10:15a

And how can they preach unless they are sent?: This is a rhetorical question. It invites the reader to ponder how preachers would preach to a new group of people if no one has sent them. It implies that someone must first send the preachers so that they can preach to this new group of people. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
how can they preach about him, if someone has not sent them?

• As a statement. For example:

before someone can go and tell them, that person must be sent (New Century Version)
-or-
someone must send people to preach

they are sent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “preach” clearly implies that someone with authority sends them with a message to tell others. The preachers do not go on their own. In some languages that must be made clear. For example:

they are sent ⌊by their leader/Lord⌋

This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active clause. For example:

⌊their leader/Lord⌋ sends them

General Comment on 10:14a–15a

The normal order is sending, preaching, hearing, believing, calling. Paul spoke of them in reverse order, probably to connect the quote of Isaiah 52:7a in Romans 10:15c to preaching at the end of his list (10:15a). In many languages the order that Paul spoke in can be translated naturally and be easily understood. In some languages it is much more natural to follow the normal order of things. For example:

14-15 How then are they to preach unless they are sent? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how will they call on him in whom they have not believed? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
-or-

14-15 So then, if someone is not sent, how can he preach ⌊the Lord’s message⌋ ? And if he does not preach, how can they hear? And if they do not hear, how can they believe in him? And if they do not believe, how can they call on him? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

10:15b

As it is written: This phrase introduces a quote from the Old Testament. Paul quoted what God said to the nation of Israel. See how you translated this phrase in 1:17 or 9:33.

10:15c

These words are similar to the words in the first part of Isaiah 52:7. They are similar enough that the English versions put quote marks around it.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news:
Here the word How does not make this clause a question. It implies that the feet are very beautiful. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is a beautiful sight/thing when someone walks bringing good news
-or-
The coming of one who brings good news exceedingly causes-happiness!

How beautiful are the feet of those: Here the word feet indicate that these people have traveled a long way on foot to bring good news. In some languages a literal translation would not indicate that. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

The people who come on foot bringing good news are beautiful

beautiful: This is a figure of speech. It indicates that the arrival of such news is a blessing to the hearers. Here are other ways to translate this word:

wonderful (Good News Translation)
-or-
welcome (Revised English Bible)
-or-
are a blessing

See also the examples above.

bring good news: This is a quote from the Old Testament, so here the words good news do not refer to the gospel of Jesus. Do not use your key term for “gospel” here if it only refers to the gospel about Jesus. In some languages, not capitalizing the term is enough (good news versus “Good News”) to indicate the difference. In other languages, dropping the word “the” may help indicate the difference. For example:

preach good news (Revised Standard Version)

The Greek can be translated literally as “announce-good-news of-good (things).” The verb “announce-good-news” here refers generally to any good news. The phrase “of-good (things)” also refers generally to any good news. Here is another way to translate these words:

comes with a good message/news

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