Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Romans 8:20

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 20 For the creation was subjected to futility,+ not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope

Romans 8:20

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 20 For the creation was subjected to futility,+ not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope+

Romans 8:20

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 20 τῇ to the γὰρ for ματαιότητι vanity ἡ the κτίσις creation ὑπετάγη, was subjected, οὐχ not ἑκοῦσα voluntary ἀλλὰ but διὰ through τὸν the (one) ὑποτάξαντα, having subjected, ἐφ’ upon ἐλπίδι hope

Romans 8:20

King James Version
- 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:20

American Standard Version
- 20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope

Romans 8:20

The Bible in Living English
- 20 ** For the creation became subject to futility not of its own free will, but for the purposes of him who created it, with the hope

Romans Study Notes—Chapter 8

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 8:20
  
  futility: Or “emptiness; vanity; frustration.” The same Greek word is used in the Septuagint to render the Hebrew word heʹvel (literally referring to a transitory “breath” or “vapor”). This Hebrew word appears more than 35 times in the book of Ecclesiastes in such expressions as “the greatest futility” and “everything is futile.” (Ec 1:2; 2:17; 3:19; 12:8) Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, sometimes used this term to parallel the expression “a chasing after the wind.” (Ec 1:14; 2:11) In the context of Ro 8:20, Paul describes a striving without attaining a goal or purpose. However, the hope here referred to is that God will deliver mankind from the “futility” that creation has been subjected to until now.—Ro 8:21.
  
  the one who subjected it: This expression refers neither to Satan nor to Adam, as some have suggested, but to Jehovah God. Although Adam and Eve could pass on only imperfection, sin, and death, Jehovah mercifully allowed them to produce children. By allowing this, God knowingly “subjected [the creation] to futility.” However, he did so on the basis of hope through the “offspring,” Jesus Christ. (Ge 3:15; 22:18; Ga 3:16) The sure hope offered by God is that faithful ones will eventually be “set free from enslavement to corruption.”—Ro 8:21.