπιος ως νηπιος ελαλουν ως νηπιος εφρονουν ως νηπιος ελογιζομην οτε δε γεγονα ανηρ κατηργηκα τα του νηπιου	οτε ημην νηπιος ως νηπιος ελαλουν ως νηπιος εφρονουν ως νηπιος ελογιζομην οτε δε γεγονα ανηρ κατηργηκα τα του νηπιου

Romans, Part 23

Back to The Life

Back to Antichrist, Part 1

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 13

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 6

Back to αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 2

¹ Romans 5:1 (NET)

² Luke 11:21 (NET)

³ Luke 14:32 (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εφ.

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had |τὴν| θυγατέρα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θυγατρι (KJV: the daughter).

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὴν μητέρα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μητρι (KJV: the mother).

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτης (KJV: her) following mother-in-law. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁸ Matthew 10:34-36 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had οἰκιακοὶ here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had οικειακοι.

⁹ John 14:6a (NET)

¹⁰ John 14:6 (NET)

¹¹ John 8:58 (NET) Table

¹² Matthew 10:37-39 (NET)

¹³ John 16:33 (NET)

¹⁴ Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

¹⁵ Romans 5:1, 2 (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 3:27 (NET)

¹⁷ Romans 3:21, 22 (NET)

¹⁸ Romans 1:21 (NET) Table

¹⁹ Romans 3:31 (NET) Table

²⁰ Friedrich Nietzsche, Of the Virtuous, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, translated by R.J. Hollingdale, Penguin Books, 1975, p. 119

²¹ From the film, “What Dreams May Come”

²² Romans 13:10 (NET)

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ 1 Corinthians 13 (NET)

²⁵ Galatians 5:22a (NET)

Romans, Part 21

Posted on October 4, 2012 by admin

Against hope (ἐλπίδα, a form of ἐλπίς) Abraham believed (ἐπίστευσεν, a form of πιστεύω) in hope (ἐλπίδι, another form of ἐλπίς),¹ Paul continued. At ninety-nine-years old Abraham had plenty of empirical proof that his wife Sarah could not have a child. He had no reason to hope in any natural sense of the word (i.e., against hope). But Paul had this to say about hope in the next chapter (Romans 5:3, 4 NET):

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (ὑπομονὴν, a form of ὑπομονή), and endurance (ὑπομονὴ), character, and character, hope (ἐλπίδα, a form of ἐλπίς). And hope (ἐλπὶς) does not disappoint, because the love (ἀγάπη) of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Now suffering in and of itself does not necessarily produce endurance in a person, and endurance in and of itself does not necessarily produce godly character. The reason suffering produces endurance and endurance, godly character and godly character, hope is God’s love poured out in the heart of a man or woman. This is the love that bears all things, believes (πιστεύει, another form of πιστεύω) all things, hopes (ἐλπίζει, a form of ἐλπίζω) all things, endures (ὑπομένει, a form of ὑπομένω) all things.² And so Abraham believed in God in hope, rather than believing in hope itself. This is clearer in verse 21, He was fully convinced that what God promised (ἐπήγγελται, a form of ἐπαγγέλλω) he was also able to do (ποιῆσαι, a form of ποιέω).³

The result for Abraham of believing God in hope against hope was that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.”⁴ What follows is a special revelation: Without being weak in faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb [Table]. He did not waver in unbelief (ἀπιστία) about the promise (ἐπαγγελίαν, a form of ἐπαγγελία) of God but was strengthened (ἐνεδυναμώθη, a form of ἐνδυναμόω) in faith (πίστει, a form of πίστις), giving glory to God.⁵

From the time God confirmed that Abraham would have a son by Sarah in Genesis 17:19-22 until Isaac was born in Genesis 21:1-5 there is nothing in the narrative that helps me see that this faith Paul revealed in Romans 4:19 and 20 was working together with Abraham’s works.⁶ In fact, I’m not even able to imagine what works Abraham could have done to indicate that he was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do⁷ in reference to Sarah having a son.

This particular aspect of Abraham’s faith is a good object lesson for Paul’s declaration to the Corinthians: So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.⁸ Apart from the Lord’s revelation of Abraham’s heart through Paul I would not know this particular aspect of Abraham’s faith from reading Genesis alone. There is, however, a story where I can see the outworking of Abraham’s credited righteousness, and his faith working together with his works, as James highlighted in his letter.⁹ In the letter to the Hebrews more of Abraham’s heart was revealed (Hebrews 11:17-19 NET).

By faith (Πίστει, a form of πίστις) Abraham, when he was tested (πειραζόμενος, a form of πειράζω), offered up Isaac. He had received the promises (ἐπαγγελίας, another form of ἐπαγγελία), yet he was ready to offer up his only son. God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” and he reasoned (λογισάμενος, a form of λογίζομαι) that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.

God said to Abraham, Take your son – your only son, whom you love, Isaac – and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.¹⁰ The first work I see working together with Abraham’s revealed faith that God could even raise Isaac from the dead is more Zen than Hebrew, a not-work, if you will. There are no George C. Scott histrionics from the John Huston film The Bible, an aesthetic choice presumably to make Abraham more believable to unbelievers. Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.¹¹

The next work I see working together with Abraham’s revealed faith that God could even raise Isaac from the dead is Abraham’s answer to Isaac’s question, where is the lamb? “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.¹² And the final work is that mentioned by James (Genesis 22:9, 10 NET):

When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son.

But the Lord’s angel called to him from heaven…“Do not harm the boy!…Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.¹³ Then Abraham’s prophetic word to Isaac was fulfilled. Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.¹⁴

Abraham was fully convinced that what God promised (ἐπήγγελται, a form of ἐπαγγέλλω) he was also able to do (ποιῆσαι, a form of ποιέω), Paul wrote the Romans. So indeed it was credited (ἐλογίσθη, another form of λογίζομαι) to Abraham as righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη).¹⁵ Paul’s interest was not merely historical, the statement it was credited (ἐλογίσθη, another form of λογίζομαι) to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited (λογίζεσθαι, another form of λογίζομαι), those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was given over (παρεδόθη, a form of παραδίδωμι) because of our transgressions (παραπτώματα, a form of παράπτωμα) and was raised for the sake of our justification (δικαίωσιν, a form of δικαίωσις).¹⁶

I think it is important to remember who Paul referred to when he said our sake, our transgressions and our justification. …it is by faith (πίστεως, another form of πίστις) so that it may be by grace (χάριν, a form of χάρις), with the result that the promise (ἐπαγγελίαν, a form of ἐπαγγελία) may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), but also to those who have the faith (πίστεως, another form of πίστις) of Abraham, who is the father of us all…¹⁷

Addendum: February 29, 2024
According to a note (33) in the NET Paul quoted from Genesis 17:5 in Romans 4:18a. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 4:18a (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 17:5b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 17:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν	πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν	πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν
Romans 4:18a (NET)	Genesis 17:5b (NETS)	Genesis 17:5b (English Elpenor)
the father of many nations	an ancestor of many nations	a father of many nations

According to a note (35) in the NET Paul quoted from Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18b. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 4:18b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 15:5b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 15:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου	οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου	οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου
Romans 4:18b (NET)	Genesis 15:5b (NETS)	Genesis 15:5b (English Elpenor)
so will your descendants be	So shall your offspring be.	Thus shall thy seed be.

According to a note (22) in the NET the author of Hebrews quoted from Genesis 21:12 in Hebrews 11:18b. A table comparing the Greek of that quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Hebrews 11:18b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεται σοι σπέρμα	ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα	ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Hebrews 11:18b (NET)	Genesis 21:12b (NETS)	Genesis 21:12b (English Elpenor)
Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name	in Isaak offspring shall be named for you	in Isaac shall thy seed be called

According to a note (42) in the NET Paul quoted from Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:23. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 4:23b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 15:6b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 15:6b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ	ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ	ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ
Romans 4:23b (NET)	Genesis 15:6b (NETS)	Genesis 15:6b (English Elpenor)
it was credited to him	it was reckoned to him	it was counted to him

Tables comparing Genesis 22:3; 22:8; 22:11; 22:12 and 22:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 22:3; 22:8; 22:11; 22:12 and 22:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 22:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 22:3 (KJV)	Genesis 22:3 (NET)
And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which G-d had told him.	And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.	Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.

Genesis 22:3, 4a (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 22:3 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἀναστὰς δὲ Αβρααμ τὸ πρωὶ ἐπέσαξεν τὴν ὄνον αὐτοῦ παρέλαβεν δὲ μεθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ δύο παῖδας καὶ Ισαακ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ σχίσας ξύλα εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον ὃν εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός (4) τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ	ἀναστὰς δὲ ῾Αβραὰμ τὸ πρωῒ ἐπέσαξε τὴν ὄνον αὐτοῦ· παρέλαβε δὲ μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ δύο παῖδας καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ σχίσας ξύλα εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν, ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ὃν εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός, τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ
Genesis 22:3, 4a (NETS)	Genesis 22:3, 4a (English Elpenor)
And when Abraam had risen in the morning, he saddled his donkey. Now he took along with himself two servants and his son Isaak, and after he had split wood for a whole burnt offering and risen, he went and came to the place that God had mentioned to him, (4) on the third day	And Abraam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and he took with him two servants, and Isaac his son, and having split wood for a whole-burnt-offering, he arose and departed, and came to the place of which God spoke to him, (4) on the third day;

Genesis 22:8 (Tanakh)	Genesis 22:8 (KJV)	Genesis 22:8 (NET)
And Abraham said: ‘G-d will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.	And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.	“God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.

Genesis 22:8 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 22:8 (Elpenor Septuagint)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ ὁ θεὸς ὄψεται ἑαυτῷ πρόβατον εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν τέκνον πορευθέντες δὲ ἀμφότεροι ἅμα	εἶπε δὲ ῾Αβραάμ· ὁ Θεὸς ὄψεται ἑαυτῷ πρόβατον εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν, τέκνον. πορευθέντες δὲ ἀμφότεροι ἅμα
Genesis 22:8 (NETS)	Genesis 22:8 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam said, “God will see to a sheep as a whole burnt offering for himself, child.” And as both walked on together	And Abraam said, God will provide himself a sheep for a whole-burnt-offering, [my] son. And both having gone together,

Genesis 22:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 22:11 (KJV)	Genesis 22:11 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said: ‘Here am I.’	And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.	But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered.

Genesis 22:11 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 22:11 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αβρααμ Αβρααμ ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ	καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ εἶπεν· ῾Αβραάμ, ῾Αβραάμ. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ ἐγώ
Genesis 22:11 (NETS)	Genesis 22:11 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord’s angel him from the sky and said to him, “Abraam, Abraam!” And he said, “Here I am.”	And an angel of the Lord called him out of heaven, and said, Abraam, Abraam. And he said, Behold, I [am here].

Genesis 22:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 22:12 (KJV)	Genesis 22:12 (NET)
And he said: ‘Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou art a G-d-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.’	And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.	“Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”

Genesis 22:12 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 22:12 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ εἶπεν μὴ ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον μηδὲ ποιήσῃς αὐτῷ μηδέν νῦν γὰρ ἔγνων ὅτι φοβῇ τὸν θεὸν σὺ καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσω τοῦ υἱοῦ σου τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ δι᾽ ἐμέ	καὶ εἶπε· μὴ ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον μηδὲ ποιήσῃς αὐτῷ μηδέν· νῦν γὰρ ἔγνων, ὅτι φοβῇ σὺ τὸν Θεὸν καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσω τοῦ υἱοῦ σου τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ δι᾿ ἐμέ
Genesis 22:12 (NETS)	Genesis 22:12 (English Elpenor)
And he said, “Do not lay your hand on the youngster nor do anything to him. For now I know that you do fear God, and for my sake you have not spared your beloved son.”	And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the child, neither do anything to him, for now I know that thou fearest God, and for my sake thou hast not spared thy beloved son.

Genesis 22:13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 22:13 (KJV)	Genesis 22:13 (NET)
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.	And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.	Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Genesis 22:13 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 22:13 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἀναβλέψας Αβρααμ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ εἶδεν καὶ ἰδοὺ κριὸς εἷς κατεχόμενος ἐν φυτῷ σαβεκ τῶν κεράτων καὶ ἐπορεύθη Αβρααμ καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν κριὸν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἀντὶ Ισαακ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ	καὶ ἀναβλέψας ῾Αβραὰμ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ εἶδε, καὶ ἰδοὺ κριὸς εἷς κατεχόμενος ἐν φυτῷ Σαβὲκ τῶν κεράτων· καὶ ἐπορεύθη ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ἔλαβε τὸν κριὸν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἀντὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ
Genesis 22:13 (NETS)	Genesis 22:13 (English Elpenor)
And as Abraam looked up with his eyes he saw, and see, a ram held fast in a sabek plant by the horns. And Abraam went and took the ram and offered it up as a whole burnt offering instead of his son Isaak.	And Abraam lifted up his eyes and beheld, and lo! a ram caught by his horns in a plant of Sabec; and Abraam went and took the ram, and offered him up for a whole-burnt-offering in the place of Isaac his son.

Romans, Part 22

Back to Romans, Part 18

Back to Romans, Part 23

Back to Romans, Part 36

¹ Romans 4:18a (NET)

² 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NET)

³ Romans 4:21 (NET)

⁴ Romans 4:18b (NET)

⁵ Romans 4:19, 20 (NET)

⁶ James 2:22 (NET)

⁷ Romans 4:21 (NET)

⁸ 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NET)

⁹ James 2:20-26 (NET)

¹⁰ Genesis 22:2 (NET) Table

¹¹ Genesis 22:3 (NET)

¹² Genesis 22:8 (NET)

¹³ Genesis 22:11, 12 (NET)

¹⁴ Genesis 22:13 (NET)

¹⁵ Romans 4:21, 22 (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 4:23-25 (NET)

¹⁷ Romans 4:16 (NET)

Romans, Part 20

Posted on September 28, 2012 by admin

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants [See Addendum below] that he would inherit the world¹ was not fulfilled through the law,² Paul continued. In one sense this was absurdly obvious. God’s law didn’t even exist yet. The law that came four hundred thirty years later, Paul wrote the Galatians about the promise to Abraham, does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God,³ so as to invalidate the promise.⁴ But there is another sense to consider (Genesis 16:1, 2 NET).

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him.

I don’t intend to guess at Sarai’s motives, but she was acting according to law. It may have been a legal requirement according to the Nuzi tablets.⁵ In the law of Hammurabi 144: “If a man take a wife and this woman give her husband a maid-servant, and she bear him children, but this man wishes to take another wife, this shall not be permitted to him; he shall not take a second wife.”⁶ There is some question of the dating of Hammurabi relative to Abram, but if Sarai predated Hammurabi’s law it seems evident that she was aware of that which became his law.

Sarai complained to Abram when Hagar became pregnant and despised her, You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!⁷ This complaint makes a bit more sense in light of Hammurabi’s law 146: “If a man take a wife and she give this man a maid-servant as wife and she bear him children, and then this maid assume equality with the wife: because she has borne him children her master shall not sell her for money, but he may keep her as a slave, reckoning her among the maid-servants.”⁸ It also illuminates the sagacity of Abram’s decision not to exert authority over Sarai’s slave, Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.⁹

Sarai treated Hagar harshly. Hagar ran away. Then the Lord’s angel counseled her (Genesis 16:9-12 NET):

Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. I will greatly multiply your descendants…so that they will be too numerous to count…You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael,¹⁰ for the Lord has heard your painful groans. He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.

Abram seemed perfectly content to accept Ishmael as the heir God promised, the son born to him by the law of Hammurabi (or the law that preceded the law of Hammurabi). When Abram was ninety-nine-years-old God changed his name to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” As for your wife, He said, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!¹¹

Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground,¹² but he laughed at God. Sarah was ninety-years-old. O that Ishmael might live before you!¹³ he said. God said (Genesis 17:19-21 NET):

No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac [he laughs]. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.

This was the context Paul considered as he wrote, For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), not the Nuzi tablets nor the law code of Hammurabi, but through the righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) that comes by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις),¹⁴ God’s credited righteousness. I have missed this many times before but πίστεως (faith) at the end of Romans 4:13 (NET) is the same as πίστεως (faithfulness) in Romans 3:26 (NET). It was God’s faithfulness that made the difference, not Abraham’s faith.

Romans 3:26 (NET) Table	Romans 4:13 (NET)
This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness (πίστεως).	For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith (πίστεως).

The Lord had full confidence in his own credited righteousness to change Abraham, I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.¹⁵ While Abraham’s own faith at the time still relied on his initial strategy to preserve his life by claiming his beautiful wife was his sister, Because I thought, “Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.”¹⁶ When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, “This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, ‘He is my brother.’”¹⁷

For if they become heirs by the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), Paul continued, by their own efforts to keep laws, faith (πίστις) is empty (κεκένωται, a form of κενόω) and the promise (ἐπαγγελία) is nullified (κατήργηται, a form of καταργέω).¹⁸ It was the boy David who defeated Goliath¹⁹ by the power of God. God would not allow Gideon to go to battle with 32,000 soldiers: You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, “Our own strength has delivered us.”²⁰ God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside (καταργήσῃ, another form of καταργέω) what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence,²¹ Paul wrote the Corinthians.

For the law brings wrath, Paul continued in Romans, because where there is no law there is no transgression either.²² God didn’t punish Abraham for pretending that Sarah was his sister. There was no law against that. On the contrary, the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.²³ God threatened Abimelech in a dream before he had the opportunity to take her, You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.²⁴ Abraham made out like a pimp: and [Pharaoh] did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.²⁵ And, Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.” To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your ‘brother.’ This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”²⁶

Obviously in these instances with Pharaoh and Abimelech none of this was due to Abraham’s righteousness or his faith, but rather God’s faithfulness to Abraham (Romans 4:16, 17 NET).

For this reason it is by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) so that it may be by grace (χάριν, a form of χάρις), with the result that the promise (ἐπαγγελίαν, a form of ἐπαγγελία) may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), but also to those who have the faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” [See Addendum below]). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed (ἐπίστευσεν, a form of πιστεύω)– the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.

Perhaps Paul said all of this more succinctly in his letter to the young preacher Timothy, I know whom I have believed (πεπίστευκα, another form of πιστεύω) and am persuaded (πέπεισμαι, a form of πείθω) that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.²⁷ The emphasis is on Him who is believed rather than the faith of the believer.

Addendum: July 11, 2021
The Greek word translated descendants in Romans 4:13 (NET) was σπέρματι.

According to a note (27) in the NET Paul quoted from Genesis 17:5 in Romans 4:17. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows:

Romans 4:17a (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 17:5c (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:5c (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικα σε	ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε	ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε
Romans 4:17a (NET)	Genesis 17:5c (NETS)	Genesis 17:5c (English Elpenor)
I have made you the father of many nations	for I have made you an ancestor of many nations	for I have made thee a father of many nations

Tables comparing Genesis 16:1; 16:2; 16:5; 16:6; 16:9; 16:10; 16:11; 16:12; 17:15; 17:16; 17:17; 17:18; 17:19; 17:20; 17:21; 18:19; 20:11; 20:13; Judges 7:2; Genesis 12:17; 20:3; 12:16; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16 and 17:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 16:1; 16:2; 16:5; 16:6; 16:9; 16:10; 16:11; 16:12; 17:15; 17:16; 17:17; 17:18; 17:19; 17:20; 17:21; 18:19; 20:11; 20:13; Judges 7:2; Genesis 12:17; 20:3; 12:16; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16 and 17:5 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Romans 4:13 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 16:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:1 (KJV)	Genesis 16:1 (NET)
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.	Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.	Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

Genesis 16:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
Σαρα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία ᾗ ὄνομα Αγαρ	ΣΑΡΑ δὲ γυνὴ ῞Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ. ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία, ᾗ ὄνομα ῎Αγαρ
Genesis 16:1 (NETS)	Genesis 16:1 (English Elpenor)
Now Sara, Abram’s wife, was not giving birth for him. She, however, had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar.	AND Sara the wife of Abram bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Agar.

