lilies ... They do not work, and they do not spin cloth ... was not clothed like one of these
Jesus speaks about the lilies as if they were people who wore clothes. The lilies being clothed is a metaphor for the plants having beautiful and colorful flowers.
Mat 6:29
lilies ... They do not work, and they do not spin cloth ... was not clothed like one of these
Jesus speaks about the lilies as if they were people who wore clothes. The lilies being clothed is a metaphor for the plants having beautiful and colorful flowers.
Mat 6:30
so clothes the grass in the fields
Jesus continues to speak about the lilies as if they were people who wore clothes. The lilies being clothed is a metaphor for the plants having beautiful and colorful flowers.
Mat 6:34
tomorrow will be anxious for itself
Jesus speaks of "tomorrow" as if it were a person who could worry. Jesus means that a person will have enough to worry about when the next day comes.
Mat 8:15
the fever left her
If your language would understand this personification to mean that the fever could think and act on its own, this can be translated as "she became better" or "Jesus healed her."
Mat 8:27
even the winds and the sea obey him
For people or animals to obey or disobey is not surprising, but for wind and water to obey is very surprising. This personification describes the natural elements as being able to hear and respond like people.
Mat 11:19
wisdom is justified by her deeds
Here "wisdom" is described as a woman who is proven to be right by what she does. Jesus means that the results of a wise person's actions prove that he is truly wise. This can be stated in active form. Alternate Translation: "the results of a wise person's deeds prove that he is wise"
Mat 13:22
the deceitfulness of riches
Jesus describes "riches" as if it were a person who could deceive someone. This means people think having more money will make them happy, but it will not. Alternate Translation: "the love of money"
Mrk 4:32
it forms large branches
The mustard tree is described as causing its branches to grow large. Alternate Translation: "with large branches"
Mrk 13:24
the moon will not give its light
Here the moon is spoken of as if it were alive and able to give something to someone else. Alternate Translation: "the moon will not shine" or "the moon will be dark"
Mrk 13:28
puts out its leaves
Here the fig tree is spoken of as if it were alive and able to willingly cause its leaves to grow. Alternate Translation: "its leaves begin to sprout"
Mrk 16:17
These signs will go with those who believe
Mark speaks of miracles as though they were people going along with the believers. Alternate Translation: "People watching those who believe will see these things happen and know that I am with the believers"
Luk 10:6
your peace will rest upon him
Here "peace" is described as a living thing that can choose where to stay. Alternate Translation: "he will have the peace you blessed him with"
Luk 10:6
it will return to you
Here "peace" is described as a living thing that can choose to leave. Alternate Translation: "you will have that peace" or "he will not receive the peace you blessed him with"
Luk 11:49
God's wisdom said
wisdom is treated as if it was able to speak for God. Alternate Translation: "God in his wisdom said" or "God wisely said"
Jhn 3:8
The wind blows wherever it wishes
In the source language, wind and Spirit are the same word. The speaker here refers to the wind as if it were a person. Alternate Translation: "The Holy Spirit is like a wind that blows wherever it wants"
Jhn 5:36
the very works that I do, testify about me
Here Jesus says that the miracles "testify" or "tell the people" about him. Alternate Translation: "What I do shows the people that God has sent me"
Jhn 7:42
Have the scriptures not said
The scriptures are referred to as if they were actually speaking as a person speaks. Alternate Translation: "The prophets wrote in the scriptures"
Jhn 7:51
Does our law judge a man
Here Nicodemus speaks of the law as if it were a person. If this is not natural in your language, you may translate it with a personal subject. Alternate Translation: "Do we judge a man" or "we do not judge a man"
Jhn 8:32
the truth will set you free
This is personification. Jesus speaks of "the truth" as if it were a person. Alternate Translation: "if you obey the truth, God will set you free"
Jhn 10:25
these testify concerning me
His miracles offer proof about him like a person who testifies would offer proof in a court of law. Alternate Translation: "offer proof concerning me"
Act 2:24
for him to be held by it
Peter speaks of Christ remaining dead as if death were a person who held him captive. Alternate Translation: "for him to remain dead"
Act 3:21
He is the One heaven must receive
He is the One heaven must welcome. Peter speaks of heaven as if it were a person who welcomes Jesus into his home.
