Romans 8:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in hope

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα ἐπʼ ἑλπίδι,

Transliteration

To the for mataiotēti the ktisis hypetagē, ouch hekousa, alla dia ton hypotaxanta ep' elpidi,

Grammar Details

• *mataiotēti*: dative feminine singular - futility
• *ktisis*: nominative feminine singular - creation
• *hypetagē*: aorist passive indicative 3rd person singular - was subjected
• *ouch*: negative particle - not
• *hekousa*: nominative feminine singular present active participle - willingly
• *alla*: adversative conjunction - but
• *dia*: preposition with accusative - because of
• *ton hypotaxanta*: accusative masculine singular aorist active participle - the one having subjected
• *ep'*: preposition with dative - upon/in
• *elpidi*: dative feminine singular - hope

Word Meanings

• *mataiotēti*: futility/vanity/emptiness/purposelessness
• *hypetagē*: was subjected/put under control [completed passive action]
• *hekousa*: willingly/voluntarily
• *hypotaxanta*: having subjected/brought under control [completed action]
• *elpidi*: hope/expectation

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  because the creatures are subdued to vanyte agaynst their will: but for his will which subdueth them in hope.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  because the creature is subdued vnto vanyte agaynst hir will, but for his wyll that hath subdued her vpon hope.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Because the creature is subiect to vanitie, not of it owne will, but by reason of him, which hath subdued it vnder hope,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Because the creature is subiect to vanitie, not wyllyng, but for hym which hath subdued the same in hope.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope,

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for to vanity was the creation made subject -- not of its will, but because of Him who did subject `it' -- in hope,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For every living thing was put under the power of change, not by its desire, but by him who made it so, in hope

• World English Bible (2000)

  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For the creation was subjected to futility– not willingly but because of God who subjected it– in hope

Referenced Verses

• Gen 3:17-19 : 17 To Adam He said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, "You must not eat from it," cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.' 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.
• Gen 5:29 : 29 He named him Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us in our work and the painful labor of our hands, caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed."
• Gen 6:13 : 13 Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, because the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
• Job 12:6-9 : 6 "The tents of robbers are at ease, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their own hand." 7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you." 8 "Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you." 9 "Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?" 10 "In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind."
• Eccl 1:2 : 2 “Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
• Isa 24:5-6 : 5 The earth is defiled by its inhabitants, for they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants bear the guilt. Therefore, the earth’s inhabitants are burned, and few people are left.
• Jer 12:4 : 4 How long will the land mourn and the grass in the fields wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it, the beasts and the birds are swept away. For they said, 'He will not see our end.'
• Jer 12:11 : 11 They have made it a desolation, and it mourns before me. The whole land is desolate, but no one takes it to heart.
• Jer 14:5-6 : 5 Even the doe in the field abandons her newborn because there is no grass. 6 Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights, panting like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.
• Hos 4:3 : 3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who live in it languish, along with the beasts of the field, the birds of the skies, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
• Joel 1:18 : 18 How the cattle groan! The herds of livestock wander in confusion because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
• Rom 8:22 : 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.