Genesis 16:2 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:2 (KJV)	Genesis 16:2 (NET)
And Sarai said unto Abram: ‘Behold now, HaShem hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall be builded up through her.’ And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.	And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.	So Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, please sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him.

Genesis 16:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέν με κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου ἵνα τεκνοποιήσῃς ἐξ αὐτῆς ὑπήκουσεν δὲ Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σαρας	εἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς ῞Αβραμ· ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέ με Κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν· εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου, ἵνα τεκνοποιήσωμαι ἐξ αὐτῆς. ὑπήκουσε δὲ ῞Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σάρας
Genesis 16:2 (NETS)	Genesis 16:2 (English Elpenor)
And Sara said to Abram, “See, the Lord has shut me off from giving birth; so go in to my slave-girl in order that you may beget children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sara.	And Sara said to Abram, Behold, the Lord has restrained me from bearing, go therefore in to my maid, that I may get children for myself through her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sara.

Genesis 16:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:5 (KJV)	Genesis 16:5 (NET)
And Sarai said unto Abram: ‘My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: HaShem judge between me and thee.’	And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.	Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I gave my servant into your embrace, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!”

Genesis 16:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ ἐγὼ δέδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς κρίναι ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ	εἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς ῞Αβραμ· ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ· ἐγὼ δέδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς· κρίναι ὁ Θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ.
Genesis 16:5 (NETS)	Genesis 16:5 (English Elpenor)
Then Sara said to Abram, “I am being wronged due to you! I have given my slave-girl into your bosom, but when she saw that she was pregnant, I was dishonored before her. May God judge between you and me!”	And Sara said to Abram, I am injured by thee; I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and when I saw that she was with child, I was dishonoured before her. The Lord judge between me and thee.

Genesis 16:6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:6 (KJV)	Genesis 16:6 (NET)
But Abram said unto Sarai: ‘Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes.’ And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.	But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.	Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

Genesis 16:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβραμ πρὸς Σαραν ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῗς χερσίν σου χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σαρα καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς	εἶπε δὲ ῞Αβραμ πρὸς Σάραν· ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου· χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ. καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σάρα, καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς
Genesis 16:6 (NETS)	Genesis 16:6 (English Elpenor)
But Abram said to Sara, “See, see your slave-girl is in your hands; treat her as it may please you.” And Sara maltreated her, and she ran away from her presence.	And Abram said to Sara, Behold thy handmaid is in thy hands, use her as it may seem good to thee. And Sara afflicted her, and she fled from her face.

Genesis 16:9 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:9 (KJV)	Genesis 16:9 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.’	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.	Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.

Genesis 16:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἀποστράφητι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῗρας αὐτῆς	εἶπε δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· ἀποστράφηθι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς
Genesis 16:9 (NETS)	Genesis 16:9 (English Elpenor)
But the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hands.”	And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

Genesis 16:10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:10 (KJV)	Genesis 16:10 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.	I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the angel of the Lord added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Genesis 16:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους
Genesis 16:10 (NETS)	Genesis 16:10 (English Elpenor)
The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will multitudinously multiply your offspring, and it will not be counted for multitude.”	And the angel of the Lord said to her, I will surely multiply thy seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 16:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:11 (KJV)	Genesis 16:11 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because HaShem hath heard thy affliction.	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.	Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans.

Genesis 16:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισμαηλ ὅτι ἐπήκουσεν κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· ἰδού, σὺ ἐν γαστρί ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Ισμαήλ, ὅτι ἐπήκουσε Κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου.
Genesis 16:11 (NETS)	Genesis 16:11 (English Elpenor)
And the angel of the Lord said to her, “See, you are pregnant and shall bear a son and shall call his name Ismael. For the Lord has given heed to your humiliation.	And the angel of the Lord said to her, Behold thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ismael, for the Lord hath hearkened to thy humiliation.

Genesis 16:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:12 (KJV)	Genesis 16:12 (NET)
And he shall be a wild ass of a man: his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the face of all his brethren.’	And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.	He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.”

Genesis 16:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος αἱ χεῗρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας καὶ αἱ χεῗρες πάντων ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει	οὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες πάντων ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει
Genesis 16:12 (NETS)	Genesis 16:12 (English Elpenor)
He shall be a rustic man; his hands shall be against all, and the hands of all against him, and he shall live facing all his kinfolk.”	He shall be a wild man, his hands against all, and the hands of all against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Genesis 17:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:15 (KJV)	Genesis 17:15 (NET)
And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.	And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.	Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name.

Genesis 17:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ Σαρα ἡ γυνή σου οὐ κληθήσεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Σαρα ἀλλὰ Σαρρα ἔσται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς	Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· Σάρα ἡ γυνή σου οὐ κληθήσεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Σάρα, ἀλλὰ Σάρρα ἔσται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς
Genesis 17:15 (NETS)	Genesis 17:15 (English Elpenor)
And God said to Abraham, “As for Sara your wife, her name shall not be called Sara, but Sarra shall be her name.	And God said to Abraam, Sara thy wife– her name shall not be called Sara, Sarrha shall be her name.

Genesis 17:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:16 (KJV)	Genesis 17:16 (NET)
And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her; yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.’	And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.	I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!”

Genesis 17:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εὐλογήσω δὲ αὐτὴν καὶ δώσω σοι ἐξ αὐτῆς τέκνον καὶ εὐλογήσω αὐτόν καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἔθνη καὶ βασιλεῗς ἐθνῶν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔσονται	εὐλογήσω δὲ αὐτήν, καὶ δώσω σοι ἐξ αὐτῆς τέκνον· καὶ εὐλογήσω αὐτό, καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἔθνη, καὶ βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔσονται
Genesis 17:16 (NETS)	Genesis 17:16 (English Elpenor)
And I will bless her, and I will give you a child by her. And I will bless her, and she shall become nations, and kings of nations shall be from her.”	And I will bless her, and give thee a son of her, and I will bless him, and he shall become nations, and kings of nations shall be of him.

Genesis 17:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:17 (KJV)	Genesis 17:17 (NET)
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart: ‘Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?’	Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?	Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”

Genesis 17:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔπεσεν Αβρααμ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐγέλασεν καὶ εἶπεν ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων εἰ τῷ ἑκατονταετεῗ γενήσεται καὶ εἰ Σαρρα ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν οὖσα τέξεται	καὶ ἔπεσεν ῾Αβραὰμ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγέλασε καὶ εἶπεν ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων· εἰ τῷ ἑκατονταετεῖ γενήσεται υἱός; καὶ εἰ ἡ Σάρρα ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν τέξεται
Genesis 17:17 (NETS)	Genesis 17:17 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam fell face down and laughed and spoke in his mind, saying, “Shall a son be born to a hundred-year-old, and shall Sarra who is ninety years of age give birth?”	And Abraam fell upon his face, and laughed; and spoke in his heart, saying, Shall there be a child to one who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarrha who is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 17:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:18 (KJV)	Genesis 17:18 (NET)
And Abraham said unto G-d: ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!’	And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!	Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!”

Genesis 17:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ πρὸς τὸν θεόν Ισμαηλ οὗτος ζήτω ἐναντίον σου	εἶπε δὲ ῾Αβραὰμ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· ᾿Ισμαὴλ οὗτος ζήτω ἐναντίον σου
Genesis 17:18 (NETS)	Genesis 17:18 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam said to God, “As for Ismael, let him live before you!”	And Abraam said to God, Let this Ismael live before thee.

Genesis 17:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:19 (KJV)	Genesis 17:19 (NET)
And G-d said: ”Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.	And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.	God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 17:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ ναί ἰδοὺ Σαρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱόν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισαακ καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτόν	εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ῾Αβραὰμ· ναί· ἰδοὺ Σάρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Ισαάκ, καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον, εἶναι αὐτῷ Θεὸς καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτόν
Genesis 17:19 (NETS)	Genesis 17:19 (English Elpenor)
But God said to Abraam, “Indeed; see, your wife Sarra shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaak, and I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant and for his offspring after him.	And God said to Abraam, Yea, behold, Sarrha thy wife shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to him and to his seed after him.

Genesis 17:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:20 (KJV)	Genesis 17:20 (NET)
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.	And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.	As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 17:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
περὶ δὲ Ισμαηλ ἰδοὺ ἐπήκουσά σου ἰδοὺ εὐλόγησα αὐτὸν καὶ αὐξανῶ αὐτὸν καὶ πληθυνῶ αὐτὸν σφόδρα δώδεκα ἔθνη γεννήσει καὶ δώσω αὐτὸν εἰς ἔθνος μέγα	περὶ δὲ ᾿Ισμαὴλ ἰδοὺ ἐπήκουσά σου· καὶ ἰδοὺ εὐλόγηκα αὐτὸν καὶ αὐξανῶ αὐτὸν καὶ πληθυνῶ αὐτὸν σφόδρα· δώδεκα ἔθνη γεννήσει καὶ δώσω αὐτὸν εἰς ἔθνος μέγα
Genesis 17:20 (NETS)	Genesis 17:20 (English Elpenor)
Now concerning Ismael, see, I heard you; see, I have blessed him and will make him increase and will make him very numerous; he shall be the father of twelve nations, and I will appoint him as a great nation.	And concerning Ismael, behold, I have heard thee, and, behold, I have blessed him, and will increase him and multiply him exceedingly; twelve nations shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 17:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:21 (KJV)	Genesis 17:21 (NET)
But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.’	But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.	But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

Genesis 17:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὴν δὲ διαθήκην μου στήσω πρὸς Ισαακ ὃν τέξεταί σοι Σαρρα εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ ἑτέρῳ	τὴν δὲ διαθήκην μου στήσω πρὸς ᾿Ισαάκ, ὃν τέξεταί σοι Σάρρα εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον, ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ ἑτέρῳ
Genesis 17:21 (NETS)	Genesis 17:21 (English Elpenor)
But my covenant I will establish with Isaak, whom Sarra shall bear to you at this season in another year.”	But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarrha shall bear to thee at this time, in the next year.

Genesis 18:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 18:19 (KJV)	Genesis 18:19 (NET)
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of HaShem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that HaShem may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.’	For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.	I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.”

Genesis 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ᾔδειν γὰρ ὅτι συντάξει τοῗς υἱοῗς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτόν καὶ φυλάξουσιν τὰς ὁδοὺς κυρίου ποιεῗν δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ κύριος ἐπὶ Αβρααμ πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτόν	ᾔδειν γὰρ ὅτι συντάξει τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ φυλάξουσι τὰς ὁδοὺς Κυρίου ποιεῖν δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν, ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ Κύριος ἐπὶ ῾Αβραὰμ πάντα, ὅσα ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτόν
Genesis 18:19 (NETS)	Genesis 18:19 (English Elpenor)
For I knew that he will instruct his sons and his household after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice so that the Lord may bring upon Abraam all the things that he has talked about to him.”	For I know that he will order his sons, and his house after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraam all things whatsoever he has spoken to him.

Genesis 20:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:11 (KJV)	Genesis 20:11 (NET)
And Abraham said: ‘Because I thought: Surely the fear of G-d is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.	And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.	Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’

Genesis 20:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ εἶπα γάρ ἄρα οὐκ ἔστιν θεοσέβεια ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ ἐμέ τε ἀποκτενοῦσιν ἕνεκεν τῆς γυναικός μου	εἶπε δὲ ῾Αβραάμ· εἶπα γάρ, ἄρα οὐκ ἔστι θεοσέβεια ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ, ἐμέ τε ἀποκτενοῦσιν ἕνεκεν τῆς γυναικός μου
Genesis 20:11 (NETS)	Genesis 20:11 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam said, “Because I said, It appears there is no piety in this place, and so they will kill me because of my wife.	And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.

Genesis 20:13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:13 (KJV)	Genesis 20:13 (NET)
And it came to pass, when G-d caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.’	And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.	When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”

Genesis 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἐξήγαγέν με ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ εἶπα αὐτῇ ταύτην τὴν δικαιοσύνην ποιήσεις ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ εἰς πάντα τόπον οὗ ἐὰν εἰσέλθωμεν ἐκεῗ εἰπὸν ἐμὲ ὅτι ἀδελφός μού ἐστιν	ἐγένετο δέ, ἡνίκα ἐξήγαγέ με ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ εἶπα αὐτῇ· ταύτην τὴν δικαιοσύνην ποιήσεις εἰς ἐμέ, εἰς πάντα τόπον οὗ ἐὰν εἰσέλθωμεν ἐκεῖ, εἰπὸν ἐμέ, ὅτι ἀδελφός μου ἐστίν
Genesis 20:13 (NETS)	Genesis 20:13 (English Elpenor)
Now it came about when God brought me forth from my father’s house, that then I said to her, ‘This righteousness you shall do for me: in every place, there where we enter, say about me, He is my brother.’”	And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.

Judges 7:2 (Tanakh)	Judges 7:2 (KJV)	Judges 7:2 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.	And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.	The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’

Judges 7:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Judges 7:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Γεδεων πολὺς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ ὥστε μὴ παραδοῦναί με τὴν Μαδιαμ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν μήποτε καυχήσηται Ισραηλ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ λέγων ἡ χείρ μου ἔσωσέν με	καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· πολὺς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ, ὥστε μὴ παραδοῦναί με τὴν Μαδιὰμ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν, μή ποτε καυχήσηται ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ λέγων· ἡ χείρ μου ἔσωσέ με
Judges 7:2 (NETS)	Judges 7:2 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to Gedeon, “The people with you are numerous; so I will not give up Madiam in their hand. Israel would only boast against me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’”	And the Lord said to Gedeon, The people with thee [are] many, so that I may not deliver Madiam into their hand, lest at any time Israel boast against me, saying, My hand has saved me.

Genesis 12:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:17 (KJV)	Genesis 12:17 (NET)
And HaShem plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.	And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.	But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 12:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤτασεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν Φαραω ἐτασμοῗς μεγάλοις καὶ πονηροῗς καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ περὶ Σαρας τῆς γυναικὸς Αβραμ	καὶ ἤτασεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Φαραὼ ἐτασμοῖς μεγάλοις καὶ πονηροῖς καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ περὶ Σάρας τῆς γυναικὸς ῞Αβραμ
Genesis 12:17 (NETS)	Genesis 12:17 (English Elpenor)
And God tried Pharao and his house with great and grievous trials because of Sara, Abram’s wife.	And God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 20:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:3 (KJV)	Genesis 20:3 (NET)
But G-d came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him: ‘Behold, thou shalt die, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.’	But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.	But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”

Genesis 20:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Αβιμελεχ ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀποθνῄσκεις περὶ τῆς γυναικός ἧς ἔλαβες αὕτη δέ ἐστιν συνῳκηκυῗα ἀνδρί	καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀποθνήσκεις περὶ τῆς γυναικός, ἧς ἔλαβες, αὕτη δέ ἐστι συνῳκηυῖα ἀνδρί
Genesis 20:3 (NETS)	Genesis 20:3 (English Elpenor)
And God came in to Abimelech in his sleep during the night and said, “Look, you are about to die by reason of the woman whom you have taken, whereas she is married to a man.”	And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, thou diest for the woman, whom thou hast taken, whereas she has lived with a husband.

Genesis 12:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:16 (KJV)	Genesis 12:16 (NET)
And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.	And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.	and he did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

Genesis 12:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τῷ Αβραμ εὖ ἐχρήσαντο δι᾽ αὐτήν καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχοι καὶ ὄνοι παῗδες καὶ παιδίσκαι ἡμίονοι καὶ κάμηλοι	καὶ τῷ ῞Αβραμ εὖ ἐχρήσαντο δι᾿ αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχοι καὶ ὄνοι καὶ παῖδες καὶ παιδίσκαι καὶ ἡμίονοι καὶ κάμηλοι
Genesis 12:16 (NETS)	Genesis 12:16 (English Elpenor)
And for her sake they dealt well with Abram, and he had sheep and calves and donkeys, male and female slaves, mules and camels.	And they treated Abram well on her account, and he had sheep, and calves, and asses, and men-servants, and women-servants, and mules, and camels.

Genesis 20:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:14 (KJV)	Genesis 20:14 (NET)
And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.	And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.	So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.

Genesis 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔλαβεν δὲ Αβιμελεχ χίλια δίδραχμα πρόβατα καὶ μόσχους καὶ παῗδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ ἔδωκεν τῷ Αβρααμ καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ Σαρραν τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ	ἔλαβε δὲ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ χίλια δίδραχμα καὶ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχους καὶ παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ ἔδωκε τῷ ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ Σάρραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ
Genesis 20:14 (NETS)	Genesis 20:14 (English Elpenor)
Then Abimelech took a thousand didrachmas, sheep and calves and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraam and restored his wife Sarra to him.	And Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, and sheep, and calves, and servants, and maid-servants, and gave them to Abraam, and he returned him Sarrha his wife.

Genesis 20:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:15 (KJV)	Genesis 20:15 (NET)
And Abimelech said: ‘Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.’	And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.	Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.”

Genesis 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Αβιμελεχ τῷ Αβρααμ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ μου ἐναντίον σου οὗ ἐάν σοι ἀρέσκῃ κατοίκει	καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ μου ἐναντίον σου· οὗ ἐάν σοι ἀρέσκῃ, κατοίκει
Genesis 20:15 (NETS)	Genesis 20:15 (English Elpenor)
And Abimelech said to Abraam, “Look, my land is before you; settle where it may please you.”	And Abimelech said to Abraam, Behold, my land is before thee, dwell wheresoever it may please thee.

Genesis 20:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:16 (KJV)	Genesis 20:16 (NET)
And unto Sarah he said: ‘Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and before all men thou art righted.’	And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.	To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given 1,000 pieces of silver to your ‘brother.’ This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”

Genesis 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τῇ δὲ Σαρρα εἶπεν ἰδοὺ δέδωκα χίλια δίδραχμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου ταῦτα ἔσται σοι εἰς τιμὴν τοῦ προσώπου σου καὶ πάσαις ταῗς μετὰ σοῦ καὶ πάντα ἀλήθευσον	τῇ δὲ Σάρρᾳ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ δέδωκα χίλια δίδραχμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου· ταῦτα ἔσται σοι εἰς τὴν τιμὴ τοῦ προσώπου σου καὶ πάσαις ταῖς μετὰ σοῦ· καὶ πάντα ἀλήθευσον
Genesis 20:16 (NETS)	Genesis 20:16 (English Elpenor)
And to Sarra he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand drachmas; these shall be to you for the honor of your person and to all those with you, and tell the whole truth.”	And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to thee for the price of thy countenance, and to all the women with thee, and speak the truth in all things.

Genesis 17:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:5 (KJV)	Genesis 17:5 (NET)
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.	Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.	No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.

Genesis 17:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι τὸ ὄνομά σου Αβραμ ἀλλ᾽ ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου Αβρααμ ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε	καὶ οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι τὸ ὄνομά σου ῞Αβραμ, ἀλλ᾿ ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου ῾Αβραάμ, ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε
Genesis 17:5 (NETS)	Genesis 17:5 (English Elpenor)
And no longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraam, for I have made you an ancestor of many nations.	And thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraam, for I have made thee a father of many nations.

Romans 4:13 (NET)	Romans 4:13 (KJV)
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.	For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γὰρ διὰ νόμου ἡ ἐπαγγελία τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἢ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, τὸ κληρονόμον αὐτὸν εἶναι κόσμου, ἀλλὰ διὰ δικαιοσύνης πίστεως	ου γαρ δια νομου η επαγγελια τω αβρααμ η τω σπερματι αυτου το κληρονομον αυτον ειναι του κοσμου αλλα δια δικαιοσυνης πιστεως	ου γαρ δια νομου η επαγγελια τω αβρααμ η τω σπερματι αυτου το κληρονομον αυτον ειναι του κοσμου αλλα δια δικαιοσυνης πιστεως

Romans, Part 21

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Romans, Part 40

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 6

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 8

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Back to Jephthah

Back to Christianity, Part 11

Back to Christianity, Part 12

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

Back to Exploration, Part 1

¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding world. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

² Romans 4:13 (NET)

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις χριστον (KJV: in Christ) following God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁴ Galatians 3:17 (NET) Table

⁵ “Sarah’s prolonged barrenness prompted her to give her handmaid Hagar to Abraham in order that she might bear him a child in her mistress’ place (16:12). This unusual device, found only once again in the Bible (cf. Gen. 30:1–8), is also attested to in the Nuzi documents and elsewhere, where it is stipulated that if a wife is childless, she must provide her husband with a female slave as a concubine.”
From the article “Sarah” on the Jewish Virtual Library online.

