and in the same way also the males

The Greek that is translated as “and in the same way also the males” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with so kam es auch , dass Männer schwul wurden or “that’s also how men became gay.”

were consumed with passion for one another

The Greek in Romans 1:27 that is translated as “were consumed with passion for one another” or similar in English is translated as “became dark in their hearts by a lustful heart toward one another” in Hopi, as “only exceedingly desired to do evil in a different way with other men” in Central Tarahumara, and as “with ardent desire doing what is not good” in Sierra de Juárez Zapotec. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

men committing shameless acts with men

The Greek in Romans 1:27 that is translated as “men committing shameless acts with men” or similar in English is translated aw “man with man they did all filthiness without shame” in Isthmus Zapotec, as “an unclean and shameful thing they did with their bodies, men with men” in Yatzachi Zapotec, and as “they slept with their fellow men. They did that which gives shame” in Central Mazahua. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Romans 1:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 1:27:

  • Uma: “Men [i.e., males] did the same also: they did not wive women, but desired only their fellow men. Men did behavior that is not fitting with fellow men, and in the end they received punishment that is in keeping with that wrong behavior of theirs.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise also the men no longer want/like/desire women but what they desire/want is their fellow males and/so that they do evil/bad together. Male does shameful things with male. The repayment to them matches these their evil deeds.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And in the same way also the men; it’s no longer women they sleep with but they become sexually aroused by even other men. And it’s very shameful what they do with their bodies. And by means of their wicked behavior, they destroy their bodies and this becomes a punishment for them which cannot be avoided.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So also with the men. They have turned-their-backs-on their proper sleeping-with women so that it’s their fellow men whom they exceedingly crave to sleep-with. Therefore they are undergoing the punishment that is fitting for the filthy-things they have been doing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Also like this the men do. They do not want to marry and live with wives. Rather they do shameful things with their fellowmen. But concerning how these people live, there is a payment in that their manner of life is all ruined.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “And that’s what the men began to do also, because they left off talking with the women and they began to lust each one after his fellow and very ugly things they did among themselves, man with man. Therefore on account of this sin they suffer punishment because they have left the road of God.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

Translation commentary on Romans 1:27

The first sentence of verse 27 may be rendered in some languages as “in a similar way men give up sleeping with women and want to sleep with other men” or “… want to have men as their wives.” Men do shameful things with each other may be rendered as “men have sexual relations with one another, and this is shameful” or “… this is bad.”

They themselves are punished as they deserve is literally “the payment which is necessary” (see New English Bible “the fitting wage”), but in the present context “payment” refers to God’s punishment upon them. In a number of languages the passive are punished must be changed into an active expression—for example, “as a result God punishes them.”

Wrongdoing is literally “deceit” or “error” (see Revised Standard Version), but the reference is to sexual perversion (see New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible). For their wrongdoing may be rendered as “because of the evil which they have done” or “because of the bad way in which the have acted.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 1:27

1:27a

abandoned: Here this phrase refers to completely stopping what someone was doing. Here it refers to men who stopped having sex with women. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

gave up (English Standard Version)
-or-
leaving (King James Version)
-or-
completely stopped

natural relations with women: As in 1:26, the phrase natural relations here to having sex, here men with women. Translate in a similar way here but speaking of men with women.

1:27b

burned with lust: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as burned indicates feeling a very strong desire. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

were inflamed with lust (New International Version)
-or-
burned in their desire (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
had strong desires for sex (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it’s their fellow men whom they exceedingly crave to sleep-with

lust: The Greek word here refers to a strong desire that is considered bad. See the above examples.

for one another: Here this phrase refers to men having strong desire for other men.

1:27c

Men committed indecent acts with other men: This clause further describes the men Paul talked about in 1:27a–b. Some languages must made that connection explicit. For example:

⌊They were⌋ men committing shameless acts with men
-or-

⌊They⌋ committed shameless acts with other men

committed indecent acts: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as indecent acts refers to deeds that cause dishonor, disgrace, embarrassment, or shame. (Here the word indecent indicates that these men should have been ashamed, but they were not.) Here it refers specifically to men having sex with other men. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

doing shameful things (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
behave indecently (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the filthy-things they have been doing

The Greek tense indicates that they continued to do these things at that time. Translate with that meaning.

committed: Here this word means “doing.” See the examples above.

1:27d

and received in themselves the due penalty for their error: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and :

(1) These men received this penalty in addition to them doing shameless things. For example:

and received… (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) The penalty is the result of these men doing shameless things. For example:

and as a result they… (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word)

(3) The penalty is these men doing shameless things. For example:

and what has happened to them is punishment… (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version)

The Greek word can mean any of these things. But it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the context does not seem to support interpretations (2) or (3).

received in themselves: Here the word received refers to God giving them the due penalty. It does not indicate that they took it because they wanted to. In some languages some form of “give” must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

being given in their own bodies
-or-

⌊God⌋ giving them in their own bodies

The Greek tense indicates that they continued to receive the due penalty at that time. Translate with that meaning.

in themselves: Here this phrase refers to the penalty being in their own bodies. For example:

in their own persons (Revised Standard Version)

the due penalty: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as due indicates that the penalty needs to be given. It is not maybe or perhaps. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the necessary punishment
-or-
the punishment that God has chosen for those deeds

error: The Greek word here means “wandering” and here implies wandering from the path of truth. It can refer to both wrong behavior and wrong thinking. Here are other ways to translate this word:

sin
-or-
wrongs (New Century Version)

Some languages must choose between wrong behavior and wrong thinking. If that is true in your language, translate both. For example:

wrong deeds and wrong thoughts

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