9:32a
Why not?: Some English versions translate the Greek word here as Why not? as the Berean Standard Bible does. These translations add the word not because that same word occurs in 9:31b. In some languages it is more natural, in connection with 9:31b, to add that word here.
In some languages the question word Why alone in a question indicates a rebuke. If that is true in your language, use a question word or sentence that does not indicate a rebuke. For example:
What is the reason?
-or-
How might that be?
This is a rhetorical question. Paul immediately answered it himself. Some languages cannot use this word in that way. If that is true in your language, translate as a statement. For example:
Here is the reason: It is…
Because: Some languages do not start sentences with Because. If that is true in your language, repeat some or all of 9:31b or use the verb “do” instead. For example:
⌊They did not succeed⌋ because
-or-
⌊They did not⌋ because
their pursuit was not by faith: The Greek is literally just not by faith. Many scholars think that was is the correct verb to add here. Other scholars believe that the verb “pursue” is the correct verb to add. For example:
they did not did pursue it by faith (English Standard Version)
9:32b
but as if it were by works:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by is the same Greek word translated “by” in 9:32a. Translate it the same way here.
as if it were: Here the word as indicates that it is not possible to attain the goals of the law by works. The Berean Standard Bible adds the words if it were to help with that meaning. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:
as though it were (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
as if it was possible ⌊to pursue it⌋
works: Here this word refers to deeds. It implies deeds that God said the Jews must do. It does not refer to the outcome of someone’s paying job. For example:
what they do (Good News Translation)
-or-
their own efforts (God’s Word)
-or-
keeping the law (New Living Translation (2004))
9:32c
They stumbled over the stumbling stone: This is a figure of speech. It implies that the Jews have difficulty accepting Jesus as the Christ. But 9:33 also uses the metaphor of stumbling over a stone, so the metaphor should be kept here. But in some languages a literal translation would indicate only an actual stumbling over an actual stone, you may want to add the word “like” here. For example:
They ⌊are like those who⌋ have stumbled over the stumbling stone
stumbled: The Greek is the regular past tense. This word refers to someone losing his balance when walking because he hit his foot on something and nearly fell down.
the stumbling stone: This refers to a stone that causes people to stumble. For example:
the stone that causes stumbling (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
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