⁶ “The Code of Hammurabi,” The Avalon Project, Yale Law School

⁷ Genesis 16:5 (NET)

⁸ “The Code of Hammurabi,” The Avalon Project, Yale Law School

⁹ Genesis 16:6 (NET)

¹⁰ NET note 34: The name Ishmael consists of the imperfect or jussive form of the Hebrew verb with the theophoric element added as the subject. It means “God hears” or “may God hear.”

¹¹ Genesis 17:15, 16 (NET)

¹² Genesis 17:17a (NET)

¹³ Genesis 17:18 (NET)

¹⁴ Romans 4:13 (NET)

¹⁵ Genesis 18:19a (NET)

¹⁶ Genesis 20:11 (NET)

¹⁷ Genesis 20:13 (NET)

¹⁸ Romans 4:14 (NET)

¹⁹ 1 Samuel 17 (NET)

²⁰ Judges 7:2 (NET)

²¹ 1 Corinthians 1:28, 29 (NET) Table

²² Romans 4:15 (NET)

²³ Genesis 12:17 (NET)

²⁴ Genesis 20:3 (NET)

²⁵ Genesis 12:16 (NET)

²⁶ Genesis 20:14-16 (NET)

²⁷ 2 Timothy 1:12b (NKJV)

Romans, Part 19

Posted on September 27, 2012 by admin

Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision?¹ Paul asked. This blessedness was a three-part blessedness as follows:

1	*Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,*	Romans 4:7a (NET)
2	*and whose sins are covered;*	Romans 4:7b (NET)
3	*blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count* sin.	Romans 4:8 (NET) [Table]

For we say, “faith² was credited to Abraham as righteousness (δικαιοσύνην),”³ Paul continued. In Romans 4:3 Paul quoted Genesis 15:6 from the Septuagint.

Paul

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3 (NET)

ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

Genesis 15:6

ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

Romans 4:3

Paul added the connecting conjunction δε (and, but, moreover; often unexpressed in English translation), and used the name αβρααμ (Abraham) where the Septuagint had Αβραμ (Abram). God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) in Genesis 17:5. The Greek word δικαιοσύνην (righteousness) found in Romans 4:3 and in the Greek translation of Genesis 15:6 made by Rabbis centuries before Jesus was born is also found in Romans 4:9. Since both the Lord Jesus and Paul’s teaching have been rejected by most Rabbis the best anyone can tease out of the original Hebrew [See Addendum below] is that Abraham’s belief was credited as faith: Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.⁴

How then was [righteousness (according to the Rabbis who translated the Hebrew Scripture centuries before Jesus was born to be rejected)] credited to him? Paul continued. Was he circumcised at the time, or not?⁵ Now the Lord said to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3 NET):

Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name [See Table below for more current translation].

At age seventy-five Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all their possessions including slaves and left their home. When he arrived in Canaan, The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.”⁶ Abram had no children at the time. He was apparently incapable in the flesh so to speak to fulfill any promise concerning his descendants.

Abram and his retinue journeyed into Egypt during a famine. He became quite wealthy there passing off his beautiful wife as his sister. And apparently Lot benefited as well. When they returned to the land God promised Abraham’s descendants their slaves quarreled over pasture and water. Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself now from me. If you go to the left, then I’ll go to the right, but if you go to the right, then I’ll go to the left.”⁷

Lot chose to settle near Sodom, Abram settled in the land of Canaan. After Lot had departed, the Lord (y^ehôvâh, ויהוה) said to Abram, “Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west. I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted. Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”⁸

Lot apparently moved into the city of Sodom during a war. The war was lost. Lot, his family and all his possessions were carried off by the victorious kings. Abram and 318 of his trained men⁹ rescued them. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”¹⁰

But Abram said, “O sovereign (ʼădônây, אדני) Lord (y^ehôvih, יהוה), what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?” [Table] Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”¹¹ Here Abram quoted a law to God, a law similar to that found on the Nuzi Tablets [See Addendum below].¹² But God replied (Genesis 15:4, 5 NET):

But look, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.” The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars – if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”

Genesis 15:6 follows, Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty [See Addendum below], or prior to the Rabbis rejection of Christ and Paul’s teaching, And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.¹³ All of this transpired before there was any mention of the rite of circumcision, as Paul wrote the Romans, No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised!¹⁴

And just in case I might think Abram possessed some special faith in some superlative degree, the Lord continued: “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess [Table].” But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it [Table]?”¹⁵ It reminds me of the story of the man who brought his son to Jesus, a son possessed by a spirit that [made] him mute.¹⁶

When the spirit saw him, it immediately¹⁷ threw the boy into a convulsion.¹⁸ He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do¹⁹ anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’²⁰ All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately²¹ the father of the boy cried out and said,²² “I believe;²³ help my unbelief!”²⁴

The Lord helped Abram’s unbelief [See Addendum below], first by giving him something to do [though all of this probably happened in a vision] (Genesis 15:9-11 NET).

The Lord said to him, “Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Then the Lord gave Abram a prophetic vision of the future (Genesis 15:12-16 NET).

When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”

And finally the Lord made a covenant with Abram and reiterated his promise to him (Genesis 15:17-21 NET).

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch [See Addendum below] passed between the animal parts. That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River [Table]– the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites [See Addendum below].”

All of this was done for Abram before there was any mention of circumcision, certainly not any mention of circumcision as a work of righteousness that Abram had done. As Paul concluded (Romans 4:11, 12 NET):

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith²⁵ that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.²⁶

Addendum: July 2, 2021
A more current comparison of the NET with other translations follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 15:6 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 15:6 (NET)	Genesis 15:6 (NETS)	Genesis 15:6 (English Elpenor)
And he believed in HaShem; and He counted it to him for righteousness (צְדָקָֽה).	Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness (ṣᵊḏāqâ, צדקה) to him.	And Abram believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (δικαιοσύνην).	And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (δικαιοσύνην).

A quote from THE PENTATEUCH PART I: GENESIS / LESSON 9: Genesis 15:1- 17:27 / The Story of Abraham Continues: The Divine Promises Embodied in a Divine Covenant from Agape Catholic Bible Study online follows:

The discovery of the ancient city of Nuzi, a mid 2nd millennium BC Hurrian provincial capital located near modern Kirkuk, Iraq, yielded an archive of over 3,500 cuneiform tablets. Recorded on the tablets, Bible scholars have found many subjects including sociologic/economic conditions and practices common to the 1st and 2nd millenniums BC that are revealed in the Bible, proving that the biblical text accurately reflects the social customs of the times. Some of the Nuzi tablets addressed the possibility of adopting one’s own slave if there was no heir to inherit a man’s estate. If an heir was subsequently born, the slave relinquished his rights as the heir (The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 4, “Nuzi,” pages 1156, 1160-61).

J. Alexander Rutherford in his paper, “A Consideration of the Meaning of the Righteousness of God in Romans 1:17” took Abram’s “unbelief” differently than I had considered it here:

If Paul’s Jewish background fails to yield an adequate precursor to his understanding of imputation, we can still look at the Old Testament as his source or the teachings of Jesus or the Spirit—that is, allow that God could have revealed something not yet seen.

Fortunately, we have already begun to see that there is a strong OT precedence for imputation. As noted above, God promises frequently that He will end sin (Gen. 3:15), that He will restore relationship with Him in a new land (Gen. 12:1-9, 17:8), but He expects obedience from His covenant partners: a great tension arises, how can God maintain a promise that depends on the obedience of those who are by nature disobedient? This is where Paul’s favorite Genesis quote is central; Abraham’s faith was reckoned as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). After the narrator tells us that Abraham’s belief that God would indeed be faithful to His promises was reckoned for righteousness, this vague statement is unpacked. God, in v. 7, reaffirms his promise, but Abraham in v. 8 responds with what almost appears to be doubt, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” What happened to his faith; does he now doubt God’s ability to fulfill his promise?

Abraham is not looking for a sign that God can do this; he has already expressed faith that God can: if we are already told that Abraham is assured of God’s faithfulness (v. 6), the only room left for doubt is in Abraham’s ability to uphold his side of the bargain. This is exactly what the following verses address. God leads Abraham through the covenant making ceremony, one involving a self-maledictory oath (that covenant failure will result in the death of the one who fails) (9-11, cf. Jer. 34:18-19), yet when the time comes for both covenant makers to walk through and affirm their obligations, it is God alone who walks through in a fiery theophany (v. 17). In v. 18 God then affirms that He will indeed give the land to Abraham’s offspring. The answer to Abraham’s question has been given; what was it? Because only God walked through the line of severed animals, He is saying that He will take upon Himself not only the penalty of His hypothetical covenant failure but also the failure of His covenant partner. YHWH is also affirming that all obligations placed on Abraham will find their fulfillment by His hand. This leaves an unresolved tension through the OT: how can God Himself die for the covenant failure of men?⁴⁷ Both of these commitments then find their resolution in Jesus Christ who died for the sins of man and, as the new Adam, did what Adam and Abraham could not: He perfectly fulfilled God’s covenant obligations so that all those found in Him might receive the fullness of God’s covenant blessing. So, though Paul’s Jewish background gives no background for imputation, the Old Testament does. [pp. 20, 21]

Much as I like Mr. Rutherford’s interpretation above, a table of the relevant text follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 15:17 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 15:17 (NET)	Genesis 15:17 (NETS)	Genesis 15:17 (English Elpenor)
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and there was thick darkness, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.	When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts.	Now after the sun began to appear in the west, a flame appeared, and look, a smoking oven and torches of fire that passed through between these cut halves.	And when the sun was about to set, there was a flame, and behold a smoking furnace and lamps of fire, which passed between these divided pieces.

Only in the NET is the Hebrew of the Masoretic text translated as if a smoking firepot with a flaming torch is one thing. It is a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch in the Tanakh, a smoking oven (furnace) and torches (lamps) of fire in the Septuagint. I need something more, something more I lack at the moment, to recognize this collection of things as representative of “God alone who walks through in a fiery theophany.” In fact, a smoking oven/furnace seems like an apt description of Abram (or any son of Adam) to me: all the lusts of his flesh.

A table comparing Genesis 15:21 in the Masoretic text and the Septuagint follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 15:21 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 15:21 (NET)	Genesis 15:21 (NETS)	Genesis 15:21 (English Elpenor)
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.’	Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”	and the Amorites and the Chananites and the Heuites and the Gergesites and the Iebousites.”	and the Amorites, and the Chananites, and the Evites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.

Tables comparing Genesis 12:1; 12:2; 12:3; 12:7; 13:8; 13:9; 13:14; 13:15; 13:16; 13:17; 14:14; 15:3; 15:4; 15:5; 15:9; 15:10; 15:11; 15:12; 15:13; 15:14; 15:15; 15:16; 15:17; 15:18; 15:19; 15:20 and 15:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 12:1; 12:2; 12:3; 12:7; 13:8; 13:9; 13:14; 13:15; 13:16; 13:17; 14:14; 15:3; 15:4; 15:5; 15:9; 15:10; 15:11; 15:12; 15:13; 15:14; 15:15; 15:16; 15:17; 15:18; 15:19; 15:20 and 15:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Romans 4:9; Mark 9:17; 9:20; 9:22-24 and Romans 4:12 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 12:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:1 (KJV)	Genesis 12:1 (NET)
Now HaShem said unto Abram: ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee.	Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:	Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος τῷ Αβραμ ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός σου εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω	ΚΑΙ εἶπε Κύριος τῷ ῞Αβραμ· ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός σου καὶ δεῦρο εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω
Genesis 12:1 (NETS)	Genesis 12:1 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country and from your kindred and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.	AND the Lord said to Abram, Go forth out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and out of the house of thy father, and come into the land which I will shew thee.

Genesis 12:2 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:2 (KJV)	Genesis 12:2 (NET)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.	And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:	Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.

Genesis 12:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ποιήσω σε εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ εὐλογήσω σε καὶ μεγαλυνῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογητός	καὶ ποιήσω σε εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ εὐλογήσω σε καὶ μεγαλυνῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου, καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογημένος
Genesis 12:2 (NETS)	Genesis 12:2 (English Elpenor)
And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be one blessed.	And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.

Genesis 12:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:3 (KJV)	Genesis 12:3 (NET)
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’	And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.	I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”

Genesis 12:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εὐλογήσω τοὺς εὐλογοῦντάς σε καὶ τοὺς καταρωμένους σε καταράσομαι καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς	καὶ εὐλογήσω τοὺς εὐλογοῦντάς σε καὶ τοὺς καταρωμένους σε καταράσομαι· καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν σοὶ πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς
Genesis 12:3 (NETS)	Genesis 12:3 (English Elpenor)
And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse, and in you all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.”	And I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 12:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:7 (KJV)	Genesis 12:7 (NET)
And HaShem appeared unto Abram, and said: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land’; and he builded there an altar unto HaShem, who appeared unto him.	And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.	The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὤφθη κύριος τῷ Αβραμ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῗ Αβραμ θυσιαστήριον κυρίῳ τῷ ὀφθέντι αὐτῷ	καὶ ὤφθη Κύριος τῷ ῞Αβραμ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην. καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ ῞Αβραμ θυσιαστήριον Κυρίῳ τῷ ὀφθέντι αὐτῷ
Genesis 12:7 (NETS)	Genesis 12:7 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “To your offspring I will give this land.” And Abram built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him.	And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I will give this land to thy seed. And Abram built an altar there to the Lord who appeared to him.

Genesis 13:8 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:8 (KJV)	Genesis 13:8 (NET)
And Abram said unto Lot: ‘Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we are brethren.	And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.	Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives.

Genesis 13:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβραμ τῷ Λωτ μὴ ἔστω μάχη ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποιμένων μου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποιμένων σου ὅτι ἄνθρωποι ἀδελφοὶ ἡμεῗς ἐσμεν	εἶπε δὲ ῞Αβραμ τῷ Λώτ· μὴ ἔστω μάχη ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποιμένων μου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποιμένων σου, ὅτι ἄνθρωποι ἀδελφοί ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς
Genesis 13:8 (NETS)	Genesis 13:8 (English Elpenor)
So then Abram said to Lot, “Let there not be strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred.	And Abram said to Lot, Let there not be a strife between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen, for we are brethren.

Genesis 13:9 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:9 (KJV)	Genesis 13:9 (NET)
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left.’	Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.	Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself now from me. If you go to the left, then I’ll go to the right, but if you go to the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Genesis 13:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἐναντίον σού ἐστιν διαχωρίσθητι ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ εἰ σὺ εἰς ἀριστερά ἐγὼ εἰς δεξιά εἰ δὲ σὺ εἰς δεξιά ἐγὼ εἰς ἀριστερά	οὐκ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ἐναντίον σου ἐστί; διαχωρίσθητι ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ· εἰ σὺ εἰς ἀριστερά, ἐγὼ εἰς δεξιά· εἰ δὲ σὺ εἰς δεξιά, ἐγὼ εἰς ἀριστερά
Genesis 13:9 (NETS)	Genesis 13:9 (English Elpenor)
See, is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right, but if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”	Lo! is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself from me; if thou [goest] to the left, I will go to the right, and if thou goest to the right, I will go to the left.

Genesis 13:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:14 (KJV)	Genesis 13:14 (NET)
And HaShem said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him: ‘Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward;	And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:	After Lot had departed, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west.

Genesis 13:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἶπεν τῷ Αβραμ μετὰ τὸ διαχωρισθῆναι τὸν Λωτ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀναβλέψας τοῗς ὀφθαλμοῗς σου ἰδὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου οὗ νῦν σὺ εἶ πρὸς βορρᾶν καὶ λίβα καὶ ἀνατολὰς καὶ θάλασσαν	῾Ο δὲ Θεὸς εἶπε τῷ ῞Αβραμ μετὰ τὸ διαχωρισθῆναι τὸν Λὼτ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἀνάβλεψον τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ ἴδε ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου, οὗ νῦν σύ εἶ, πρὸς βορρᾶν καὶ λίβα καὶ ἀνατολὰς καὶ θάλασσαν
Genesis 13:14 (NETS)	Genesis 13:14 (English Elpenor)
And God said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, “Look up with your eyes; look from the place where you are now, toward the north and southwest and east and sea.	And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art northward and southward, and eastward and seaward;

Genesis 13:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:15 (KJV)	Genesis 13:15 (NET)
for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.	For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.	I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever.

Genesis 13:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἣν σὺ ὁρᾷς σοὶ δώσω αὐτὴν καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος	ὅτι πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν σὺ ὁρᾷς, σοὶ δώσω αὐτὴν καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου ἕως αἰῶνος
Genesis 13:15 (NETS)	Genesis 13:15 (English Elpenor)
For all the land that you see, I will give it to you and to your offspring forever.	for all the land which thou seest, I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever.

Genesis 13:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:16 (KJV)	Genesis 13:16 (NET)
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.	And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.	And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.

Genesis 13:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ποιήσω τὸ σπέρμα σου ὡς τὴν ἄμμον τῆς γῆς εἰ δύναταί τις ἐξαριθμῆσαι τὴν ἄμμον τῆς γῆς καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐξαριθμηθήσεται	καὶ ποιήσω τὸ σπέρμα σου ὡς τὴν ἄμμον τῆς γῆς· εἰ δύναταί τις ἐξαριθμῆσαι τὴν ἄμμον τῆς γῆς, καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐξαριθμηθήσεται
Genesis 13:16 (NETS)	Genesis 13:16 (English Elpenor)
And I will make your offspring like the sand of the earth; if anyone can count the sand of the earth, your offspring also shall be counted.	And I will make thy seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered.

Genesis 13:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 13:17 (KJV)	Genesis 13:17 (NET)
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.’	Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.	Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”

Genesis 13:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 13:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀναστὰς διόδευσον τὴν γῆν εἴς τε τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ εἰς τὸ πλάτος ὅτι σοὶ δώσω αὐτήν	ἀναστὰς διόδευσον τὴν γῆν εἴς τε τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ εἰς τὸ πλάτος, ὅτι σοὶ δώσω αὐτὴν καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
Genesis 13:17 (NETS)	Genesis 13:17 (English Elpenor)
Rise up, pass through the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth, for I will give it to you.	Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Genesis 14:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 14:14 (KJV)	Genesis 14:14 (NET)
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.	And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.	When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he mobilized his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and he pursued the invaders as far as Dan.

Genesis 14:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 14:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκούσας δὲ Αβραμ ὅτι ᾐχμαλώτευται Λωτ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ἠρίθμησεν τοὺς ἰδίους οἰκογενεῗς αὐτοῦ τριακοσίους δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ καὶ κατεδίωξεν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἕως Δαν	ἀκούσας δὲ ῞Αβραμ ὅτι ᾐχμαλώτευται Λὼτ ὁ ἀδελφιδοῦς αὐτοῦ, ἠρίθμησε τοὺς ἰδίους οἰκογενεῖς αὐτοῦ, τριακοσίους δέκα καὶ ὀκτώ, καὶ κατεδίωξεν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἕως Δάν
Genesis 14:14 (NETS)	Genesis 14:14 (English Elpenor)
And when Abram heard that his kinsman Lot had been taken captive, he counted his homebreds, three hundred eighteen, and chased after them as far as Dan.	And Abram having heard that Lot his nephew had been taken captive, numbered his own home-born [servants] three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after them to Dan.