Act 20:32
to give you the inheritance
This speaks about the "word of his grace" as if it were God himself that would give the inheritance to believers. Alternate Translation: "God will give you the inheritance"
Rom 2:2
God's judgment is according to truth when it falls on those
Here Paul speaks of "God's judgment" as if it were alive and could "fall" on people. Alternate Translation: "God will judge those people truly and fairly"
Rom 3:19
whatever the law says, it speaks to
Paul speaks of the law here as if it were alive and had its own voice. Alternate Translation: "everything that the law says people should do is for" or "all the commands that Moses wrote in the law are for"
Rom 3:21
It was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets
The words "the Law and the Prophets" refer to the parts of scripture that Moses and the prophets wrote in the Jewish scriptures. Paul describes them here as if they were people testifying in court. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate Translation: "What Moses and the prophets wrote confirms this"
Rom 5:5
that hope does not disappoint
Paul uses personification here as he speaks of "confidence" as if it were alive. Alternate Translation: "we are very confident that we will receive the things that we wait for"
Rom 5:12
through one man sin entered ... death entered through sin
Paul describes sin as a dangerous thing that came into the world through the actions of "one man," Adam. This sin then became an opening through which death, pictured here as another dangerous thing, also came into the world.
Rom 5:14
death ruled from Adam until Moses
Paul is speaking of death as if it were a king who ruled. Alternate Translation: "people continued to die from the time of Adam until the time of Moses as a consequence of their sin"
Rom 5:17
death ruled
Here Paul speaks of "death" as a king who ruled. The "rule" of death causes everyone to die. Alternate Translation: "everyone died"
Rom 5:20
the law came in
Here Paul speaks of the law as if it were a person. Alternate Translation: "God gave his law to Moses"
Rom 5:21
as sin ruled in death
Here Paul speaks of "sin" as if it were a king that ruled. Alternate Translation: "as sin resulted in death"
Rom 5:21
even so grace might rule through righteousness for everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Paul speaks of "grace" here as if it were a king that ruled. Alternate Translation: "grace gave people everlasting life through the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord"
Rom 5:21
so grace might rule through righteousness
Paul speaks of "grace" here as if it were a king that ruled. The word "righteousness" refers to God's ability to make people right with him. Alternate Translation: "so God might give his free gift to people to make them right with him"
Rom 6:9
death no longer has authority over him
Here "death" is described as a king or ruler that has power over people. Alternate Translation: "He can never die again"
Rom 6:12
do not let sin rule in your mortal body
Paul speaks of people sinning as if sin was there master or king that controlled them. Alternate Translation: "Do not let sinful desires control you"
Rom 6:12
in order that you may obey its lusts
Paul speaks of a person having evil desires as if it sin were a master that had evil desires.
Rom 6:14
Do not allow sin to rule over you
Paul speaks of "sin" here as if it were a king who rules over people. Alternate Translation: "Do not let sinful desires control what you do" or "Do not allow yourselves to do the sinful things you want to do"
Rom 6:16
whether you are slaves to sin ... or slaves to obedience
Here, Paul speaks of "sin" and "obedience" as if they were masters that a slave would obey. Alternate Translation: "whether you are like slaves to sin ... or like slaves to obedience" or "You are either a slave to sin ... or you are a slave to obedience"
Rom 7:7
I would never have known sin, if it were not through the law ... But sin took the opportunity ... brought about every lust
Paul is comparing sin to a person who can act.
Rom 7:8
I would never have known sin, if it were not through the law ... But sin took the opportunity ... brought about every lust
Paul is comparing sin to a person who can act.
Rom 7:9
sin regained life
This can mean 1) "I realized that I was sinning" or 2) "I strongly desired to sin"
Rom 7:11
For sin took the opportunity through the commandment and deceived me. Through the commandment it killed me
As in [Romans 7:7-8](./07.md), Paul is describing sin as a person who can do 3 things: take the opportunity, deceive, and kill. Alternate Translation: "Because I wanted to sin, I deceived myself into thinking that I could sin and obey the commandment at the same time, but God punished me for disobeying the commandment by separating me from him"
Rom 7:11
took the opportunity through the commandment
Paul is comparing sin to a person who can act. See how you translated this in [Romans 7:8](./08.md).
