Romans 8:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For what the law could not do, weakened as it was by the flesh, God did. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τὸ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοῦ νόμου, ἐν ᾧ ἠσθένει διὰ τῆς σαρκός, ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ Υἱὸν πέμψας ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας, καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας, κατέκρινεν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐν τῇ σαρκί:

Transliteration

The for adynaton of the nomou, in which it ēsthenei through the sarkos, the Theos the heautou Huion pempsas in homoiōmati sarkos hamartias, and peri hamartias, katekrinen the hamartian in the sarki:

Grammar Details

• *adynaton*: neuter singular accusative/nominative - impossible thing/weakness
• *nomou*: genitive masculine singular - law
• *ēsthenei*: imperfect active indicative 3rd person singular - was weak
• *sarkos*: genitive feminine singular - flesh
• *Theos*: nominative masculine singular - God
• *heautou*: genitive masculine 3rd person singular - his own
• *Huion*: accusative masculine singular - Son
• *pempsas*: aorist active participle nominative masculine singular - having sent
• *homoiōmati*: dative neuter singular - likeness/resemblance
• *sarkos hamartias*: genitive feminine singular - of flesh of sin
• *peri*: preposition with genitive - concerning/about
• *hamartias*: genitive feminine singular - sin
• *katekrinen*: aorist active indicative 3rd person singular - condemned
• *hamartian*: accusative feminine singular - sin
• *sarki*: dative feminine singular - flesh

Word Meanings

• *adynaton*: inability/weakness/impossible thing
• *ēsthenei*: was weak/powerless/impotent [continuous action]
• *pempsas*: having sent/dispatched [completed action]
• *homoiōmati*: likeness/resemblance/form
• *peri hamartias*: concerning sin/as sin offering
• *katekrinen*: condemned/judged against/sentenced [completed action]

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak thugh the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemn sin in the flesh.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} what{G3588} the law{G3551} could not do,{G102} in{G1722} that{G3739} it was weak{G770} through{G1223} the flesh,{G4561} God,{G2316} sending{G3992} his own{G1438} Son{G5207} in{G1722} the likeness{G3667} of sinful{G266} flesh{G4561} and{G2532} for{G4012} sin,{G266} condemned{G2632} sin{G266} in{G1722} the flesh:{G4561}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} what the law{G3551} could not do{G102}, in{G1722} that{G3739} it was weak{G770}{(G5707)} through{G1223} the flesh{G4561}, God{G2316} sending{G3992}{(G5660)} his own{G1438} Son{G5207} in{G1722} the likeness{G3667} of sinful{G266} flesh{G4561}, and{G2532} for{G4012} sin{G266}, condemned{G2632}{(G5656)} sin{G266} in{G1722} the flesh{G4561}:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For what the lawe coulde not doo in as moche it was weake because of the flesshe: that performed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of synfull flesshe and by synne daned synne in ye flesshe:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For what vnpossible was vnto ye lawe (in as moch as it was weake because of the flesh) yt perfourmed God, & sent his sonne in ye similitude of synfull flesh,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For (that that was impossible to ye Lawe, in as much as it was weake, because of ye flesh) God sending his owne Sonne, in ye similitude of sinful flesh, & for sinne, condened sinne in the flesh,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For what the lawe coulde not do, in as much as it was weake through the fleshe, God sendyng his owne sonne, in the similitude of sinfull fleshe, euen by sinne, condempned sinne in the fleshe:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for what the law was not able to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, His own Son having sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, did condemn the sin in the flesh,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For what the law was not able to do because it was feeble through the flesh, God, sending his Son in the image of the evil flesh, and as an offering for sin, gave his decision against sin in the flesh:

• World English Bible (2000)

  For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

Referenced Verses

• Acts 13:39 : 39 Through Him, everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
• 2 Cor 5:21 : 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• Heb 7:18-19 : 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless, 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
• Heb 10:14 : 14 For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
• Heb 10:1-9 : 1 For the law, being only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very image of those realities, can never, through the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make those who draw near perfect. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having been cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But instead, these sacrifices serve as a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You prepared a body for Me. 6 You were not pleased with whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come—it is written about Me in the scroll of the book—to do Your will, O God.'" 8 After saying above that sacrifices, offerings, whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sins You did not desire nor were pleased with—which are offered according to the law— 9 then He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will.' He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• John 1:14 : 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Phil 2:7 : 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of humanity. And being found in appearance as a man,
• Heb 2:14 : 14 Since the children share in flesh and blood, He too likewise partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death—that is, the devil.
• Heb 2:17 : 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
• Heb 4:15 : 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are—yet without sin.
• John 3:14-17 : 14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
• John 9:24 : 24 A second time, they called for the man who had been blind and told him, 'Give glory to God! We know this man is a sinner.'
• Heb 10:12 : 12 But this One, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.
• Gal 3:13 : 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'
• Gal 3:21 : 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
• Gal 4:4-5 : 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• Rom 3:20 : 20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
• Rom 6:6 : 6 We know this: our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, and we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
• Rom 7:5-9 : 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, having died to what once bound us, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 At one time I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.
• Rom 8:32 : 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
• Rom 9:3 : 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own people according to the flesh.
• 1 Pet 2:24 : 24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed.
• 1 Pet 4:1-2 : 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body on our behalf, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body has ceased from sin. 2 As a result, you should no longer live the rest of your earthly life for human desires but instead for the will of God.
• 1 John 4:10-14 : 10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this, we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
• Mark 15:27 : 27 They crucified two criminals with Him, one on His right and one on His left.