Genesis 15:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:3 (KJV)	Genesis 15:3 (NET)
And Abram said: ‘Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.’	And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.	Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”

Genesis 15:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Αβραμ ἐπειδὴ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἔδωκας σπέρμα ὁ δὲ οἰκογενής μου κληρονομήσει με	καὶ εἶπεν ῞Αβραμ· ἐπειδὴ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἔδωκας σπέρμα, ὁ δὲ οἰκογενής μου κληρονομήσει μοι
Genesis 15:3 (NETS)	Genesis 15:3 (English Elpenor)
And Abram said, “Since you have given me no offspring, my male homebred will be my heir.”	And Abram said, [I am grieved] since thou hast given me no seed, but my home-born [servant] shall succeed me.

Genesis 15:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:4 (KJV)	Genesis 15:4 (NET)
And, behold, the word of HaShem came unto him, saying: ‘This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.’	And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.	But look, the Lord’s message came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

Genesis 15:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εὐθὺς φωνὴ κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγων οὐ κληρονομήσει σε οὗτος ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἐξελεύσεται ἐκ σοῦ οὗτος κληρονομήσει σε	καὶ εὐθὺς φωνὴ Κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγουσα· οὐ κληρονομήσει σε οὗτος, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐξελεύσεται ἐκ σοῦ, οὗτος κληρονομήσει σε
Genesis 15:4 (NETS)	Genesis 15:4 (English Elpenor)
And immediately a divine voice came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who shall come out of you, he shall be your heir.”	And immediately there was a voice of the Lord to him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come out of thee shall be thine heir.

Genesis 15:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:5 (KJV)	Genesis 15:5 (NET)
And He brought him forth abroad, and said: ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them’; and He said unto him: ‘So shall thy seed be.’	And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.	The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”

Genesis 15:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐξήγαγεν δὲ αὐτὸν ἔξω καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀνάβλεψον δὴ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἀρίθμησον τοὺς ἀστέρας εἰ δυνήσῃ ἐξαριθμῆσαι αὐτούς καὶ εἶπεν οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου	ἐξήγαγε δὲ αὐτὸν ἔξω καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀνάβλεψον δὴ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἀρίθμησον τοὺς ἀστέρας, εἰ δυνήσῃ ἐξαριθμῆσαι αὐτούς. καὶ εἶπεν· οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου
Genesis 15:5 (NETS)	Genesis 15:5 (English Elpenor)
Then he brought him outside and said to him, “Look up to the sky, and number the stars, if you will be able to count them.” And he said, “So shall your offspring be.”	And he brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars, if thou shalt be able to number them fully, and he said, Thus shall thy seed be.

Genesis 15:9 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:9 (KJV)	Genesis 15:9 (NET)
And He said unto him: ‘Take Me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.’	And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.	The Lord said to him, “Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

Genesis 15:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ λαβέ μοι δάμαλιν τριετίζουσαν καὶ αἶγα τριετίζουσαν καὶ κριὸν τριετίζοντα καὶ τρυγόνα καὶ περιστεράν	εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ· λάβε μοι δάμαλιν τριετίζουσαν καὶ αἶγα τριετίζουσαν καὶ κριὸν τριετίζοντα καὶ τρυγόνα καὶ περιστεράν
Genesis 15:9 (NETS)	Genesis 15:9 (English Elpenor)
And he said to him, “Take for me a heifer three years old and a female goat three years old and a ram three years old and a turtledove and a dove.”	And he said to him, Take for me an heifer in her third year, and a she-goat in her third year, and a ram in his third year, and a dove and a pigeon.

Genesis 15:10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:10 (KJV)	Genesis 15:10 (NET)
And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other; but the birds divided he not.	And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.	So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half.

Genesis 15:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔλαβεν δὲ αὐτῷ πάντα ταῦτα καὶ διεῗλεν αὐτὰ μέσα καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὰ ἀντιπρόσωπα ἀλλήλοις τὰ δὲ ὄρνεα οὐ διεῗλεν	ἔλαβε δὲ αὐτῷ πάντα ταῦτα καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτὰ μέσα καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὰ ἀντιπρόσωπα ἀλλήλοις, τὰ δὲ ὄρνεα οὐ διεῖλε
Genesis 15:10 (NETS)	Genesis 15:10 (English Elpenor)
And he took for him all these and divided them in the middle and placed them facing one another, but he did not divide the birds.	So he took to him all these, and divided them in the midst, and set them opposite to each other, but the birds he did not divide.

Genesis 15:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:11 (KJV)	Genesis 15:11 (NET)
And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.	And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.	When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Genesis 15:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
κατέβη δὲ ὄρνεα ἐπὶ τὰ σώματα τὰ διχοτομήματα αὐτῶν καὶ συνεκάθισεν αὐτοῗς Αβραμ	κατέβη δὲ ὄρνεα ἐπὶ τὰ σώματα, ἐπὶ τὰ διχοτομήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ συνεκάθησεν αὐτοῖς ῞Αβραμ
Genesis 15:11 (NETS)	Genesis 15:11 (English Elpenor)
And birds came down on the carcasses, their cut halves, and Abram sat together with them.	And birds came down upon the bodies, [even] upon the divided parts of them, and Abram sat down by them.

Genesis 15:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:12 (KJV)	Genesis 15:12 (NET)
And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness, fell upon him.	And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.	When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him.

Genesis 15:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
περὶ δὲ ἡλίου δυσμὰς ἔκστασις ἐπέπεσεν τῷ Αβραμ καὶ ἰδοὺ φόβος σκοτεινὸς μέγας ἐπιπίπτει αὐτῷ	περὶ δὲ ἡλίου δυσμὰς ἔκστασις ἐπέπεσε τῷ ῞Αβραμ, καὶ ἰδοὺ φόβος σκοτεινὸς μέγας ἐπιπίπτει αὐτῷ
Genesis 15:12 (NETS)	Genesis 15:12 (English Elpenor)
Then about sunset a trance fell upon Abram, and look, a great dark fear was falling upon him.	And about sunset a trance fell upon Abram, and lo! a great gloomy terror falls upon him.

Genesis 15:13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:13 (KJV)	Genesis 15:13 (NET)
And He said unto Abram: ‘Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;	And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;	Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years.

Genesis 15:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐρρέθη πρὸς Αβραμ γινώσκων γνώσῃ ὅτι πάροικον ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐν γῇ οὐκ ἰδίᾳ καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ κακώσουσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ ταπεινώσουσιν αὐτοὺς τετρακόσια ἔτη	καὶ ἐρρέθη πρὸς ῞Αβραμ· γινώσκων γνώσῃ ὅτι πάροικον ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐν γῇ οὐκ ἰδίᾳ, καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ κακώσουσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ ταπεινώσουσιν αὐτοὺς τετρακόσια ἔτη
Genesis 15:13 (NETS)	Genesis 15:13 (English Elpenor)
And it was said to Abram, “Knowledgeably you shall know that your offspring shall be alien in a land not its own, and they shall enslave them and maltreat them and humble them for four hundred years.	And it was said to Abram, Thou shalt surely know that thy seed shall be a sojourner in a land not their own, and they shall enslave them, and afflict them, and humble them four hundred years.

Genesis 15:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:14 (KJV)	Genesis 15:14 (NET)
and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance.	And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.	But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions.

Genesis 15:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὸ δὲ ἔθνος ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσωσιν κρινῶ ἐγώ μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐξελεύσονται ὧδε μετὰ ἀποσκευῆς πολλῆς	τὸ δὲ ἔθνος, ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσωσι, κρινῶ ἐγώ· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐξελεύσονται ὧδε μετὰ ἀποσκευῆς πολλῆς
Genesis 15:14 (NETS)	Genesis 15:14 (English Elpenor)
But I will judge the nation that they are subject to; then aterward they shall come out here with much baggage.	And the nation whomsoever they shall serve I will judge; and after this, they shall come forth hither with much property.

Genesis 15:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:15 (KJV)	Genesis 15:15 (NET)
But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.	And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.	But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.

Genesis 15:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
σὺ δὲ ἀπελεύσῃ πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας σου μετ᾽ εἰρήνης ταφεὶς ἐν γήρει καλῷ	σὺ δὲ ἀπελεύσῃ πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ, τραφεὶς ἐν γήρᾳ καλῷ
Genesis 15:15 (NETS)	Genesis 15:15 (English Elpenor)
Now as for yourself, you shall depart to your fathers in peace, buried in a good old age.	But thou shalt depart to thy fathers in peace, nourished in a good old age.

Genesis 15:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:16 (KJV)	Genesis 15:16 (NET)
And in the fourth generation they shall come back hither; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.’	But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.	In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”

Genesis 15:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τετάρτη δὲ γενεὰ ἀποστραφήσονται ὧδε οὔπω γὰρ ἀναπεπλήρωνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι τῶν Αμορραίων ἕως τοῦ νῦν	τετάρτῃ δὲ γενεᾷ ἀποστραφήσονται ὧδε· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναπεπλήρωνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι τῶν ᾿Αμορραίων ἕως τοῦ νῦν
Genesis 15:16 (NETS)	Genesis 15:16 (English Elpenor)
Then in the fourth generation they shall brought back here, for the sins of the Amorites are not yet, to the present, filled up.	And in the fourth generation they shall return hither, for the sins of the Amorites are not yet filled up, even until now.

Genesis 15:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:17 (KJV)	Genesis 15:17 (NET)
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and there was thick darkness, behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.	And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.	When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts.

Genesis 15:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐγίνετο ὁ ἥλιος πρὸς δυσμαῗς φλὸξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἰδοὺ κλίβανος καπνιζόμενος καὶ λαμπάδες πυρός αἳ διῆλθον ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν διχοτομημάτων τούτων	ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ ἥλιος ἐγένετο πρὸς δυσμάς, φλὸξ ἐγένετο, καὶ ἰδοὺ κλίβανος καπνιζόμενος καὶ λαμπάδες πυρός, αἳ διῆλθον ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν διχοτομημάτων τούτων
Genesis 15:17 (NETS)	Genesis 15:17 (English Elpenor)
Now after the sun began to appear in the west, a flame appeared, and look, a smoking oven and torches of fire that passed through between these cut halves.	And when the sun was about to set, there was a flame, and behold a smoking furnace and lamps of fire, which passed between these divided pieces.

Genesis 15:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:18 (KJV)	Genesis 15:18 (NET)
In that day HaShem made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates;	In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:	That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River—

Genesis 15:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διέθετο κύριος τῷ Αβραμ διαθήκην λέγων τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου ποταμοῦ Εὐφράτου	ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διέθετο Κύριος τῷ ῞Αβραμ διαθήκην λέγων· τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην, ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, ποταμοῦ Εὐφράτου
Genesis 15:18 (NETS)	Genesis 15:18 (English Elpenor)
On that say the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I will give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:	In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To thy seed I will give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.

Genesis 15:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:19 (KJV)	Genesis 15:19 (NET)
the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,	The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,	the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

Genesis 15:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοὺς Καιναίους καὶ τοὺς Κενεζαίους καὶ τοὺς Κεδμωναίους	τοὺς Κεναίους καὶ τοὺς Κενεζαίους καὶ τούς Κεδμωναίους
Genesis 15:19 (NETS)	Genesis 15:19 (English Elpenor)
the Kenites and the Kenezites and the Kedmonites	The Kenites, and the Kenezites, and the Kedmoneans,

Genesis 15:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:20 (KJV)	Genesis 15:20 (NET)
and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,	And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,	Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

Genesis 15:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τοὺς Χετταίους καὶ τοὺς Φερεζαίους καὶ τοὺς Ραφαϊν	καὶ τοὺς Χετταίους καὶ τοὺς Φερεζαίους καὶ Ραφαεὶν
Genesis 15:20 (NETS)	Genesis 15:20 (English Elpenor)
and the Chettites and the Pherezites and the Rhaphain	and the Chettites, and the Pherezites, and the Raphaim,

Genesis 15:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 15:21 (KJV)	Genesis 15:21 (NET)
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.’	And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.	Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Genesis 15:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 15:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τοὺς Αμορραίους καὶ τοὺς Χαναναίους καὶ τοὺς Ευαίους καὶ τοὺς Γεργεσαίους καὶ τοὺς Ιεβουσαίους	καὶ τοὺς Ἀμορραίους καὶ τοὺς Χαναναίους καὶ τοὺς Εὐαίους καὶ τοὺς Γεργεσαίους καὶ τοὺς Ἰεβουσαίους
Genesis 15:21 (NETS)	Genesis 15:21 (English Elpenor)
and the Amorites and the Chananites and the Heuites and the Gergesites and the Iebousites.”	and the Amorites, and the Chananites, and the Evites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.

Romans 4:9 (NET)	Romans 4:9 (KJV)
Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”	Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὁ μακαρισμὸς οὖν οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν περιτομὴν ἢ καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκροβυστίαν; λέγομεν γάρ· ἐλογίσθη τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἡ πίστις εἰς δικαιοσύνην	ο μακαρισμος ουν ουτος επι την περιτομην η και επι την ακροβυστιαν λεγομεν γαρ οτι ελογισθη τω αβρααμ η πιστις εις δικαιοσυνην	ο μακαρισμος ουν ουτος επι την περιτομην η και επι την ακροβυστιαν λεγομεν γαρ οτι ελογισθη τω αβρααμ η πιστις εις δικαιοσυνην

Mark 9:17 (NET)	Mark 9:17 (KJV)
A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.	And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ εἷς ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου· διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου πρὸς σέ, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον	και αποκριθεις εις εκ του οχλου ειπεν διδασκαλε ηνεγκα τον υιον μου προς σε εχοντα πνευμα αλαλον	και αποκριθεις εις εκ του οχλου ειπεν διδασκαλε ηνεγκα τον υιον μου προς σε εχοντα πνευμα αλαλον

Mark 9:20 (NET)	Mark 9:20 (KJV)
So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.	And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν τὸ πνεῦμα εὐθὺς συνεσπάραξεν αὐτόν, καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων	και ηνεγκαν αυτον προς αυτον και ιδων αυτον ευθεως το πνευμα εσπαραξεν αυτον και πεσων επι της γης εκυλιετο αφριζων	και ηνεγκαν αυτον προς αυτον και ιδων αυτον ευθεως το πνευμα εσπαραξεν αυτον και πεσων επι της γης εκυλιετο αφριζων

Mark 9:22-24 (NET)	Mark 9:22-24 (KJV)
It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”	And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ πολλάκις καὶ εἰς πῦρ αὐτὸν ἔβαλεν καὶ εἰς ὕδατα ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν· ἀλλ᾿ εἴ τι δύνῃ, βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς	και πολλακις αυτον και εις πυρ εβαλεν και εις υδατα ινα απολεση αυτον αλλ ει τι δυνασαι βοηθησον ημιν σπλαγχνισθεις εφ ημας	και πολλακις αυτον και εις το πυρ εβαλεν και εις υδατα ινα απολεση αυτον αλλ ει τι δυνασαι βοηθησον ημιν σπλαγχνισθεις εφ ημας

Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τὸ εἰ δύνῃ, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι	ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω το ει δυνασαι πιστευσαι παντα δυνατα τω πιστευοντι	ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω το ει δυνασαι πιστευσαι παντα δυνατα τω πιστευοντι

Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εὐθὺς κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου ἔλεγεν· πιστεύω· βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ	και ευθεως κραξας ο πατηρ του παιδιου μετα δακρυων ελεγεν πιστευω κυριε βοηθει μου τη απιστια	και ευθεως κραξας ο πατηρ του παιδιου μετα δακρυων ελεγεν πιστευω κυριε βοηθει μου τη απιστια

Romans 4:12 (NET)	Romans 4:12 (KJV)
And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.	And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ	και πατερα περιτομης τοις ουκ εκ περιτομης μονον αλλα και τοις στοιχουσιν τοις ιχνεσιν της εν τη ακροβυστια πιστεως του πατρος ημων αβρααμ	και πατερα περιτομης τοις ουκ εκ περιτομης μονον αλλα και τοις στοιχουσιν τοις ιχνεσιν της πιστεως της εν τη ακροβυστια του πατρος ημων αβρααμ

Romans, Part 20

Back to Romans, Part 21

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 84

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 8

Back to Fear – Numbers, Part 3

Back to Fear – Numbers, Part 4

Back to Psalm 22, Part 10

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 1

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 3

¹ Romans 4:9a (NET)

² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had οτι (KJV: that) preceding faith. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³ Romans 4:9b (NET)

⁴ Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table
Addendum 6/27/2021: The NET translation no longer reads proof of genuine loyalty.

⁵ Romans 4:10a (NET)

⁶ Genesis 12:7 (NET)

⁷ Genesis 13:8, 9 (NET)

⁸ Genesis 13:14-17 (NET)

⁹ Genesis 14:14 (NET)

¹⁰ Genesis 15:1 (NET) Table

¹¹ Genesis 15:2, 3 (NET)

¹² THE PENTATEUCH PART I: GENESIS / LESSON 9: Genesis 15:1- 17:27 / The Story of Abraham Continues: The Divine Promises Embodied in a Divine Covenant

¹³ Genesis 15:6 (NKJV) Table
Addendum 6/28/2021: This would have made more sense if I had quoted And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (English Elpenor). I may have been a bit catty here (Addendum to Footnote⁴ above).

¹⁴ Romans 4:10b (NET)

¹⁵ Genesis 15:7, 8 (NET)

¹⁶ Mark 9:17 (NET)

¹⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εὐθὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ευθεως (KJV: straightway).

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συνεσπάραξεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εσπαραξεν (KJV: tare).

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δύνῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δυνασαι (KJV: thou canst do).

²⁰ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had δύνῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δυνασαι πιστευσαι (KJV: thou canst believe).

²¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εὐθὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και ευθεως (KJV: And straightway).

²² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μετα δακρυων (KJV: with tears) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κυριε (KJV: Lord) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ Mark 9:20-24 (NET)

²⁵ The Byzantine Majority Text had the article της preceding faith. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

²⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τη preceding uncircumcised. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

Romans, Part 18

Posted on September 26, 2012 by admin

What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor¹ according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? Paul continued. For if Abraham was declared righteous (ἐδικαιώθη, a form of δικαιόω) by the works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) of the law,² he has something to boast about – but not before God.³ For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed (ἐπίστευσεν, a form of πιστεύω) God, and it was credited (ἐλογίσθη, a form of λογίζομαι) to him as righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη).”⁴ But James asked, Was not Abraham our father justified (ἐδικαιώθη, a form of δικαιόω) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?⁵

Jesus said, the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life.⁶ The gateway between Paul and James here is certainly narrow, and I for one have had a difficult time finding my way. But there is a pathway between them. It is found in the letter to the Hebrews, By faith (Πίστει, a form of πίστις) Abraham, when he was tested (πειραζόμενος, a form of πειράζω), offered up Isaac.⁷ The writer of Hebrews explained, He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son. God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” and he reasoned (λογισάμενος, another form of λογίζομαι) that God could even raise him from the dead.⁸ Abraham’s faith changed his thoughts and made him willing to sacrifice his son. An angel stopped him before he completed the deed, by the way.

So I have something like this:

…the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life…

Matthew 7:14a (NET)

Paul

Hebrews

James

For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God.

Romans 4:2 (NET)

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.

