8:29a
For: The Greek is more literally “because.” It introduces a reason or explanation for what was said in 8:28. But the Berean Standard Bible starts a new sentence here, so “because” would not have the correct meaning in English. So it and many English versions use For here.
those God foreknew: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foreknew :
(1) It means know before a certain time here. God knew us before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). The word implies a complete knowledge rather than just knowing about someone. For example:
knew his people in advance (New Living Translation (2004))
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version)
(2) It means choose before a certain time here. For example:
Those whom God had already chosen (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many scholars follow it as well. Here are other ways to translate this clause according to interpretation (1):
those whom God knew before ever they were (Revised English Bible)
-or-
God knew them before he made the world (New Century Version)
8:29b
predestined: This word means “determine ahead of time.” Before the creation of the world God made a plan that his people would become like his Son. Here are other ways to translate this word:
determined beforehand
-or-
appointed (God’s Word)
to be conformed: The Greek word here refers to being similar in form or nature. We do not start this life being similar to Jesus, so here this word implies that God changes us so that we are like his Son. Therefore the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions use the word conformed. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:
to be like (New Century Version)
-or-
to share (Revised English Bible)
the image of His Son: Here the word image indicates that God will make us like Jesus in many ways. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
the likeness of his Son (New International Version)
-or-
become like his Son (Good News Translation)
His Son: See how you translated this phrase at 1:3.
8:29c
He would be: Here the Greek word is literally “to be.” Here it indicates that being the firstborn among many brothers will happen in the future, because God has not yet given glorified bodies to believers. For example:
the Son would be (Good News Translation)
the firstborn among many brothers: This phrase indicates that Jesus is like his brothers, that is, all believers, but that he is special, like a firstborn Jew was special. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
the eldest among a large family of brothers (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the praiseworthy oldest-sibling of all of us who are siblinged-together who have been adopted by God
firstborn: In Hebrew and Greek culture (and probably other cultures of that time and area), the firstborn was given special privileges. In some languages groups people treat the firstborn like all the other siblings. If that is true in your language, you may want to indicate that the firstborn is special. For example:
⌊special/leader⌋ firstborn
-or-
the one who is prominent before all those believers who are brothers with him
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