Translation commentary on Romans 3:4

The introductory statement certainly not! may be reproduced in some languages as “indeed you must not think so” or “certainly that is not true.” This same Greek expression is translated as by no means in verse 6.

In this verse Paul uses a third person imperative form (the Revised Standard Version translates literally “Let God be true”), which must be taken in the sense of God must be true (so New English Bible; An American Translation* “God must prove true”; Jerusalem Bible “God will always be true”). In the context the statement means that God will do what he has said he will do, he will keep his word.

In a number of languages one can speak of “a true word” or “speaking truly,” but it is not possible to say that a person “is true.” In rendering the statement God must be true one may have to introduce some verb of speaking for example, “you may know that God always speaks the truth.” It is inappropriate in some languages to introduce an obligatory element such as must in connection with speaking the truth, since this would imply that God is under some moral obligation to speak the truth rather than that by his very nature he always speaks the truth. This particular meaning of true is clearly contrasted in the following clause which speaks of other persons being liars.

Every man is a liar is an allusion to Psalm 116.11, while the scripture quotation in the last part of this verse is an exact quotation from Psalm 51.4 in the Septuagint. The scene described in the 51st Psalm is that of a court scene in which God always emerges victorious over his opponents because he is right.

As the scripture says is the same formula that appears in 1.17 and 2.24.

As in the case of the clause God must be true, the auxiliary verbs must in the two lines of quotation should be interpreted not as obligation but as certainty—for example, “you will certainly be shown to be right” and “you will certainty win your case.” An active alternative to the passive expression must be shown may be “whenever you speak, everyone will certainly see that you are right.”

In some languages it is not easy to find a satisfactory equivalent of the last statement of verse 4, since subjecting God to a court trial may seem quite inappropriate, and there may be no terms for trial which do not prejudge the guilt of one being tried. Accordingly, one may employ in some instances: “whenever you defend yourself you will show that you have done right” or “you will always win out against those who accuse you.”

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 3:4

3:4a

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” This clause indicates a very strong “no.” Consider how to translate that meaning. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Not at all! (New International Version)
-or-
Of course not! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
No, indeed! (Contemporary English Version)

Note that “certainly” in the As a statement example in 3:3b–4a translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used “certainly” there, do not translate these words here.

3:4b

Let God be true: This clause is a command that others acknowledge that God is truthful. It does not express doubt that God is truthful. God always says things that are true. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

God must be true (Good News Translation)
-or-
Let us think of God as true (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
it is absolutely not possible that God would tell-a-lie
-or-
God never lies

Some languages do not have words like “let” or “may.” Instead they use the future or other tense. For example:

God will always be true (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
God is honest (God’s Word)

and every man a liar: The Greek is literally “and/but (let) man (be) a liar.” The verb “let…be” is implied from 3:4b. Even if every person lies, God is truthful. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

even though all human beings are liars (Good News Translation)
-or-
even if every living man be proved a liar (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
even if all people tell-lies

General Comment on 3:4b

In some languages it is more natural to have the clause about people first. For example:

Let every man be a liar and let God be true
-or-
Although all men lie, God never lies.

3:4c

As it is written: Paul quoted what King David said to God in Psalm 51:4. In some languages a literal translation would not clearly indicate that 3:4d–e are Scripture. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in the text. For example:

As it is written ⌊in God’s Word⌋

In some languages a literal translation would not clearly indicate that someone spoke 3:4d–e to God. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in the text. Use your usual translation for “Scripture.” For example:

As it is written ⌊saying⌋ ⌊to God⌋ ⌊in his Word⌋
-or-
As it is written ⌊in God’s Word,⌋ ⌊saying⌋ ⌊to him/God⌋

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

As ⌊King David⌋ wrote

See how you translated the words As it is written in 1:17, except if you mention the author as in the example above, use the correct author here.

The lines in Psalm 51:4 before this quote are “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” David was thinking of his own wrongdoing, and how God is always right when he speaks. In some languages a footnote to explain the context would be helpful to the reader. Here is an example footnote:

The lines in Psalm 51:4 before this quote are “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” David was thinking of his own wrongdoing, and how God is always right when he speaks.

3:4d

So that: These words probably introduces purpose. Consider how to translate that meaning.

You may be proved right when You speak: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊history⌋ will prove you right in your words
-or-

⌊all that happens⌋ prove that your words are true

proved right: Here this word means “shown to be right.” In the case of King David, God sent a prophet to tell him he had sinned with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. Both events were true and God revealed those secrets of David. Here the word refers more generally to God’s words. Events will show them to be true. See the examples above.

3:4e

victorious when You judge: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judge :

(1) It means you are judged here. This interpretation sees the Greek word as passive voice. For example:

you must win your case when you are being tried (Good News Translation)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version)

(2) It means you contend in court with someone here. This interpretation sees the Greek word as middle voice. For example:

you will win your case in court (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(3) It means you judge here. This follows the meaning in the Hebrew of Psalm 51:4. For example:

prevail when you judge (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the plain reading of the Greek word.

victorious: This word refers to winning a fight or contest. When God judges, no one will be able to change his mind or avoid what God says is his punishment. For example:

win (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 3:4d–e

These words are a quote found in Psalm 51:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

© 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.