8:20a–c
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope: The phrase in hope connects to was subjected to futility. Therefore, creation has this hope. For example:
Creation was subjected to frustration but not by its own choice. The one who subjected it to frustration did so in the hope (God’s Word)
8:20a
For: Here this word introduces a reason or an explanation.
the creation was subjected to futility: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ subjected the creation to futility
subjected to: The word subjected refers to causing to be under the authority of someone or something. Here it indicates that God caused creation to be characterized by futility. Here are other ways to translate this word:
submitted to
-or-
placed under to rule of
-or-
make captive to
futility: This word refers to being of no use or purpose. Here are other ways to translate this word:
frustration (New International Version)
-or-
lose its purpose (Good News Translation)
8:20b
not by its own will: This phrase refers to creation as if it were a person who did not want to be subjected to futility. In some languages it is more natural to add “like someone” here. For example:
⌊like someone⌋ not willing
In some languages it is more natural to repeat some of the words from 8:20a. For example:
⌊like someone⌋ not willing ⌊to be subjected to it⌋
but because of the One who subjected it: Here the words the One refer to God. He said that creation must be subject to futility. Here are other ways to translate these words:
but by the will of the one who subjected it (New International Version)
-or-
but because God willed it to be so (Good News Translation)
-or-
but for the purposes of him who imposed it (New Jerusalem Bible)
8:20c
in hope: The word hope means “the looking forward to something happening with some reason for confidence that it will indeed happen.” God knows that one day creation will no longer be subjected to futility. It is hope because it has not happened yet, but is awaiting the right time for God’s promise to be fulfilled.
The hope is explained in 8:21. For example:
there was this hope: (New Century Version)
This phrase is connected to “the creation was subjected to futility” (8:20a). In some languages some words must be repeated or added to make the connection clear. For example:
⌊It was subjected like that⌋ in hope
-or-
⌊It is frustrated now⌋ in hope
© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.