Hebrews 11:17a (NET)

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

James 2:21 (NET)

So I think the answer to James’ question is that Abraham was justified by a faith that produced the willingness to offer up Isaac on the altar. And this accords better with his point as he continued: You see that his faith (πίστις) was working together (συνήργει, a form of συνεργέω) with his works (ἔργοις, another form of ἔργον) and his faith (πίστις) was perfected (ἐτελειώθη, a form of τελειόω) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον). And the scripture was fulfilled (ἐπληρώθη, a form of πληρόω) that says, “Now Abraham believed (ἐπίστευσεν, a form of πιστεύω) God and it was counted (ἐλογίσθη, a form of λογίζομαι) to him for righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη),” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified (δικαιοῦται, another form of δικαιόω) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) and not by faith (πίστεως, another form of πίστις) alone (μόνον, a form of μόνος) [Table].⁹ And by faith alone (εκ πιστεως μονον) James meant a faith that does not produce works, or acts of obedience. It is by James’ own definition a dead faith, faith (πίστις) without works¹⁰ (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) is dead (νεκρά, a form of νεκρός).¹¹

James concern was for the poor. If¹² a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?¹³ The Jerusalem church had a communal economy.¹⁴ The temptation to favor the rich was almost overwhelming.¹⁵ The poor brought more mouths to feed; the rich brought the wherewithal to feed them, potentially. It is not too hard to imagine that the work of faith James most longed for was that those with private wealth would turn it over to church control. It is unfortunate, or perhaps divinely appointed, that James chose Abraham as his illustration, since God restrained Abraham from bringing his faith to completion, or perfection, in this particular case.¹⁶

God was satisfied with the demonstration of Abraham’s willingness to obey Him. And I think that was Paul’s point, that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.¹⁷ What Abraham did, the acts he performed, are written for any to read.¹⁸ Some would not measure up to righteousness by the works of the law as any Pharisee of Paul’s day would understand it. But credited righteousness is real righteousness, the righteousness of God, freely given and meant to be spent freely on the good works (ἔργοις, another form of ἔργον) that God prepared beforehand (προητοίμασεν, a form of προετοιμάζω) so we may do (περιπατήσωμεν, a form of περιπατέω) them,¹⁹ or walk in them, or live them.

And James wasn’t wrong. Giving money was the first symptom I recognized in me of faith and righteousness. Money can be counted. I could see that as I gave more money I never lacked for what I needed or for more to give. That kept me going when other things looked bleak, until I could see my way clear to trust God with more weighty things, like righteousness.

Paul continued, Now to the one who works (ἐργαζομένῳ, a form of ἐργάζομαι), his pay is not credited (λογίζεται, another form of λογίζομαι) due to grace (χάριν, a form of χάρις) but due to obligation²⁰ (ὀφείλημα). But to the one who does not work (ἐργαζομένῳ, a form of ἐργάζομαι), but believes (πιστεύοντι, another form of πιστεύω) in the one who declares the ungodly (ἀσεβῆ, a form of ἀσεβής) righteous (δικαιοῦντα, another form of δικαιόω), his faith (πίστις) is credited (λογίζεται, another form of λογίζομαι) as righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη).²¹

In the past the wrath of God [was] revealed from heaven against all ungodliness (ἀσέβειαν, a form of ἀσέβεια) and unrighteousness (ἀδικίαν, a form of ἀδικία) of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness (ἀδικίᾳ, another form of ἀδικία).²² In the Gospel through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe²³ God declares the ungodly (ἀσεβῆ, a form of ἀσεβής) righteous (δικαιοῦντα, another form of δικαιόω). And I believe that is what Paul thought happened to Abraham as well, that Abraham was declared righteous by God, received the righteousness of God, and was rendered willing to obey God. Otherwise, if Abraham obeyed God by his own work, by his own effort, he was fully entitled according to Paul to boast before God.

So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits (λογίζεται, another form of λογίζομαι) righteousness (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) apart from works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) [Table], Paul continued: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds (ἀνομίαι, a form of ἀνομία) are forgiven (ἀφέθησαν, a form of ἀφίημι), and whose sins (ἁμαρτίαι, a form of ἁμαρτία) are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count (λογίσηται, another form of λογίζομαι) sin (ἁμαρτίαν, another form of ἁμαρτία) [Table].”²⁴ When the truth of this finally sunk in I was simultaneously elated and crushed.

Later in Romans Paul wrote, each of us will give an account (λόγον, a form of λόγος) of himself to God.²⁵ If I believed nothing else in the Bible I believed this verse. And I took it for granted that I would give an account for my sins, why I committed them and what I had done to make amends for them, and what I had done to stop committing them. It wasn’t until I compared the Greek words λόγον (an account, as in give an account) and what is called its “middle voice” λογίσηται (count, as in the Lord will never count sin) that it dawned on me what Paul was saying: My sins were off the table, not open to discussion. Great! Now what do I do with myself?

It didn’t take too long after that to realize that my life was actually about knowing God from my perspective, and the absent-minded, insignificant kindnesses that overflowed from the righteousness of God that had been credited to me from God’s perspective, just like Jesus said (Matthew 25:31-46 NET).

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels²⁶ with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled²⁷ before him, and he will separate²⁸ people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me [Table].” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you [Table]?” And the king will answer them, “I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.”

Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they too will answer,²⁹ “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?” Then he will answer them, “I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.” And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Addendum: June 7, 2021
According to a note (5) in the NET Romans 4:3b is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quote with the Septuagint follows.

Romans 4:3b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν ῞Αβραμ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
Romans 4:3b (NET)	Genesis 15:6 (NETS)	Genesis 15:6 (English Elpenor)
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.	And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.	And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

According to a note (22) in the NET Hebrews 11:18b is a quotation from Genesis 21:12. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quote with the Septuagint follows.

Hebrews 11:18b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 21:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ἐν Ἰσαὰκ κληθήσεται σοι σπέρμα	ὅτι ἐν Ισαακ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα	ὅτι ἐν ᾿Ισαὰκ κληθήσεταί σοι σπέρμα
Hebrews 11:18b (NET)	Genesis 21:12b (NETS)	Genesis 21:12b (English Elpenor)
Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name	for in Isaak offspring shall be named for you	for in Isaac shall thy seed be called

According to a note (36) in the NET James 2:23b is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quote with the Septuagint follows.

James 2:23b (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Genesis 15:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην	καὶ ἐπίστευσεν ῞Αβραμ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
James 2:23b (NET)	Genesis 15:6 (NETS)	Genesis 15:6 (English Elpenor)
Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness	And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.	And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Tables comparing Romans 4:1, 2; James 2:26; 2:15; Romans 4:4; 14:12; Matthew 25:31, 32 and 25:44 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 4:1, 2 (NET)	Romans 4:1, 2 (KJV)
What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?	What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν \|εὑρηκέναι\| Ἀβραὰμ τὸν προπάτορα ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα	τι ουν ερουμεν αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων ευρηκεναι κατα σαρκα	τι ουν ερουμεν αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων ευρηκεναι κατα σαρκα

For if Abraham was declared righteous by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἰ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ἔχει καύχημα (ἀλλ᾿ οὐ πρὸς θεόν)	ει γαρ αβρααμ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη εχει καυχημα αλλ ου προς τον θεον	ει γαρ αβρααμ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη εχει καυχημα αλλ ου προς τον θεον

James 2:26 (NET)	James 2:26 (KJV)
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.	For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὥσπερ \|γὰρ\| τὸ σῶμα χωρὶς πνεύματος νεκρόν ἐστιν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν	ωσπερ γαρ το σωμα χωρις πνευματος νεκρον εστιν ουτως και η πιστις χωρις των εργων νεκρα εστιν	ωσπερ γαρ το σωμα χωρις πνευματος νεκρον εστιν ουτως και η πιστις χωρις των εργων νεκρα εστιν

James 2:15 (NET)	James 2:15 (KJV)
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,	If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐὰν ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἀδελφὴ γυμνοὶ ὑπάρχωσιν καὶ λειπόμενοι τῆς ἐφημέρου τροφῆς	εαν δε αδελφος η αδελφη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν και λειπομενοι ωσιν της εφημερου τροφης	εαν δε αδελφος η αδελφη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν και λειπομενοι ωσιν της εφημερου τροφης

Romans 4:4 (NET)	Romans 4:4 (KJV)
Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.	Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τῷ δὲ ἐργαζομένῳ ὁ μισθὸς οὐ λογίζεται κατὰ χάριν ἀλλὰ κατὰ ὀφείλημα	τω δε εργαζομενω ο μισθος ου λογιζεται κατα χαριν αλλα κατα το οφειλημα	τω δε εργαζομενω ο μισθος ου λογιζεται κατα χαριν αλλα κατα οφειλημα

Romans 14:12 (NET)	Romans 14:12 (KJV)
Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.	So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἄρα [οὖν] ἕκαστος ἡμῶν περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λόγον δώσει	αρα ουν εκαστος ημων περι εαυτου λογον δωσει τω θεω	αρα ουν εκαστος ημων περι εαυτου λογον δωσει τω θεω

Matthew 25:31, 32 (NET)	Matthew 25:31, 32 (KJV)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.	When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ	οταν δε ελθη ο υιος του ανθρωπου εν τη δοξη αυτου και παντες οι αγιοι αγγελοι μετ αυτου τοτε καθισει επι θρονου δοξης αυτου	οταν δε ελθη ο υιος του ανθρωπου εν τη δοξη αυτου και παντες οι αγιοι αγγελοι μετ αυτου τοτε καθισει επι θρονου δοξης αυτου

All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ συναχθήσονται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφορίσει αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων, ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων	και συναχθησεται εμπροσθεν αυτου παντα τα εθνη και αφοριει αυτους απ αλληλων ωσπερ ο ποιμην αφοριζει τα προβατα απο των εριφων	και συναχθησεται εμπροσθεν αυτου παντα τα εθνη και αφοριει αυτους απ αλληλων ωσπερ ο ποιμην αφοριζει τα προβατα απο των εριφων

Matthew 25:44 (NET)	Matthew 25:44 (KJV)
Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’	Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
τότε ἀποκριθήσονται καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμεν σοι	τοτε αποκριθησονται αυτω και αυτοι λεγοντες κυριε ποτε σε ειδομεν πεινωντα η διψωντα η ξενον η γυμνον η ασθενη η εν φυλακη και ου διηκονησαμεν σοι	τοτε αποκριθησονται και αυτοι λεγοντες κυριε ποτε σε ειδομεν πεινωντα η διψωντα η ξενον η γυμνον η ασθενη η εν φυλακη και ου διηκονησαμεν σοι

Romans, Part 19

Back to The Life

Back to Justice, Vengeance and Punishment

Back to You Must Be Gentle, Part 3

Back to Antichrist, Part 1

Back to Antichrist, Part 5

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 9

Back to Romans, Part 49

Back to My Reasons and My Reason, Part 6

Back to Romans, Part 69

Back to Romans, Part 89

Back to Atonement, Part 2

Back to Romans, Part 87

Back to Atonement, Part 3

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 13

Back to Romans, Part 81

Back to Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 1

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 7

Back to Christianity, Part 1

Back to Christianity, Part 2

Back to Nothing True, Part 2

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προπάτορα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πατερα (KJV: father).

² The translators added of the law for clarity. It is what Paul wrote about, For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law (ἐξ ἔργων νόμου)… Romans 3:20a (NET)

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τον preceding God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁴ Romans 4:1-3 (NET)

⁵ James 2:21 (NET) This is the one hint that tempts me to assume that James thought he was correcting Paul. The phrase εξ εργων εδικαιωθη (justified or declared righteous by works) is identical in both Romans 4:2 and James 2:21.

⁶ Matthew 7:14a (NET) Table

⁷ Hebrews 11:17a (NET)

⁸ Hebrews 11:17b-19a (NET)

⁹ James 2:22-24 (NET)

¹⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article των preceding works. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹¹ James 2:26b (NET)

¹² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹³ James 2:15, 16 (NET)

¹⁴ Acts 2:43-45 (NET)

¹⁵ James 2:1-13 (NET)

¹⁶ Genesis 22:10-18 (NET)

¹⁷ Romans 4:3 (NET)

¹⁸ Genesis 11:27-25:11

¹⁹ Epehesians 2:10b (NET)

²⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το preceding obligation (KJV: debt). The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

²¹ Romans 4:4, 5 (NET)

²² Romans 1:18 (NET)

²³ Romans 3:22 (NET) Table

²⁴ Romans 4:6-8 (NET)

²⁵ Romans 14:12 (NET) The NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τῷ θεῷ here. The NET parallel Greek text did not.

²⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αγιοι (KJV: holy) preceding angels. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συναχθήσονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συναχθησεται (KJV: shall be gathered).

²⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἀφορίσει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αφοριει (KJV: he shall separate).

²⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτω (KJV: him) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

Romans, Part 17

Posted on September 18, 2012 by admin

Where, then, is boasting? Paul continued in Romans. It is excluded! By what principle (νόμου, a form of νόμος)? Of works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον)? No, but by the principle (νόμου, a form of νόμος) of faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις)! For¹ we consider (λογιζόμεθα, a form of λογίζομαι) that a person is declared righteous (δικαιοῦσθαι, a form of δικαιόω) by faith (πίστει, another form of πίστις) apart from the works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) of the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος).² The NET translators chose principle for the first two occurrences of νόμου (a form of νόμος) in this passage to help the reader distinguish between the “law of faith” that excludes boasting and the works of the law, one’s own efforts to keep God’s law.

It is virtually impossible for me to quote the above passage without recalling James’ letter, a person is justified (δικαιοῦται, another form of δικαιόω) by works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) and not by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) alone (μόνον, a form of μόνος).³ I’ve often wondered if James intended to refute or correct Paul. But James didn’t write enough that I can know his intent. So I content myself with attempting to understand the Holy Spirit’s intent. He wrote quite a bit about this subject.

Or is God the God of the Jews only? Paul asked. Is he not the God of the Gentiles too?⁴ Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is one, he will justify (δικαιώσει, another form of δικαιόω) the circumcised by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) and the uncircumcised through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) [Table].⁵ It seemed to me that the Holy Spirit’s intent would of necessity be something that both Paul and James described truthfully and accurately. Paul continued to preach justification by and through faith, James stressed works and that one was not justified by faith alone (πιστεως μονον).

I recalled a story when Peter saw, what he thought was, a ghost walking on the water. Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid,⁶ Jesus said. Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”⁷ I had heard the story since childhood, but for some reason as I was striving to obey God’s law in my own strength it struck me what a dumb thing that was to say. Why would anyone in his right mind set himself up for that kind of failure? And just as I asked the question, the answer was right in front of me. Peter believed that Jesus’ command would come to pass. If Jesus ordered him to walk on water, he would walk on water. It was a wonderful insight. I could turn back to Exodus 20 and read The Ten Promises as opposed to the ten commandments I was trying so hard to obey on my own, not to mention all of Jesus’ other commandments.

I went off sure that I understood everything now, found out again that I didn’t, and then came back to this story. So [Jesus] said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came⁸ toward Jesus.⁹ Peter may have had that kind of faith, I thought, obviously I did not. But even Peter didn’t fare all that well, when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”¹⁰ So Peter, just like me, got all excited about faith and then made a fool out of himself.

Jesus wouldn’t let me get away with that for very long. I heard a sermon about this story, not a sermon browbeating me to have more faith and stop doubting, a good one. When the preacher read the text—Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”¹¹—this preacher’s attention wasn’t focused on Peter’s failure but on Jesus’ immediate help. Then he said the most revolutionary, life-changing thing I had heard to date, “Jesus had the faith to stand on the water and hold Peter up as well.”

The preacher kept talking but I didn’t hear any more that day. The sermon wasn’t over for me, however. It had only just begun. “You weren’t making fun of Peter, were you?” I prayed. Then Jesus’ question— why did you doubt?—became a real question, my question—Why do I doubt?—and it deserved a real answer. I don’t recall how long it took to get to the bottom of that question, but finally the answer was fairly simple and obvious. I doubted because I was depending on my faith. My faith was pretty good at changing what I thought, but not so good at changing what I did, much less having any effect on the world beyond my mind.

That sounded pretty much like James’ faith alone (πιστεως μονον). So also faith (πίστις), if it does not have works (ἔργα, another form of ἔργον), is dead (νεκρά, a form of νεκρός) being by itself.¹² But Paul didn’t write the Romans about that kind of faith, Do we then nullify (καταργοῦμεν, a form of καταργέω) the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος) through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις)? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold (ἱστάνομεν, a form of ἵστημι or ἱστάνω) [See Addendum below] the law (νόμον, another form of νόμος).¹³ Clearly, my faith was dead, being by itself alone. My efforts to obey the law, my works of the law, by my dead faith were meaningless.

I danced around that conclusion for a long time because my religious mind had me convinced that if I acknowledged its truth I would be condemned, rather than that I would have learned something extremely valuable. It is no idle word that Paul proclaimed, There is therefore now no condemnation (κατάκριμα) for those who are in Christ Jesus.¹⁴ I want to call this the absolute baseline of faith in Jesus Christ. Apart from this faith no one can be honest enough to learn anything from the Lord or the Bible.

So if I can’t depend on my faith, whose faith can I depend on? I hope the answer is obvious. I want to depend on Jesus’ faith. He has the faith to stand on the water and hold Peter up as well. How can I have Jesus’ faith? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (πίστις)…¹⁵ And that is exactly what Paul wrote about in Romans, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God through the faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Jesus Christ for all who believe (πιστεύοντας, a form of πιστεύω).¹⁶

Addendum: May 23, 2021
According to the NET ἱστάνομεν (NET: uphold) is a form of ἵστημι. According to the Koine Greek Lexicon online it is a form of ἱστάνω. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιστωμεν (KJV: establish) here.

Tables comparing Romans 3:28; 3:29 and Matthew 14:29 in the NET and KJV follow.

Romans 3:28 (NET)	Romans 3:28 (KJV)
For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.	Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
λογιζόμεθα γὰρ δικαιοῦσθαι πίστει ἄνθρωπον χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου	λογιζομεθα ουν πιστει δικαιουσθαι ανθρωπον χωρις εργων νομου	λογιζομεθα ουν πιστει δικαιουσθαι ανθρωπον χωρις εργων νομου

Romans 3:29 (NET)	Romans 3:29 (KJV)
Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!	Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἢ Ἰουδαίων ὁ θεὸς μόνον; οὐχὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν; ναὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν	η ιουδαιων ο θεος μονον ουχι δε και εθνων ναι και εθνων	η ιουδαιων ο θεος μονον ουχι δε και εθνων ναι και εθνων

Matthew 14:29 (NET)	Matthew 14:29 (KJV)
So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.	And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἐλθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου [ὁ] Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν	ο δε ειπεν ελθε και καταβας απο του πλοιου ο πετρος περιεπατησεν επι τα υδατα ελθειν προς τον ιησουν	ο δε ειπεν ελθε και καταβας απο του πλοιου ο πετρος περιεπατησεν επι τα υδατα ελθειν προς τον ιησουν

Romans, Part 18

Back to Romans, Part 26

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Romans, Part 36

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 3

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 56

Back to Romans, Part 82

Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited – Part 2

Back to Who Am I? Part 4

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 4

Back to Sowing to the Flesh, Part 2

Back to Hypocrisy

Back to Believers

Back to A Door of Hope, Part 1

Back to Father, Forgive Them – Part 6

Back to Psalm 22, Part 5

Back to Romans, Part 41

Back to Language

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 3

Back to Nothing True, Part 3

Back to Christianity, Part 10

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 3

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γὰρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουν (KJV: Therefore).

² Romans 3:27, 28 (NET)

³ James 2:24 (NET) Table

⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε και (KJV: also) here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had simply καὶ.

⁵ Romans 3:29, 30 (NET)

⁶ Matthew 14:27 (NET)

⁷ Matthew 14:28 (NET)

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἦλθεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελθειν (KJV: to go).

⁹ Matthew 14:29 (NET)

¹⁰ Matthew 14:30 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 14:31 (NET)

¹² James 2:17 (NET)

¹³ Romans 3:31 (NET) Table

¹⁴ Romans 8:1 (NET) Table

¹⁵ Galatians 5:22 (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 3:22 (NET) Table

Romans, Part 16

Posted on September 11, 2012 by admin

I want to begin this essay with Psalm 143:8-12 (NET):

May I hear about your loyal love (ḥeseḏ, חסדך,; Septuagint: ἔλεός) in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord! I run to you for protection. Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence (rûaḥ, רוחך; Septuagint: πνεῦμά) lead me into a level land. O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me! Because of your justice (ṣᵊḏāqâ, בצדקתך; Septuagint: δικαιοσύνῃ), rescue me from trouble! As a demonstration of your loyal love (ḥeseḏ, ובחסדך,; Septuagint: ἐλέει, a form of ἔλεος), destroy my enemies! Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.

David was probably considering other human enemies, but in this context I think it’s important to view things through the eyes of the cartoon character Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”¹ I hear the Mission Impossible theme in my imagination: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Clearly, sinner that I am, I am my own worst enemy. How can I be destroyed, annihilated, rescued and revived?

