Romans 1:14

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἕλλησίν τε, καὶ Βαρβάροις· σοφοῖς τε, καὶ ἀνοήτοις ὀφειλέτης εἰμί.

Transliteration

To Hellēsin te, kai to Barbarois· to sophois te, kai to anoētois opheiletēs eimi.

Grammar Details

• *Hellēsin*: dative, masculine, plural - to Greeks
• *te*: conjunction - both/and
• *kai*: conjunction - and
• *Barbarois*: dative, masculine, plural - to Barbarians/non-Greeks
• *sophois*: dative, masculine, plural, adjective - to wise
• *anoētois*: dative, masculine, plural, adjective - to foolish
• *opheiletēs*: nominative, masculine, singular - debtor
• *eimi*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I am

Word Meanings

• *Hellēsin*: Greeks/Hellenists
• *Barbarois*: Barbarians/non-Greeks/foreigners
• *sophois*: wise/educated/learned
• *anoētois*: foolish/unintelligent/unlearned
• *opheiletēs*: debtor/one indebted/one under obligation

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For I am detter both to the Grekes and to them which are no Grekes vnto the learned and also vnto the vnlearned.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  I am detter both to the Grekes, and to the vngrekes, to the wyse and to the vnwyse.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  I am detter both to the Grecians, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise men and vnto the vnwise.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  I am debter both to the grekes, and to the barbarous, both to the wyse, and to the vnwise.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to wise and to thoughtless, I am a debtor,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  I have a debt to Greeks and to the nations outside; to the wise and to those who have no learning.

• World English Bible (2000)

  I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Referenced Verses

• Col 3:11 : 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and in all.
• 2 Tim 2:10 : 10 For this reason, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus, along with eternal glory.
• Titus 3:3 : 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
• Jas 3:17-18 : 17 But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
• Luke 10:21 : 21 At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure.'
• Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
• Acts 13:2-4 : 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' 3 Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
• Acts 22:21 : 21 Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am sending you far away to the Gentiles.'
• Acts 26:17-18 : 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
• Acts 28:2 : 2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
• Acts 28:4 : 4 When the locals saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "Surely this man is a murderer! Although he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
• Rom 1:22 : 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
• Rom 8:12 : 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to it.
• Rom 11:25 : 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not become conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
• Rom 12:16 : 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
• Rom 13:8 : 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
• Rom 16:19 : 19 Your obedience has been reported to all. Therefore, I rejoice about you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
• 1 Cor 1:19-22 : 19 For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent I will frustrate.' 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in God’s wisdom the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
• 1 Cor 2:13 : 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit—explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.
• 1 Cor 3:18 : 18 Let no one deceive themselves. If anyone among you thinks they are wise in this age, let them become foolish so that they may become wise.
• 1 Cor 9:16-23 : 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to do so. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, I am simply entrusted with a responsibility. 18 What then is my reward? It is that when I preach the gospel, I may offer it free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to everyone, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law, even though I myself am not under the law, to win those under the law. 21 To those without the law, I became like one without the law (not being without God’s law but under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22 To the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
• 1 Cor 14:11 : 11 If I do not understand the meaning of what someone is saying, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
• 1 Cor 14:16 : 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can someone who is in the position of an outsider say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
• 1 Cor 14:23-24 : 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if everyone is prophesying and an unbeliever or uninitiated person enters, they are convicted of sin by all and are examined by all.
• 2 Cor 10:12 : 12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack understanding.
• 2 Cor 11:19 : 19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
• Eph 5:15-17 : 15 Be very careful, then, how you walk—not as unwise but as wise. 16 Make the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• Prov 1:22 : 22 How long, simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
• Prov 8:5 : 5 Understand prudence, you simple ones; and you fools, gain a discerning heart.
• Isa 35:8 : 8 And there will be a highway there, called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for those who walk in that way—fools shall not wander astray.
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.'