Rom 7:13
sin ... brought about death in me
Paul is viewing sin as though it were a person who could act.
Rom 7:17
the sin that lives in me
Paul describes sin as a living being that has the power to influence him.
Rom 7:20
rather sin that lives in me
Paul speaks of "sin" as if it were alive and living inside him.
Rom 7:21
that evil is actually present in me
Paul speaks of "evil" here as if it were alive and living inside him.
Rom 8:3
For what the law was unable to do because it was weak through the flesh, God did
Here the law is described as a person who could not break the power of sin. Alternate Translation: "For the law did not have the power to stop us from sinning, because the power of sin within us was too strong. But God did stop us from sinning"
Rom 8:6
the mind set on the flesh ... the mind set on the Spirit
Here Paul speaks of both the "flesh" and the "spirit" as if they were living persons. Alternate Translation: "the way sinful people think ... the way people who listen to the Holy Spirit think"
Rom 8:19
the eager expectation of the creation waits for
Paul describes everything that God created as a person who eagerly waits for something.
Rom 8:20
not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it
Here Paul describes "creation" as a person who can desire. Alternate Translation: "not because this is what the created things wanted, but because it is what God wanted"
Rom 9:17
For the scripture says
Here the scripture is personified as if God were talking to Pharaoh. Alternate Translation: "The scripture records that God said"
Rom 10:5
the righteousness that comes from the law
Paul speaks of "righteousness" as if it were alive and able to move. Alternate Translation: "how the law makes a person right before God"
Rom 10:6
But the righteousness that comes from faith says this
Here "righteousness" is described as a person who can speak. Alternate Translation: "But Moses writes this about how faith makes a person right before God"
Rom 10:8
But what does it say?
The word "it" refers to "the righteousness" of [Romans 10:6](./06.md). Here Paul describes "righteousness" as a person who can speak. Paul uses a question to emphasize the answer he is about to give. Alternate Translation: "But this is what Moses says"
Rom 10:8
The word is near you
Paul speaks of God's message as if it were a person who can move. Alternate Translation: "You have heard the message"
Rom 10:11
For scripture says
Paul speaks of the Scripture as if it were alive and had a voice. You can make explicit who wrote the Scripture that Paul uses here. Alternate Translation: "For Isaiah wrote in the Scriptures"
Rom 11:2
what the scripture says
Paul is referring to the Scriptures as if they were able to speak.
Rom 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
Paul describes "evil" as though it were a person. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate Translation: "Do not let those who are evil defeat you, but defeat those who are evil by doing what is good"
Rom 13:10
Love does not harm one's neighbor
This phrase portrays love as a person who is being kind to other people. Alternate Translation: "People who love their neighbors do not harm them"
Rom 15:21
Those to whom no tidings of him came
Here Paul speaks of the "tidings" or message about Christ as if it were alive and able to move by itself. Alternate Translation: "Those whom no one had told the news about him"
Rom 16:19
For your example of obedience reaches everyone
Here Paul speaks of the Roman believers' obedience as if it were a person who could go to people. Alternate Translation: "For everyone has heard how you obey Jesus"
1Co 8:8
food will not present us to God
Paul speaks of food as though it were a person who could make God welcome us. Alternate Translation: "food does not give us favor with God" or "the food we eat does not make God pleased with us"
1Co 11:14
Does not even nature itself teach you ... for him?
He is speaking of the way people in society normally act as if it were a person who teaches. Alternate Translation: "You know just from looking at the way people normally act ... for him."
1Co 13:4
Love is patient and kind ... endures all things
Here Paul speaks about love as if it were a person.
1Co 13:7
Love is patient and kind ... endures all things
Here Paul speaks about love as if it were a person.
