5:7a–b

This verse has two examples of how people love in a limited way. This compares to the great love of God and Jesus for people. Some people might risk their life for a good or righteous person, but Jesus died for people who rejected him (the “ungodly”).

5:7a

In the Greek, 5:7a begins with a word that is usually translated as “For.” It connects this verse with 5:6. Here it probably indicates explanation/clarification or an interjection such as:

Indeed (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Even (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Now (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages it is more natural to omit this word and allow the context to indicate the meaning.

Very rarely: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Very rarely means “not very often” or “very unlikely.” Here are other ways to translate this word:

scarcely (English Standard Version)
-or-

most people would not be willing to die (New Living Translation (2004))

anyone: Here this word refers generally to a person. For example:

someone (Good News Translation)

die for: Here the word for indicates that this person died to benefit this righteous person. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

give his life for (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
die to save the life of (New Century Version)
-or-
let himself be killed in the place of

a righteous man: Here the word righteous refers to a person who acts in right or straight ways toward other people. He obeys the laws and is honest with others. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

someone upright (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
a person who consistently-obeyed the law

See how you translated the word righteous in 1:17.

5:7b

though: The Greek word is the same one translated “For” at the beginning of 5:7a. Often in this context the best English translation is “and,” because that is the sense the second occurrence of the Greek word has in English. But the sense between these two clauses (5:7a and 5:7b) is generally agreed to be though, as in many English versions.

for: Here the word for refers to dying in order to help someone, as it does in 5:7a.

might: This word emphasizes “dare to die.” It is more than people might expect, that someone might dare to die for a good person.

possibly: Here this word indicates that dying for a good person is not common but more likely than dying for a righteous person.

dare: This word refers to being bold enough to do something. Someone might be bold enough to risk his life to rescue someone else. Here are other ways to translate this word:

have the courage (God’s Word)
-or-
is brave enough

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