But now apart from the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), Paul continued his letter to the Romans, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God (which is attested by the law [νόμου, a form of νόμος] and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) of God through the faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Jesus Christ for all who believe (πιστεύοντας, a form of πιστεύω) [Table].² The righteousness of God as I see it these days is nothing less than the love that fulfills the law which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It might be more than that. My journey doesn’t fill me with confidence that I can say I have the final word on something. But it cannot be less.

I know that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law, For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works (ἔργων, a form of ἔργον) of the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος).³ My own experience has confirmed over and over again that as I attempted to keep God’s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin, for through the law comes the knowledge (ἐπίγνωσις) of sin.⁴ Only with God’s righteousness, the love that fulfills the law by the fruit of His Spirit, is it possible for me to say with Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”⁵ For there is no distinction [Table], Paul continued, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified (δικαιούμενοι, another form of δικαιόω) freely (δωρεάν) by his grace (χάριτι, a form of χάρις) through the redemption (ἀπολυτρώσεως, a form of ἀπολύτρωσις) that is in Christ Jesus.⁶

I didn’t see that at first because I had separated Christ’s redemption or justification, spending eternity in heaven as opposed to the lake of fire, from righteousness. Redemption or justification was God’s doing, the “finished work of Christ.” Righteousness was my obedience to Christ and the law.

Paul continued, God publicly displayed [Christ Jesus] at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις). This was to demonstrate his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη), because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) in the present time, so that he would be just (δίκαιον, a form of δίκαιος) and the justifier (δικαιοῦντα, another form of δικαιόω) of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) [Table].⁷

I was all for God’s vindication. He had put up with more than enough from me. If Jesus’ death demonstrated his righteousness and made it so he would be just (or, righteous) and the justifier, that was a good thing. And these verses do stand as a pithy declaration of the “finished work of Christ.”

The mercy seat was discussed more in the letter to the Hebrews. I don’t know who wrote it. I thought it was Paul, at first. The more I read Paul’s other letters it seemed it was someone else, someone who knew Paul and his teaching but lacked his style. The writer of Hebrews’ amplification on what it meant to be publicly displayed…at his death as the mercy seat follows (Hebrews 9:2-5a, 6-8, 11, 12, 15 NET):

For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. And above the ark were the cherubim⁸ of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…. So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually⁹ into the outer tent as they perform their duties. But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation [Table], and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption….And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

So I thought my life consisted of bringing my sacrifice, my faith, to church every Sunday, confessing my sins for the week and going home and trying to do better next week. [T]he person who fears (φοβούμενος, a form of φοβέω) [God] and does (ἐργαζόμενος, a form of ἐργάζομαι) what is right (δικαιοσύνην, a form of δικαιοσύνη) is welcomed (δεκτός) before him.¹⁰ And this is the time in my life when I could only distinguish myself from a Pharisee by the fact that I went to church on Sunday instead of synagogue on Saturday, ate ham for Easter rather than lamb for Passover, and by and large the Pharisee was much better at it than I was. It was a hard truth to recognize and accept. For I tell you, Jesus said, unless your righteousness (δικαιοσύνη) goes (περισσεύσῃ, a form of περισσεύω) beyond (πλεῖον, a form of πλείων) that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.¹¹

Still, I don’t think I could have skipped this step. This was where I learned that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law. It was during this time, years too embarrassing to number, that my own experience confirmed that as I attempted to keep God’s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin. If someone reads this who is there now, and needs to be there, he needs to hate me, ignore what I’ve written and continue serving God. But if someone is ready to move on, well, I’m not necessary, but I would like to help if I can.

Addendum: May 3, 2021
Tables comparing Psalm 143:8; 143:9; 143:10; 143:11 and 143:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 143:8 (142:8); 143:9 (142:9); 143:10 (142:10); 143:11 (142:11) and 143:12 (142:12) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Hebrews 9:5, 6 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:8 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:8 (KJV)	Psalm 143:8 (NET)
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.	Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.	May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you.

Psalm 143:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκουστὸν ποίησόν μοι τὸ πρωὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα γνώρισόν μοι κύριε ὁδὸν ἐν ᾗ πορεύσομαι ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ἦρα τὴν ψυχήν μου	ἀκουστὸν ποίησόν μοι τὸ πρωΐ τὸ ἔλεός σου, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἤλπισα· γνώρισόν μοι, Κύριε, ὁδόν, ἐν ᾗ πορεύσομαι, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ἦρα τὴν ψυχήν μου
Psalm 142:8 (NETS)	Psalm 142:8 (English Elpenor)
Make me hear your mercy in the morning, because in you I hoped. Make known to me, O Lord, a way in which I should go, because to you I lifted up my soul.	Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

Psalm 143:9 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:9 (KJV)	Psalm 143:9 (NET)
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.	Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.	Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord. I run to you for protection.

Psalm 143:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου κύριε ὅτι πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον	ἐξελοῦ με ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου, Κύριε, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον
Psalm 142:9 (NETS)	Psalm 142:9 (English Elpenor)
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; I fled to you for refuge.	Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge.

Psalm 143:10 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:10 (KJV)	Psalm 143:10 (NET)
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.	Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.	Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.

Psalm 143:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῗν τὸ θέλημά σου ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ θεός μου τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὁδηγήσει με ἐν γῇ εὐθείᾳ	δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός μου· τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὁδηγήσει με ἐν γῇ εὐθείᾳ
Psalm 142:10 (NETS)	Psalm 142:10 (English Elpenor)
Teach me that I do your will, because you are my God. Your good spirit will guide me on level ground.	Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight [way].

Psalm 143:11 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:11 (KJV)	Psalm 143:11 (NET)
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.	Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.	O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me. Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble.

Psalm 143:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἕνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου κύριε ζήσεις με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἐξάξεις ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχήν μου	ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου, Κύριε, ζήσεις με, ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἐξάξεις ἐκ θλίψεως τὴν ψυχήν μου
Psalm 142:11 (NETS)	Psalm 142:11 (English Elpenor)
For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will quicken me. In your righteousness you will bring my soul out of affliction.	Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction.

Psalm 143:12 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:12 (KJV)	Psalm 143:12 (NET)
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.	And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.	As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies. Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.

Psalm 143:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου ἐξολεθρεύσεις τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου καὶ ἀπολεῗς πάντας τοὺς θλίβοντας τὴν ψυχήν μου ὅτι δοῦλός σού εἰμι ἐγώ	καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σου ἐξολοθρεύσεις τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου καὶ ἀπολεῖς πάντας τοὺς θλίβοντας τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι ἐγὼ δοῦλός σού εἰμι
Psalm 142:12 (NETS)	Psalm 142:12 (English Elpenor)
And in your mercy you will destroy my enemies and ruin all who afflict my soul, because your slave I am.	And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.

Hebrews 9:5, 6 (NET)	Hebrews 9:5, 6 (KJV)
And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.	And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος	υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιμ δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον περι ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος	υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιμ δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον περι ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος

So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Τούτων δὲ οὕτως κατεσκευασμένων εἰς μὲν τὴν πρώτην σκηνὴν διὰ παντὸς εἰσίασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὰς λατρείας ἐπιτελοῦντες	τουτων δε ουτως κατεσκευασμενων εις μεν την πρωτην σκηνην διαπαντος εισιασιν οι ιερεις τας λατρειας επιτελουντες	τουτων δε ουτως κατεσκευασμενων εις μεν την πρωτην σκηνην δια παντος εισιασιν οι ιερεις τας λατρειας επιτελουντες

Romans, Part 17

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

Back to Jedidiah, Part 3

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8

¹ Walt Kelly, The Pogo Papers, 1953

² Romans 3:21, 22a (NET)

³ Romans 3:20a (NET)

⁴ Romans 3:20b (NET)

⁵ “We Have Met The Enemy, And They Are Ours”

⁶ Romans 3:22b-24 (NET)

⁷ Romans 3:25, 26 (NET)

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Χερουβὶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χερουβιμ (KJV: cherubims).

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had διὰ παντὸς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had διαπαντος (KJV: always).

¹⁰ Acts 10:35 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 5:20 (NET)

Romans, Part 15

Posted on August 30, 2012 by admin

O Lord, hear my prayer! David wrote. Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice (Septuagint: δικαιοσύνη), answer me! Do not sit in judgment (Septuagint: κρίσιν, a form of κρίσις) on your servant, for no one alive is innocent (Septuagint: δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before you [Table].¹ David’s prayer is a good starting place for this part of Romans.

Now we know that whatever the law says, Paul continued, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.²

I planned to hurry to the next verse, assuming that I knew what this one was saying. I thought under the law would be υπο νομον in Greek. When I decided not to be so lazy and checked, I discovered I was wrong. It is εν τω νομω, in the law. It may not be a major difference. But it is more like εν ρωμη, in Rome,³ εν αυτω, in the gospel (literally, in it),⁴ εν σαρκι, in the flesh,⁵ εν τω νυν καιρω, in the present time,⁶ εν η εστηκαμεν, in which we stand,⁷ εν χριστω ιησου, in Christ Jesus,⁸ εν πνευματι αγιω, in the Holy Spirit,⁹ εν δυναμει πνευματος, in the power of the Spirit,¹⁰ rather than υπο νομον, under law.¹¹

Likewise I assumed that being held accountable had something to do with λογον, an account,¹² to explain,¹³ but I was wrong again. The word translated held accountable is υποδικος, a compound word made up of ὑπό (under) and δίκη. This compound word only occurs once in the New Testament. But in Acts καταδικην (a form of καταδίκη) is a sentence of condemnation,¹⁴ and δικη is translated as the pagan deity Justice (NET) or vengeance (KJV).¹⁵ Paul wrote the Thessalonians, With flaming fire he will mete out punishment (εκδικησιν, a form of ἐκδίκησις) on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [See Addendum below].¹⁶ They will undergo (δικην) the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength [See Addendum below]…¹⁷ Jude wrote, You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment (δικην) of eternal fire.¹⁸

In that light it seems to me that the translation held accountable for υποδικος (under δικην) might understate the case a bit. Since I brought up Jude and Sodom, it seems only fair to bring up Ezekiel. In the end I am not trying merely to learn the meaning of Greek words, but to know God (Ezekiel 16:44-48 NET).

“‘Observe – everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her sons, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their sons. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters. Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were! As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved.

This was addressed to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel that remained loyal to Solomon’s son Rehoboam. One might miss in Jude’s emphasis on Sodom and Gomorrah that there was a time when God considered Judah more depraved than Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49-52 NET).

“‘See here – this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore when I saw it I removed them. Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. You have made your sisters appear righteous (Hebrew: וַתְּצַדְּקִי֙; Septuagint: ἐδικαίωσας, a form of δικαιόω) with all the abominable things you have done. So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous (Hebrew: תִּצְדַּ֣קְנָה; Septuagint: ἐδικαίωσας, a form of δικαιόω) than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous (Hebrew: בְּצַדֶּקְתֵּ֖ךְ; Septuagint: δικαιῶσαί, another form of δικαιόω).

Again, Jude mentioned Sodom’s abominable deeds but not that there was a time when God said that Judah had done more abominable deeds than Sodom or Samaria, the northern kingdom of Israel that rebelled against Rehoboam. And Jude did not mention God’s promised restoration (Ezekiel 16:53-58 NET).

“‘I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters (along with your fortunes among them) [See Table below], so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them. As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status. In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth [See Table below], before your evil was exposed? Now you have become an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram and all those around her and to the daughters of the Philistines – those all around you who despise you. You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the Lord.’”

For no one is declared righteous (δικαιωθήσεται, a form of δικαιόω) before him by the works of the law, Paul continued, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe [Table].¹⁹

Addendum: April 20, 2021
Note 12 in the NET claimed that 2 Thessalonians 1:8 was “An allusion to Jer 10:25, possibly also to Ps 79:6 and Isa 66:15.”

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 10:25 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NET)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25 (English Elpenor)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Vent your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you. Vent it on the peoples who do not worship you. For they have destroyed the people of Jacob. They have completely destroyed them and left their homeland in utter ruin.”	Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name, because they have devoured Iakob and they have consumed him and his pasture they have made desolate.	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, and consumed him, and have made his pasture desolate.
Psalm 79:6 (Tanakh)	Psalm 79:6 (NET)	Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you.	Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.
Isaiah 66:15 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 66:15 (NET)	Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For look, the Lord comes with fire; his chariots come like a windstorm to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.	For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Jeremiah 10:25a follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Jeremiah 10:25a (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 10:25a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεὰς αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεάς, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Jeremiah 10:25a (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25a (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Psalm 79:6 (78:6) follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 79:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 78:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο,
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:8a with Isaiah 66:15 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν	ἰδοὺ γὰρ κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν ἐν φλογὶ πυρός	᾿Ιδοὺ γὰρ Κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φλογὶ πυρός
2 Thessalonians 1:8a (NET)	Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God	For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

Note 14 in the NET claimed that 2 Thessalonians 1:9 was “An allusion to Isa 2:10, 19, 21.”

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 2:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:10 (NET)	Isaiah 2:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10 (English Elpenor)
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!	And now enter into the rocks, and hide in the earth from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	Now therefore enter ye into the rocks, and hide yourselves in the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:19 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:19 (NET)	Isaiah 2:19 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19 (English Elpenor)
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.	carrying them into the caves and into the clefts of the rocks and into the holes of the earth—from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	having carried [them] into the caves, and into the clefts of the rocks, and into the caverns of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:21 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:21 (NET)	Isaiah 2:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21 (English Elpenor)
To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.	to enter the holes of the solid rock and the clefts of the rocks, from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	to enter into the caverns of the solid rock, and into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:10 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:10b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:10b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:10b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:19 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:19b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:19b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:19b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

A table comparing/contrasting the Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:9a with Isaiah 2:21 follows:

2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 2:21b (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:21b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ	ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ
2 Thessalonians 1:9b (NET)	Isaiah 2:21b (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21b (English Elpenor)
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength	for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might

Tables comparing Psalm 143:1; Ezekiel 16:44; 16:45; 16:46; 16:47; 16:48; 16:49; 16:50; 16:51; 16:52; 16:53; 16:54; 16:55; 16:56; 16:57; 16:58; Jeremiah 10:25; Psalm 79:6; Isaiah 66:15; 2:10; 2:19 and 2:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 143:1 (142:1); Ezekiel 16:44 (16:44, 45a); 16:45 (16:45b); 16:46; 16:47; 16:48; 16:49; 16:50; 16:51; 16:52; 16:53; 16:54; 16:55; 16:56; 16:57; 16:58; Jeremiah 10:25; Psalm 79:6 (78:6); Isaiah 66:15; 2:10; 2:19 and 2:21 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 143:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 143:1 (KJV)	Psalm 143:1 (NET)
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.	Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.	A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer. Pay attention to my plea for help. Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me.

Psalm 143:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 142:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ ὅτε αὐτὸν ὁ υἱὸς καταδιώκει κύριε εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου ἐνώτισαι τὴν δέησίν μου ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου ἐπάκουσόν μου ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου	Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ, ὅτε αὐτὸν ὁ υἱὸς καταδιώκει. – ΚΥΡΙΕ, εἰσάκουσον τῆς προσευχῆς μου, ἐνώτισαι τὴν δέησίν μου ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ σου, εἰσάκουσόν μου ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου
Psalm 142:1 (NETS)	Psalm 142:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. O Lord, listen to my prayer; give ear to my petition in truth; hearken to me in your righteousness.	[A Psalm of David, when his son pursued him.] O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness.

Ezekiel 16:44 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:44 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:44 (NET)
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.	Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.	“‘Observe—everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.”

Ezekiel 16:44 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ταῦτά ἐστιν πάντα ὅσα εἶπαν κατὰ σοῦ ἐν παραβολῇ λέγοντες καθὼς ἡ μήτηρ καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ	ταῦτά ἐστι πάντα, ὅσα εἶπαν κατὰ σοῦ ἐν παραβολῇ λέγοντες· καθὼς ἡ μήτηρ, (45) καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ
Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:44, 45a (English Elpenor)
These are all the things that they said about you in a comparison, saying, “Like mother (45) like daughter.”	These are all the things they have spoken against thee in a proverb, saying, (45) As is the mother, so is thy mother’s daughter:

Ezekiel 16:45 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:45 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:45 (NET)
Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.	Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.	You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her sons, and you are the sister of your sisters, who detested their husbands and their sons. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.

Ezekiel 16:45 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:45b (Septuagint Elpenor)
θυγάτηρ τῆς μητρός σου σὺ εἶ ἡ ἀπωσαμένη τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἀδελφὴ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου τῶν ἀπωσαμένων τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἡ μήτηρ ὑμῶν Χετταία καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν Αμορραῗος	θυγάτηρ τῆς μητρός σου σὺ εἶ ἡ ἀπωσαμένη τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ ἀδελφοὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου τῶν ἀπωσαμένων τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν· ἡ μήτηρ ὑμῶν Χετταία, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ᾿Αμορραῖος
Ezekiel 16:45b (NETS)	Ezekiel 16: 45b (English Elpenor)
You are your mother’s daughter, she who thrust aside her husband and her children, and the sisters of your sisters are those who thrust aside their husbands and their children; your mother is a Chettite, and your father an Amorrite.	thou art she that has rejected her husband and her children; and the sisters of thy sisters have rejected their husbands and their children: your mother was a Chettite, and [your] father an Amorite.

Ezekiel 16:46 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:46 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:46 (NET)
And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.	And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.	Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters.

Ezekiel 16:46 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:46 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ ἀδελφὴ ὑμῶν ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Σαμάρεια αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου ἡ νεωτέρα σου ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐκ δεξιῶν σου Σοδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς	ἡ ἀδελφὴ ὑμῶν ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Σαμάρεια, αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς, ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου· καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου ἡ νεωτέρα σου ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐκ δεξιῶν σου Σόδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς
Ezekiel 16:46 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:46 (English Elpenor)
Your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters, she who was living on your left, and your younger sister who was living on your right is Sodoma and her daughters.	Your elder sister who dwells on thy left hand is Samaria, she and her daughters: and thy younger sister, that dwells on the right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

Ezekiel 16:47 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:47 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:47 (NET)
Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.	Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.	Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were!

Ezekiel 16:47 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:47 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐδ᾽ ὧς ἐν ταῗς ὁδοῗς αὐτῶν ἐπορεύθης οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν ἐποίησας παρὰ μικρὸν καὶ ὑπέρκεισαι αὐτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ὁδοῗς σου	καὶ οὐδ᾿ ὧς ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν ἐπορεύθης, οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῶν ἐποίησας· παρὰ μικρὸν καὶ ὑπέρκεισαι αὐτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς σου
Ezekiel 16:47 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:47 (English Elpenor)
And you did not even walk in their ways, nor did you act according to their lawless acts; in fact, you almost surpassed them in all your ways.	Yet notwithstanding thou hast not walked in their ways, neither hast thou done according to their iniquities within a little, but thou hast exceeded them in all thy ways.

Ezekiel 16:48 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:48 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:48 (NET)
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.	As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.	As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved.

Ezekiel 16:48 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:48 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ζῶ ἐγώ λέγει κύριος εἰ πεποίηκεν Σοδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησας σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου	ζῶ ἐγώ, λέγει Κύριος, εἰ πεποίηκε Σόδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου, αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς, ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησας σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου.
Ezekiel 16:48 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:48 (English Elpenor)
I live, says the Lord, if your sister Sodoma has acted, she and her daughters, as you and your daughters acted!	[As] I live, saith the Lord, this Sodom and her daughters have not done as thou and thy daughters have done.

