Romans 8:3

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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:

• 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 And by him all who believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
• 2 Cor 5:21 : 21 For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
• Heb 7:18-19 : 18 For there is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by 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, having a shadow of the good things to come and not the actual form of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offer year by year continually make those who come perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because the worshipers, once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, Behold, I have come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God. 8 Previously saying, Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor had pleasure in them (which are offered according to the law), 9 Then he said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first that he may establish the second. 10 By that will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• John 1:14 : 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• Phil 2:7 : 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
• Heb 2:14 : 14 Since then the children partake of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;
• Heb 2:17 : 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
• Heb 4:15 : 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• John 3:14-17 : 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
• John 9:24 : 24 Then again they called the man who was blind, and said to him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
• Heb 10:12 : 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God;
• Gal 3:13 : 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'
• Gal 3:21 : 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, then truly righteousness would have been by the law.
• Gal 4:4-5 : 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
• Rom 3:20 : 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• Rom 6:6 : 6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
• Rom 7:5-9 : 5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not. Indeed, I would not have known sin except through the law: for I would not have known lust unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, worked in me all kinds of covetousness. For without the law, sin was dead. 9 For I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was intended for life, I found to be leading to death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
• Rom 8:32 : 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
• Rom 9:3 : 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
• 1 Pet 2:24 : 24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
• 1 Pet 4:1-2 : 1 Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind: for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2 That he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to 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 propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
• Mark 15:27 : 27 And with him they crucified two thieves, one on his right side, and the other on his left.