Translation commentary on Romans 15:12

A descendant is literally “a root”; most translators either render literally or by “Scion” (New English Bible, Moffatt). It is doubtful that either “root” or “scion” conveys much meaning to the modern reader, and so another term must be sought. It is possible that in Isaiah the word “root” had come to be used in a technical sense as a reference to the Messiah, but a more general term seems preferable. It is known that the word “root” was used in a general sense of one’s descendants, and descendant seems best suited to the present context.

A descendant of Jesse may be rendered as “someone from the family of Jesse” or “someone from the lineage of Jesse.” At this point it may be useful to have some kind of marginal help indicating who Jesse was. At the least, a cross reference at this point is important to indicate that the Jesse referred to here was the father of David.

He will be raised (New English Bible “the one raised up”) is given an active force by most translations (Revised Standard Version “he who rises”). If this verb is translated with a passive force, it may be necessary to indicate the agent: “God will raise him.” In many instances the demands of English structure require that a pronoun be changed to a noun; in the present sentence the opposite is done: the pronoun they of the second line is literally “the Gentiles.”

They will put their hope in him is rendered in some languages as “they will hope because of him,” “he will cause them to hope,” or “… cause them to look forward to with confidence.”

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 15:12

15:12a

This quote is from Isaiah 11:10. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

And once more, Isaiah says: This refers to what Isaiah wrote in Scripture. If you added the implied information about the quotes in 15:9–11 being from Scripture, you may want to include it here too. For example:

And also ⌊in the Scriptures⌋ Isaiah said

(alt:) the shoot of Jesse: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that is translated as shoot :

(1) It refers to a shoot from the root and it is a figure of speech for a descendant. For example:

descendant (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to a root.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports it. Either way this phrase is a title for the Messiah/Christ.

Jesse: Jesse was King David’s father. The phrase “the shoot of Jesse” is used in the book of Isaiah as a reference to the Messiah. If readers of your translation will not be familiar with who Jesse is or this title for the Messiah, you may want to explain it in a footnote. Here are some example footnotes:

Jesse was King David’s father.
-or-
The words “the shoot of Jesse” are a title for the Messiah. Jesse was King David’s father.

will appear: The Greek word is more literally “will be.” It indicates that, in the future to when this was first said, the shoot of Jesse will exist. In English “there is” is the most natural translation. For example:

There will be the shoot of Jesse

But in many languages following this English translation would not indicate the correct meaning. A verb other than “be” may be needed. For example:

will arrive
-or-
will come (English Standard Version)

In some languages continuing the figurative language from “the shoot of Jesse” would be more natural. For example:

The shoot of Jesse will arise

15:12b

One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles: The Greek of 15:12b begins with a word that is often translated “and” or “also.” Here the word introduces something more about the shoot of Jesse. It emphasizes the words that follow and says they are as important or possibly more important than what was just said. For example:

indeed, one who will arise to rule

One who will arise to rule: The Greek is present tense here, but this event occurs at the same time as the future event of “there will be the shoot of Jesse” (15:12a). You should probably use the same tense here as you did in the clause about the shoot of Jesse.

will arise to rule: The words will arise refers to standing up from sitting or lying down. Here it is a figure of speech that means “comes to do” something. The purpose of this man arising is to rule. Here are other ways to translate this word:

appears ⌊and begins⌋ to rule
-or-
takes on the work of ruling

15:12c

in Him the Gentiles will put their hope: The phrase in Him is emphasized by being first in the clause. In some languages the phrase must be in its normal place. For example:

the Gentiles will put their hope in him

Some of these languages can emphasize this phrase in another way. For example:

the Gentiles will put their hope in him indeed
-or-
the Gentiles will put their hope, hey, in him

in Him…hope: These Gentiles will believe in God and his Messiah, and so they will have hope that he will fulfill his other promises in Scripture.

Some languages must say what is hoped for, more than just hoping in Him. If that is true in your language, refer to fulfillment of God’s promises that are not yet fulfilled. For example:

hope in his ⌊promises⌋
-or-
hope that he ⌊will fulfill his promises⌋

This is a quote from what is now called the Old Testament. You should not refer to anything that is specifically Christian or from the New Testament.

the Gentiles: Here this refers to Gentiles as a kind of person. It does not imply all Gentiles. In English omitting the word the refers to the kind of person called Gentiles but does not imply all of them. For example:

Gentiles

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