Ezekiel 16:49 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:49 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:49 (NET)
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.	Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.	“‘See here—this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:49 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:49 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πλὴν τοῦτο τὸ ἀνόμημα Σοδομων τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ὑπερηφανία ἐν πλησμονῇ ἄρτων καὶ ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ οἴνου ἐσπατάλων αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς τοῦτο ὑπῆρχεν αὐτῇ καὶ ταῗς θυγατράσιν αὐτῆς καὶ χεῗρα πτωχοῦ καὶ πένητος οὐκ ἀντελαμβάνοντο	πλὴν τοῦτο τὸ ἀνόμημα Σοδόμων τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου, ὑπερηφανία· ἐν πλησμονῇ ἄρτων καὶ ἐν εὐθηνίᾳ οἴνου ἐσπατάλων αὐτὴ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς. τοῦτο ὑπῆρχεν αὐτῇ καὶ ταῖς θυγατράσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ χεῖρα πτωχοῦ καὶ πένητος οὐκ ἀντελαμβάνοντο
Ezekiel 16:49 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:49 (English Elpenor)
But this was the lawless act of Sodoma, your sister: arrogance. She and her daughters were indulging in excess of bread and in prosperous ease; this belonged to her and her daughters, and they were not holding the hand of the poor and the needy.	Moreover this was the sin of thy sister Sodom, pride: she and her daughters lived in pleasure, in fullness of bread [and] in abundance: this belonged to her and her daughters, and they helped not the hand of the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:50 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:50 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:50 (NET)
And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.	And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.	They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore, when I saw it I removed them.

Ezekiel 16:50 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:50 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχουν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἀνομήματα ἐνώπιόν μου καὶ ἐξῆρα αὐτάς καθὼς εἶδον	καὶ ἐμεγαλαύχουν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἀνομήματα ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐξῇρα αὐτὰς καθὼς εἶδον
Ezekiel 16:50 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:50 (English Elpenor)
And they were boasting and committed lawless acts before me, and I took them away, just as I saw.	And they boasted, and wrought iniquities before me: so I cut them off as I saw [fit].

Ezekiel 16:51 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:51 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:51 (NET)
Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.	Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.	Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done.

Ezekiel 16:51 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:51 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ Σαμάρεια κατὰ τὰς ἡμίσεις τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου οὐχ ἥμαρτεν καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὰς ἀνομίας σου ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν πάσαις ταῗς ἀνομίαις σου αἷς ἐποίησας	καὶ Σαμάρεια κατὰ τὰς ἡμίσεις τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν σου οὐχ ἥμαρτε· καὶ ἐπλήθυνας τὰς ἀνομίας σου ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἀνομίαις σου, αἷς ἐποίησας
Ezekiel 16:51 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:51 (English Elpenor)
And Samaria sinned not half of your sins, and you multiplied your lawless acts beyond them and made your sisters right by all your lawless acts that you committed.	Also Samaria has not sinned according to half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine iniquities beyond them, and thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine iniquities which thou hast committed.

Ezekiel 16:52 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:52 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:52 (NET)
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.	Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.	So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.

Ezekiel 16:52 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:52 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σὺ κόμισαι βάσανόν σου ἐν ᾗ ἔφθειρας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν ταῗς ἁμαρτίαις σου αἷς ἠνόμησας ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς καὶ ἐδικαίωσας αὐτὰς ὑπὲρ σεαυτήν καὶ σὺ αἰσχύνθητι καὶ λαβὲ τὴν ἀτιμίαν σου ἐν τῷ δικαιῶσαί σε τὰς ἀδελφάς σου	καὶ σὺ κόμισαι βάσανόν σου, ἐν ᾗ ἔφθειρας τὰς ἀδελφάς σου ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις σου, αἷς ἠνόμησας ὑπὲρ αὐτάς, καὶ ἐδικαίωσας αὐτὰς ὑπὲρ σεαυτήν· καὶ σὺ αἰσχύνθητι καὶ λάβε τὴν ἀτιμίαν σου ἐν τῷ δικαιῶσαί σε τὰς ἀδελφάς σου
Ezekiel 16:52 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:52 (English Elpenor)
And you shall bear your trial, for you ruined your sisters with your sins by which you acted laelessly beyond them and rendered them right beyond yourselves, and be ashamed, you, and receive your dishonor for rendering your sisters right.	Thou therefore bear thy punishment, for that thou hast corrupted thy sisters by thy sins which thou hast committed beyond them; and thou hast made them [appear] more righteous than thyself: thou therefore be ashamed, and bear thy dishonour, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.

Ezekiel 16:53 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:53 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:53 (NET)
When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:	When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:	“‘I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters (along with your fortunes among them),

Ezekiel 16:53 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:53 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὰς ἀποστροφὰς αὐτῶν τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σοδομων καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σαμαρείας καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφήν σου ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν	καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὰς ἀποστροφὰς αὐτῶν, τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σοδόμων καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφὴν Σαμαρείας καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποστροφήν σου ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν
Ezekiel 16:53 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:53 (English Elpenor)
And I will turn back your turning back, the turning back of Sodoma and her daughters, and I will turn back the turning back of Samaria and her daughters, and I will turn back your turning back in their midst	And I will turn their captivity, [even] the captivity of Sodom and her daughters; and I will turn the captivity of Samaria and her daughters; and I will turn thy captivity in the midst of them:

Ezekiel 16:54 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:54 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:54 (NET)
That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.	That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.	so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them.

Ezekiel 16:54 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:54 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅπως κομίσῃ τὴν βάσανόν σου καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἐκ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησας ἐν τῷ σε παροργίσαι με	ὅπως κομίσῃ τὴν βάσανόν σου καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἐκ πάντων, ὧν ἐποίησας ἐν τῷ παροργίσαι με
Ezekiel 16:54 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:54 (English Elpenor)
in order that you may bear your trial and be dishonored as a result of all that you have done when you provoked me.	that thou mayest bear thy punishment, and be dishonoured for all that thou hast done in provoking me to anger.

Ezekiel 16:55 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:55 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:55 (NET)
When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.	When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.	As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status.

Ezekiel 16:55 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:55 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου Σοδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ Σαμάρεια καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου ἀποκατασταθήσεσθε καθὼς ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἦτε	καὶ ἡ ἀδελφή σου Σόδομα καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, καὶ Σαμάρεια καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῆς ἀποκατασταθήσονται καθὼς ἦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, καὶ σὺ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες σου ἀποκατασταθήσεσθε καθὼς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ἦτε
Ezekiel 16:55 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:55 (English Elpenor)
And your sister Sodoma and her daughters shall be restored, just as they were from the beginning, and Samaria and her daughters shall be restored, just as they were from the beginning, and you and your daughters shall be restored, just as you were from the beginning.	And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall be restored as they were at the beginning, and Samareia and her daughters shall be restored as they were at the beginning, and thou and thy daughters shall be restored as ye were at the beginning.

Ezekiel 16:56 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:56 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:56 (NET)
For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,	For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,	In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth,

Ezekiel 16:56 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:56 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἰ μὴ ἦν Σοδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου εἰς ἀκοὴν ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἐν ταῗς ἡμέραις ὑπερηφανίας σου	καὶ εἰ μὴ ἦν Σόδομα ἡ ἀδελφή σου εἰς ἀκοὴν ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑπερηφανίας σου
Ezekiel 16:56 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:56 (English Elpenor)
And surely Sodoma your sister was not as a report in your mouth in the days of your arrogance,	And surely thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the days of thy pride:

Ezekiel 16:57 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:57 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:57 (NET)
Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.	Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.	before your evil was exposed? Now you have become an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram and all those around her and to the daughters of the Philistines—those all around you who despise you.

Ezekiel 16:57 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:57 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πρὸ τοῦ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰς κακίας σου ὃν τρόπον νῦν ὄνειδος εἶ θυγατέρων Συρίας καὶ πάντων τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῆς θυγατέρων ἀλλοφύλων τῶν περιεχουσῶν σε κύκλῳ	πρὸ τοῦ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι τὰς κακίας σου, ὃν τρόπον νῦν ὄνειδος εἶ θυγατέρων Συρίας καὶ πάντων τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῆς, θυγατέρων ἀλλοφύλων τῶν περιεχουσῶν σε κύκλῳ
Ezekiel 16:57 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:57 (English Elpenor)
before your evil acts were uncovered, as you are now an ignominy to the daughters of Syria and all the daughters of allophyles around her that enclose you all around?	before thy wickedness was discovered, even now thou art the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all that are round about her, [even] of the daughters of the Philistines that compass thee round about.

Ezekiel 16:58 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 16:58 (KJV)	Ezekiel 16:58 (NET)
Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.	Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.	You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the Lord.

Ezekiel 16:58 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 16:58 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὰς ἀσεβείας σου καὶ τὰς ἀνομίας σου σὺ κεκόμισαι αὐτάς λέγει κύριος	τὰς ἀσεβείας σου καὶ τὰς ἀνομίας σου, σὺ κεκόμισαι αὐτάς, λέγει Κύριος
Ezekiel 16:58 (NETS)	Ezekiel 16:58 (English Elpenor)
Your impieties and your lawless acts—you have carried them off, says the Lord.	[As for] thine ungodliness and thine iniquities, thou hast borne them, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 10:25 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 10:25 (KJV)	Jeremiah 10:25 (NET)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.	Vent your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you. Vent it on the peoples who do not worship you. For they have destroyed the people of Jacob. They have completely destroyed them and left their homeland in utter ruin.”

Jeremiah 10:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 10:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεὰς αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο ὅτι κατέφαγον τὸν Ιακωβ καὶ ἐξανήλωσαν αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν νομὴν αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν	ἔκχεον τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα σε καὶ ἐπὶ γενεάς, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο, ὅτι κατέφαγον τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἐξανήλωσαν αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν νομὴν αὐτοῦ ἠρήμωσαν
Jeremiah 10:25 (NETS)	Jeremiah 10:25 (English Elpenor)
Pour out your anger on nations that do not know you and on generations that did not call on your name, because they have devoured Iakob and they have consumed him and his pasture they have made desolate.	Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the families that have not called upon thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, and consumed him, and have made his pasture desolate.

Psalm 79:6 (Tanakh)	Psalm 79:6 (KJV)	Psalm 79:6 (NET)
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.	Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you.

Psalm 79:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 78:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο	ἔκχεον τὴν ὀργήν σου ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ γινώσκοντά σε καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας, αἳ τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο,
Psalm 78:6 (NETS)	Psalm 78:6 (English Elpenor)
Pour out your wrath on nations that do not know you and on kingdoms that did not call on your name,	Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms which have not called upon thy name.

Isaiah 66:15 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 66:15 (KJV)	Isaiah 66:15 (NET)
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.	For look, the Lord comes with fire; his chariots come like a windstorm to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.

Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἰδοὺ γὰρ κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν ἐν φλογὶ πυρός	᾿Ιδοὺ γὰρ Κύριος ὡς πῦρ ἥξει καὶ ὡς καταιγὶς τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐν θυμῷ ἐκδίκησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποσκορακισμὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν φλογὶ πυρός
Isaiah 66:15 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:15 (English Elpenor)
For see, the Lord will come like fire, and his chariots like a tempest, to render vengeance with wrath and repudiation with a flame of fire.	For, behold, the Lord will come as fire, and his chariots as a storm, to render his vengeance with wrath, and his rebuke with a flame of fire.

Isaiah 2:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:10 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:10 (NET)
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.	Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!

Isaiah 2:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ νῦν εἰσέλθετε εἰς τὰς πέτρας καὶ κρύπτεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	καὶ νῦν εἰσέλθετε εἰς τὰς πέτρας καὶ κρύπτεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:10 (English Elpenor)
And now enter into the rocks, and hide in the earth from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	Now therefore enter ye into the rocks, and hide yourselves in the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

Isaiah 2:19 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:19 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:19 (NET)
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

Isaiah 2:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰσενέγκαντες εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν καὶ εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	εἰσενέγκαντες εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν καὶ εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:19 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:19 (English Elpenor)
carrying them into the caves and into the clefts of the rocks and into the holes of the earth—from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	having carried [them] into the caves, and into the clefts of the rocks, and into the caverns of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

Isaiah 2:21 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 2:21 (KJV)	Isaiah 2:21 (NET)
To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.	so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

Isaiah 2:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 2:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦ εἰσελθεῗν εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς στερεᾶς πέτρας καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν	τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς τρώγλας τῆς στερεᾶς πέτρας καὶ εἰς τὰς σχισμὰς τῶν πετρῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ φόβου Κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ, ὅταν ἀναστῇ θραῦσαι τὴν γῆν
Isaiah 2:21 (NETS)	Isaiah 2:21 (English Elpenor)
to enter the holes of the solid rock and the clefts of the rocks, from before the fear of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he rises to crush the earth.	to enter into the caverns of the solid rock, and into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, and by reason of the glory of his might, when he shall arise to strike terribly the earth.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 (NET)	2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV)
With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.	In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ	εν πυρι φλογος διδοντος εκδικησιν τοις μη ειδοσιν θεον και τοις μη υπακουουσιν τω ευαγγελιω του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου	εν πυρι φλογος διδοντος εκδικησιν τοις μη ειδοσιν θεον και τοις μη υπακουουσιν τω ευαγγελιω του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 3:20

Romans, Part 16

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 5

Back to Romans, Part 49

Back to Hannah’s Prayer, Part 3

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 1

Back to Romans, Part 43

Back to Christianity, Part 8

¹ Psalm 143:1, 2 (NET)

² Romans 3:19 (NET)

¹⁰ Romans 15:19 (NET)

¹¹ Romans 6:14, 15 (NET)

¹² Luke 16:2; Romans 14:12 (NET)

¹³ Acts 19:40 (NET)

¹⁴ Acts 25:15 (NET)

¹⁵ Acts 28:4

¹⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χριστου (KJV: Christ) following Jesus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁷ 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9 (NET)

¹⁸ Jude 1:6, 7 (NET)

¹⁹ Romans 3:20-22a (NET)

Romans, Part 14

Posted on August 24, 2012 by admin

But if our (ἡμῶν) unrighteousness demonstrates (συνίστησιν, a form of συνιστάω) the righteousness of God, Paul continued, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)¹ This is similar, though not identical, to a concern Paul addressed later in his letter to the Romans (Romans 9:22-24 NET):

But what if God, willing to demonstrate (ἐνδείξασθαι, a form of ἐνδείκνυμι) his wrath and to make known (γνωρίσαι, a form of γνωρίζω) his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he is willing to make known (γνωρίσῃ, another form of γνωρίζω) the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory – even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

In the latter example there is no question about God’s righteousness when inflicting wrath, but these two are joined in my opinion as some of the implications of faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing comes by God (or Christ) uttering, “hear,” that Paul worked through in this letter. Paul’s differentiation of the objects of wrath from the objects of mercy, whom [God] has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles, and the caveat in Romans 3:5—I am speaking in human terms—leads me to the conclusion that our unrighteousness is an example of Paul identifying with every human being from Romans 3:4 (NET),² in particular those who have not yet been told to “hear.”

And I seriously question the translation of συνίστησιν (a form of συνιστάω) as demonstrates here. It seems to me the translators are trying to make the question as obtuse as possible. To demonstrate is to “clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence,” or to “give a practical exhibition and explanation of” something. Clearly the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them will never show the existence or truth of the righteousness of God by giving proof or evidence. Neither will their unrighteousness give a practical exhibition and explanation of God’s righteousness.

In the King James translation the word commend was used for συνίστησιν. One of the definitions of commend is to “present as suitable for approval or acceptance.” Now, the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them might very well commend the righteousness of God if the two are presented side by side for comparison and contrast. So then I have a real question: If the unrighteousness of those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear” to them commends the righteousness of God, is God unrighteous when he inflicts wrath on them?

Absolutely not! Paul said unequivocally. For otherwise how could God judge (κρινεῖ, a form of κρίνω) the world?³ Paul already stated that there is no partiality⁴ with God. For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.⁵ None of that changes because the hearing that is so crucial to faith in Christ comes from God rather than from some special insight or intelligence or virtue in those who hear and believe the message.

For if by my lie, Paul continued, the truth of God enhances (ἐπερίσσευσεν, a form of περισσεύω) his glory (δόξαν, a form of δόξα), why am I still actually being judged (κρίνομαι, another form of κρίνω ) as a sinner?⁶ I think it is safe to assume that Paul was still speaking in human terms.⁷ But I want to entertain the question. After all, one of the reasons Paul gave for the wrath of God in the first chapter of Romans was they did not glorify (ἐδόξασαν, a form of δοξάζω) him as God.⁸ And here is God’s glory (δόξαν, a form of δόξα) being enhanced by the truth of God in juxtaposition to the lie of one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear.”

I criticize the NET translators often without any standing to do so. So I want to make a point of saying I think they have it exactly right here. It is the truth of God which enhances his glory, not the lie. The answer is in the question. The one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” is judged as a sinner precisely because of the truth of God, for sinner he is.

Paul was laying the groundwork for a statement that occurs later in his letter to the Romans: But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply (ἐπερίσσευσεν, a form of περισσεύω) to the many!⁹ The fact that God is gracious does not alter the fact that the one who has no faith because he does not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” is a sinner. And it certainly doesn’t mean that sinning is a good way to enhance (ἐπερίσσευσεν) or multiply (ἐπερίσσευσεν) the grace of God.

And why not say, Paul continued, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say.¹⁰ Paul switched roles abruptly here, from identifying with those who have no faith because they do not hear the message of Christ because He has not yet uttered “hear,” to those who have faith because they hear the message of Christ because He has uttered “hear.”

Apparently there were Jews, slanderers or blasphemers of the believers in Christ, who alleged that the Gospel message was, Let us do evil so that good may come of it. The Jewish leaders assumed that Jesus was not of God because He healed on the Sabbath and called God his Father.¹¹ A disciple is not greater than his teacher, Jesus said, nor a slave greater than his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!¹² Paul answered those slanderers or blasphemers curtly but factually, Their condemnation is deserved!¹³

What then? Are we better than they?¹⁴ I quoted from the New King James translation for a reason. I believe Paul was saying, “What then? Are we, who have faith because we hear the message of Christ because He has uttered ‘hear,’ better than they whose condemnation is deserved?” The NET renders it, What then? Are we better off?¹⁵ It may seem nitpicky but I would say, “Yes, those who have faith because they hear the message of Christ because He has uttered ‘hear’ are much better off than those whose condemnation is deserved, because they won’t receive the condemnation they also deserve.” But are they better, holding themselves before those whose condemnation is deserved? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin…¹⁶

Now, some translations¹⁷ that use better off, also assume that Paul was identifying with Jews here and add that to the text: Does it mean that we Jews are better off than the Gentiles?¹⁸ In that case, better and better off are essentially equivalent. But then the slanderers or blasphemers would have been Gentiles who accused Jews of preaching “Let us do evil so that good may come of it.” Granted Paul did write Jews and Greeks, but I assume that to be a literary way of saying all (or, no one) like the Old Testament quotations that follow (Romans 3:10-18 NET):

…just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one [Table].” “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Addendum: March 24, 2021
A table comparing Romans 2:11 in the NET and KJV follows.

Romans 2:11 (NET)	Romans 2:11 (KJV)
For there is no partiality with God.	For there is no respect of persons with God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωπολημψία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ	ου γαρ εστιν προσωποληψια παρα τω θεω	ου γαρ εστιν προσωποληψια παρα τω θεω

Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 3:10-18

Romans, Part 15

Back to Romans, Part 9

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 2

Back to The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 2

¹ Romans 3:5 (NET)

² …every human being shown up as a liar… Table

³ Romans 3:6 (NET)

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had προσωπολημψία here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προσωποληψια (KJV: respect of persons).

⁵ Romans 2:11, 12 (NET)

⁶ Romans 3:7 (NET)

⁷ Romans 3:5 (NET)

⁸ Romans 1:21 (NET) Table

⁹ Romans 5:15 (NET)

¹⁰ Romans 3:8 (NET)

¹¹ John 5:18 (NET)

¹² Matthew 10:24, 25 (NET)

¹³ Romans 3:8 (NET)

¹⁴ Romans 3:9a (NKJV)

¹⁵ Romans 3:9a (NET)

¹⁶ Romans 3:9b (NET)

¹⁷ The New American Bible is interesting in that the translators recognized the problem of better off and addressed it in the verse by changing the answer: Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin… Romans 3:9 (NAB)

¹⁸ Romans 3:9 (CEV)

Romans, Part 13

Posted on August 20, 2012 by admin

Therefore what advantage (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός) does the Jew have,¹ Paul asked. The word translated advantage (περισσὸν) is also found in Jesus’ saying, I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός).² Paul continued, or what is the value (ὠφέλεια) of circumcision?³ The Greek word ὠφέλεια was only used here and once more negatively by Jude (ὠφελείας, a form of ὠφέλεια; for their own gain), but it comes from ὠφέλιμος.

For “physical exercise has some value (ὠφέλιμος),” Paul wrote Timothy, “but godliness is valuable (ὠφέλιμος) in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”⁴ Every scripture is inspired by God and useful (ὠφέλιμος) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness [Table], that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.⁵ To Titus Paul wrote, This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God⁶ may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good⁷ and beneficial (ὠφέλιμα, a form of ὠφέλιμος) for all people.⁸

So again, there is a mini-Gospel lesson embedded in the words περισσός and ὠφέλιμος, waiting for anyone who wants to know what advantage (περισσὸν, a form of περισσός) Jews have or what the value (ὠφέλεια) of circumcision is.

Actually, there are many advantages (literally, “much in every way”). First of all,⁹ the Jews were entrusted (ἐπιστεύθησαν, a form of πιστεύω) with the oracles (λόγια, a form of λόγιον) of God.¹⁰ And in this they were faithful, the right people for the job—mission accomplished. When I consider the wars and conquests, the captivities and apostasies, and how often it would have been easier and seemed more advantageous to lose or alter those words to make them more accommodating to the times, or at least a little more flattering to the people…I can only say, thank you.

Paul moved directly to another question, and let the advantages the Jews have and the value of circumcision drop. He listed them later in a context where they might be missed. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.¹¹

What then? Paul continued. If some did not believe (ἠπίστησαν, a form of ἀπιστέω), does their unbelief (ἀπιστία) nullify (καταργήσει, a form of καταργέω) the faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) of God?¹² Both ἀπιστέω and ἀπιστία are derived from ἄπιστος the negation of πιστός. Both πιστός and πίστις are derived from πείθω, to convince by argument. I’m laboring over the relationship of these words for faith and unbelief so that I can grasp what Paul was thinking. Why would Paul even think that someone might think that the unbelief (ἀπιστία) of some people might nullify (καταργήσει, a form of καταργέω) the faithfulness (πίστιν, a form of πίστις) of God?

To review, Paul was convinced that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. He was content enough with the letter circulated after the Jerusalem Council to spread its teaching himself. Then he went to Corinth. In Corinth, hampered by his allegiance to James’ abbreviated version of the law, Paul called adultery, or a violation of Leviticus 18:8, πορνεία.¹³ It is evident later in Romans (Romans 9-11) that he was perplexed by the fact that God called the sexually immoral (πόρνοι, a form of πόρνος), idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers [Table]¹⁴ to faith and repentance, while so many of his own people rejected the very same Gospel message.

When Paul wrote faith comes by hearing,¹⁵ that understanding was coming right out of his experience and the meaning and derivation of the Greek word πίστις from πείθω: Faith comes by hearing the argument (e.g., the Gospel presented as a reasoned discourse). The NET translators have rendered it, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ [Table].¹⁶ There is apparently a manuscript dispute whether God or Christ is the older, more original, word. Frankly, I don’t care about that at all. The NET translators have focused on the content of the message in both clauses. Faith comes from what is heard (i.e., the preached word of Christ) and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ seems a bit redundant to me. The content of the message is certainly extremely important, but I don’t think Paul was talking about content in the second clause.

I think the New King James translation is more to Paul’s point in its austerity. So then faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God.¹⁷ This is the conclusion of an argument that began with a contrast of righteousness by law and righteousness by faith. For Moses¹⁸ writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”¹⁹ Paul quoted from the introduction to the Laws of Sexual Regulations in Leviticus 18:6-33. You must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes. You must observe my regulations and you must be sure to walk in my statutes…anyone who does so will live by keeping them.²⁰

Paul saw something different in Deuteronomy 30, the righteousness that is by faith.²¹ Deuteronomy 30 was written (and spoken) prophetically to people who have rebelled against the Lord, who have not kept his commandments and statutes (Deuteronomy 30:1-3a, 9b, 10).

When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you. Then if you and your descendants turn to the Lord your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you…For the Lord your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.

Paul wrote, But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word (ρῆμα, another form of ῥῆμα) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word [ρῆμα, another form of ῥῆμα] of faith that we preach)…²²

Paul knew he preached the same content to the Pharisee that he preached to the πόρνοι (a form of πόρνος) in Corinth. In fact, if anyone was short changed it was the πόρνοι in Corinth, for Corinth is where Paul prejudged the people as too immature for wisdom. But it was in Corinth that the πόρνοι believed the content of the message, and it was in Jerusalem and in synagogues throughout the Roman Empire where the Pharisees did not. When Paul penned, faith comes by hearing (ἀκοῆς, a form of ἀκοή), and hearing (ἀκοὴ, another form of ἀκοή) by the word (ρήματος, a form of ῥῆμα) of God,²³ he meant something like hearing comes by God (or Christ) uttering, “hear.” That was the only explanation he had for the difference between the πόρνοι and the Pharisees. And it was certainly his own experience on the Damascus road in a singularly dramatic fashion.

What then? Paul asked. If some did not believe; namely, the Jews (for whom the content of the message was intended) because God or Christ had not yet uttered, “hear,” does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?²⁴ Suddenly the question is much more than a straw man. How can I trust this God who would do this to his own people? or not do this for his own people, as the case may be? But Paul reassured me that it does not nullify the faithfulness of God. Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified (δικαιωθῇς, a form of δικαιόω) in your words (λόγοις, a form of λόγος) and will prevail when you are judged (κρίνεσθαι, a form of κρίνω).”²⁵

Though I may never fully understand the sequencing of who-believes-when, I can accept that it has something to do with God being proven true, being justified in his words, and prevailing when He is judged. And I’ve already seen some connection between this and all things working together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,²⁶ and its corollary, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow.²⁷

Addendum: February 11, 2021
A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation of Leviticus 18:5 from the Septuagint follows

Romans 10:5b (NET Parallel Greek)	Leviticus 18:5b (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:5b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ποιήσας \|αὐτὰ\| ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν \|αὐτοῖς\|	ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῗς	ἃ ποιήσας αὐτά ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς
Romans 10:5b (NET)	Leviticus 18:5b (NETS)	Leviticus 18:5b (English Elpenor)
The one who does these things will live by them.	as for the things a person does, he shall live by them	which if a man do, he shall live in them

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 9:4 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:6b (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου
Romans 10:6b (NET)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:4a (English Elpenor)
Do not say in your heart,	do not say in your heart,	Speak not in thine heart,

It was perhaps a poignant historical reminder to those who knew the Scriptures, ‘For my righteousness HaShem hath brought me in to possess this land.’²⁸

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 30:12 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:6c (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν	τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῗν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν	τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν
Romans 10:6c (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:12b (English Elpenor)
Who will ascend into heaven?	Who will go up to the sky…for us?	Who shall go up for us into heaven,

A comparison (mostly a contrast) of Paul’s “quotation” with Deuteronomy 30:13 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:7a (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (Septuagint Elpenor)
τίς καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον	τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῗν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης	τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης
Romans 10:7a (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:13b (English Elpenor)
Who will descend into the abyss?	Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us	Who will go over for us to the other side of the sea…for us

A comparison of the Greek of Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 30:14 in the Septuagint follows:

Romans 10:8b (NET Parallel Greek)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγγύς σου τὸ ρῆμα ἐστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	ἔστιν σου ἐγγὺς τὸ ῥῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου	ἐγγύς σού ἐστι τὸ ρῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου
Romans 10:8b (NET)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:14a (English Elpenor)
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart	The word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart	The word is very near thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart

If Paul quoted from the Septuagint it may be worth noting that he stopped prior to καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου ποιεῖν αὐτό (and in thine hands to do it).

Tables comparing Leviticus 18:5; 18:3; 18:4; Deuteronomy 30:1; 30:2; 30:3; 30:9; 30:10; 9:4; 30:12; 30:13 and 30:14 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Leviticus 18:5; 18:3; 18:4; Deuteronomy 30:1; 30:2; 30:3; 30:9; 30:10; 9:4; 30:12; 30:13 and 30:14 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Titus 3:8, Romans 3:2 and 10:5 in the NET and KJV follow.

Leviticus 18:5 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:5 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:5 (NET)
Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them: I am HaShem.	Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.	So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 18:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῗς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν	καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά, ἃ ποιήσας αὐτά ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν
Leviticus 18:5 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:5 (English Elpenor)
And you shall keep all my ordinances and all my judgments, and you shall do them; as for the things a person does, he shall live by them; I am the Lord your God.	So ye shall keep all my ordinances, and all my judgments, and do them; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:3 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:3 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:3 (NET)
After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.	After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.	You must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes.

Leviticus 18:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν ᾗ κατῳκήσατε ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Χανααν εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῗ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ τοῗς νομίμοις αὐτῶν οὐ πορεύσεσθε	κατά τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα Αἰγύπτου, ἐν ᾗ κατῳκήσατε ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ, οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Χαναάν, εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ, οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ τοῖς νομίμοις αὐτῶν οὐ πορεύσεσθε
Leviticus 18:3 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:3 (English Elpenor)
You shall not act according to the practices of the land of Egypt, wherein you lived, and you shall not act according to the practices of the land of Chanaan, there where I am bringing you, and you shall not live by their precepts.	Ye shall not do according to the devices of Egypt, in which ye dwelt: and according to the devices of the land of Chanaan, into which I bring you, ye shall not do; and ye shall not walk in their ordinances.

Leviticus 18:4 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:4 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:4 (NET)
Mine ordinances shall ye do, and My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am HaShem your G-d.	Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.	You must observe my regulations, and you must be sure to walk in my statutes. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὰ κρίματά μου ποιήσετε καὶ τὰ προστάγματά μου φυλάξεσθε πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῗς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν	τὰ κρίματά μου ποιήσετε καὶ τὰ προστάγματά μου φυλάξεσθε καὶ πορεύεσθε ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν
Leviticus 18:4 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:4 (English Elpenor)
My judgments you shall perform, and my ordinances you shall keep, to walk by them; I am the Lord your God.	Ye shall observe my judgments, and shall keep my ordinances, and shall walk in them: I [am] the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 30:1 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (NET)
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither HaShem thy G-d hath driven thee,	And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,	“When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you.

Deuteronomy 30:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν ἔλθωσιν ἐπὶ σὲ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ κατάρα ἣν ἔδωκα πρὸ προσώπου σου καὶ δέξῃ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐν πᾶσιν τοῗς ἔθνεσιν οὗ ἐάν σε διασκορπίσῃ κύριος ἐκεῗ	ΚΑΙ ἔσται ὡς ἂν ἔλθωσιν ἐπὶ σὲ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ κατάρα, ἣν ἔδωκα πρὸ προσώπου σου, καὶ δέξῃ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, οὗ ἐὰν διασκορπίσῃ σε Κύριος ἐκεῖ,
Deuteronomy 30:1 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:1 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be, when all these words come upon you, the blessing and the curse that I gave before you, that you shall receive them into your heart among all the nations wherever the Lord may scatter you there,	And it shall come to pass when all these things shall have come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thy face, and thou shalt call [them] to mind among all the nations, wherein the Lord shall have scattered thee,

Deuteronomy 30:2 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (NET)
and shalt return unto HaShem thy G-d, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;	And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;	Then if you and your descendants turn to the Lord your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today,

Deuteronomy 30:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπιστραφήσῃ ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεόν σου καὶ ὑπακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου	καὶ ἐπιστραφήσῃ ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου καὶ εἰσακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου
Deuteronomy 30:2 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:2 (English Elpenor)
and you shall return to the Lord your God and obey his voice regarding everything I command you today, with the whole of your heart and with the whole of your soul.	and shalt return to the Lord thy God, and shalt hearken to his voice, according to all things which I charge thee this day, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

Deuteronomy 30:3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (NET)
that then HaShem thy G-d will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither HaShem thy G-d hath scattered thee.	That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.	the Lord your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you. He will turn and gather you from all the peoples among whom he has scattered you.

Deuteronomy 30:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἰάσεται κύριος τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου καὶ ἐλεήσει σε καὶ πάλιν συνάξει σε ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς οὓς διεσκόρπισέν σε κύριος ἐκεῗ	καὶ ἰάσεται Κύριος τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου καὶ ἐλεήσει σε καὶ πάλιν συνάξει σε ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, εἰς οὓς διεσκόρπισέ σε Κύριος ἐκεῖ
Deuteronomy 30:3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:3 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord will heal your sins and have mercy on you and gather you again from all the nations among whom the Lord has scattered you there.	then the Lord shall heal thine iniquities, and shall pity thee, and shall again gather thee out from all the nations, among which the Lord has scattered thee.

Deuteronomy 30:9 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (NET)
And HaShem thy G-d will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for HaShem will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;	And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:	The Lord your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the Lord will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors,

Deuteronomy 30:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ πολυωρήσει σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ τῶν χειρῶν σου ἐν τοῗς ἐκγόνοις τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ ἐν τοῗς γενήμασιν τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ἐν τοῗς ἐκγόνοις τῶν κτηνῶν σου ὅτι ἐπιστρέψει κύριος ὁ θεός σου εὐφρανθῆναι ἐπὶ σὲ εἰς ἀγαθά καθότι ηὐφράνθη ἐπὶ τοῗς πατράσιν σου	καὶ πολυωρήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ τῶν χειρῶν σου, ἐν τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐκγόνοις τῶν κτηνῶν σου καὶ ἐν τοῖς γενήμασι τῆς γῆς σου· ὅτι ἐπιστρέψει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εὐφρανθῆναι ἐπὶ σοὶ εἰς ἀγαθά, καθότι εὐφράνθη ἐπὶ τοῖς πατράσι σου,
Deuteronomy 30:9 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:9 (English Elpenor)
and the Lord your God will treat you with care in every work of your hands, in the progeny of your belly and in the produce of your land and in the progeny of your livestock. For the Lord your God will turn to be joyful toward you for good things, just as he was joyful over your fathers,	And the Lord thy God shall bless thee in every work of thine hands, in the offspring of thy body, and in the offspring of thy cattle, and in the fruits of thy land, because the Lord thy God will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

Deuteronomy 30:10 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (NET)
if thou shalt hearken to the voice of HaShem thy G-d, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto HaShem thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.	If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.	if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.

Deuteronomy 30:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φυλάσσεσθαι καὶ ποιεῗν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς κρίσεις αὐτοῦ τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τούτου ἐὰν ἐπιστραφῇς ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου	ἐὰν εἰσακούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, φυλάσσεσθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς κρίσεις αὐτοῦ τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου τούτου, ἐὰν ἐπιστραφῇς ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου
Deuteronomy 30:10 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:10 (English Elpenor)
if you listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments that are written in the book of this law, if you turn to the Lord your God with the whole of your heart and with the whole of your soul,	if thou wilt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments, and his ordinances, and his judgments written in the book of this law, if thou turn to the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Deuteronomy 9:4 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (NET)
Speak not thou in thy heart, after that HaShem thy G-d hath thrust them out from before thee, saying: ‘For my righteousness HaShem hath brought me in to possess this land’; whereas for the wickedness of these nations HaShem doth drive them out from before thee.	Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.	Do not think to yourself after the Lord your God has driven them out before you, “Because of my own righteousness the Lord has brought me here to possess this land.” It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you.

Deuteronomy 9:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἐν τῷ ἐξαναλῶσαι κύριον τὸν θεόν σου τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ προσώπου σου λέγων διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας μου εἰσήγαγέν με κύριος κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀσέβειαν τῶν ἐθνῶν τούτων κύριος ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτοὺς πρὸ προσώπου σου	μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ἐν τῷ ἐξαναλῶσαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα πρὸ προσώπου σου λέγων· διὰ τὰς δικαιοσύνας μου εἰσήγαγέ με Κύριος κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ταύτην
Deuteronomy 9:4 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 9:4 (English Elpenor)
When the Lord your God eliminates these nations before you, do not say in your heart, saying: “It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to inherit this good land,” but because of the impiety of these nations the Lord will destroy them utterly before you.	Speak not in thine heart, when the Lord thy God has destroyed these nations before thy face, saying, For my righteousness the Lord brought me in to inherit this good land.

Deuteronomy 30:12 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (NET)
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’	It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?	It is not in heaven, as though one must say, ‘Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’

Deuteronomy 30:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω ἐστὶν λέγων τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῗν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ λήμψεται αὐτὴν ἡμῗν καὶ ἀκούσαντες αὐτὴν ποιήσομεν	οὐκ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω ἐστὶ λέγων· τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ λήψεται ἡμῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἀκούσαντες αὐτὴν ποιήσομεν
Deuteronomy 30:12 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:12 (English Elpenor)
It is not up in the sky, saying, “Who will go up to the sky and get it for us? And when we hear it, we shall do it.”	It is not in heaven above, [as if there were one] saying, Who shall go up for us into heaven, and shall take it for us, and we will hear and do it?

Deuteronomy 30:13 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (NET)
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say: ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?’	Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?	And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, ‘Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’

Deuteronomy 30:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐδὲ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶν λέγων τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῗν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ λήμψεται ἡμῗν αὐτήν καὶ ἀκουστὴν ἡμῗν ποιήσει αὐτήν καὶ ποιήσομεν	οὐδὲ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶ λέγων· τίς διαπεράσει ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ λήψεται ἡμῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἀκουστὴν ἡμῖν ποιήσῃ αὐτήν, καὶ ποιήσομεν
Deuteronomy 30:13 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:13 (English Elpenor)
Neither is it beyond the sea, saying, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and get it for us? And when we hear it, we shall do it.”	Neither is it beyond the sea, saying, Who will go over for us to the other side of the sea, and take it for us, and make it audible to us, and we will do it?

Deuteronomy 30:14 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (NET)
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.	But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.	For the thing is very near you—it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it.

Deuteronomy 30:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔστιν σου ἐγγὺς τὸ ῥῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ταῗς χερσίν σου αὐτὸ ποιεῗν	ἐγγύς σού ἐστι τὸ ρῆμα σφόδρα ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου ποιεῖν αὐτό
Deuteronomy 30:14 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 30:14 (English Elpenor)
The word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart and in your hands, to do it.	The word is very near thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart, and in thine hands to do it.

Titus 3:8 (NET)	Titus 3:8 (KJV)
This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.	This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος· καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαι σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ· ταῦτα ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις	πιστος ο λογος και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι ινα φροντιζωσιν καλων εργων προιστασθαι οι πεπιστευκοτες τω θεω ταυτα εστιν τα καλα και ωφελιμα τοις ανθρωποις	πιστος ο λογος και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι ινα φροντιζωσιν καλων εργων προιστασθαι οι πεπιστευκοτες θεω ταυτα εστιν τα καλα και ωφελιμα τοις ανθρωποις

Romans 3:2 (NET)	Romans 3:2 (KJV)
Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.	Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον. πρῶτον μὲν ὅτι ἐπιστεύθησαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ θεοῦ.	πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν γαρ οτι επιστευθησαν τα λογια του θεου	πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν γαρ οτι επιστευθησαν τα λογια του θεου

Romans 10:5 (NET)	Romans 10:5 (KJV)
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”	For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ [τοῦ] νόμου [ὅτι] ὁ ποιήσας \|αὐτὰ\| ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν \|αὐτοῖς\|	μωσης γαρ γραφει την δικαιοσυνην την εκ του νομου οτι ο ποιησας αυτα ανθρωπος ζησεται εν αυτοις	μωυσης γαρ γραφει την δικαιοσυνην την εκ του νομου οτι ο ποιησας αυτα ανθρωπος ζησεται εν αυτοις