1Co 15:54
when this perishable body has put on what is imperishable
Here the body is spoken of as if it were a person, and becoming imperishable is spoken of as if being imperishable was clothing that a body would wear. Alternate Translation: "when this perishable body has become imperishable" or "when this body that can rot can no longer rot"
1Co 15:54
when this mortal body has put on immortality
Here the body is spoken of as if it were a person, and becoming immortal is spoken of as if being immortal was clothing that a body would wear. Alternate Translation: "when this mortal body has become immortal" or "when this body that can die can no longer die"
2Co 1:12
Our conscience testifies
Paul speaks of not being guilty as if his conscience were a person that could speak. Alternate Translation: "We know by our conscience"
2Co 3:6
the letter kills
Paul speaks of the Old Testament law as a person who kills. Following that law leads to spiritual death. Alternate Translation: "the written law leads to death"
2Co 4:12
death is at work in us, but life is at work in you
Paul speaks of death and life as if they are persons who can work. This means that they are always in danger of physical death so that the Corinthians can have spiritual life.
2Co 8:2
the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity
Paul speaks of "joy" and "poverty" as if they were living things that can produce generosity. Alternate Translation: "because of the people's great joy and extreme poverty, they have become very generous"
Gal 3:8
foreseeing
Because God made the promise to Abraham and they wrote it down before the promise came through Christ, the scripture is like someone who knows the future before it happens. Alternate Translation: "predicted" or "saw before it happened"
Gal 3:22
scripture
Paul is treating scripture as though it were a person and is speaking of God, who wrote scripture. Alternate Translation: "God"
Gal 5:16
the desires of the sinful nature
The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person and wanted to sin. Alternate Translation: "what you want to do because of your sinful nature" or "the things you want to do because you are sinful"
Gal 5:19
the works of the sinful nature
The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person who does things. Alternate Translation: "what people do because of their sinful nature" or "the things people do because they are sinful"
Gal 5:24
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires
Paul speaks of Christians who refuse to live according to their sinful nature as if it were a person and they have killed it on a cross. Alternate Translation: "refuse to live according the sinful nature with its passions and desires, as if they killed it on a cross"
Gal 5:24
the sinful nature with its passions and desires
The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person that had passions and desires. Alternate Translation: "their sinful nature, and the things they strongly want to do because of it"
Php 4:7
will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ
This presents God's peace as a soldier who protects our hearts and thoughts from worrying. Here "hearts" is a metonym for a person's emotions. Alternate Translation: "will be like a soldier and guard your emotions and thoughts in Christ" or "will protect you in Christ and will keep you from worrying about the troubles of this life"
1Th 2:13
It is this word that is also at work among you who believe
Paul speaks of God's gospel message as if it were a person who was doing work. "Word" is a metonym for "message." Alternate Translation: "It is this set of God's instructions that enables those of you who believe to work well together"
1Ti 5:18
For the scripture says
This is personification that means that this is what someone has written in the scriptures. Alternate Translation: "For we read in the scriptures that"
1Ti 5:24
they go before them into judgment
their sins go before those people into judgment. Paul speaks of sins as if they were moving. Possible meanings are 1) Their sins are so obvious that everyone will know they are guilty even before anyone testifies against them or 2) Their sins are evident, and God judges them now.
2Ti 3:15
the sacred writings. These are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus
Paul speaks of the sacred writings as if they were a person who could make someone else wise. Alternate Translation: "that when you read the word of God, you can become wise so as to receive salvation from Christ Jesus by faith"
Tit 2:11
the grace of God has appeared ... trains us
Paul speaks of the grace of God as if it were a person who goes to other people and trains them to live holy lives.
Tit 2:12
the grace of God has appeared ... trains us
Paul speaks of the grace of God as if it were a person who goes to other people and trains them to live holy lives.
Tit 3:4
when the kindness of God our savior and his love for mankind appeared
Paul speaks of God's kindness and love as if they were people that came into our sight.
Heb 4:12
living and active
This speaks about God's word as if it were alive. It means when God speaks, it is powerful and effective.
Heb 4:12
It is able to know
This speaks about God's word as if it were a person who could know something. Alternate Translation: "God's word exposes"
Heb 6:7
the land that drinks in the rain
Farmland that benefits from much rain is spoken of as if it were a person who drinks in the rainwater. Alternate Translation: "the land that absorbs the rain"
Heb 6:7
that gives birth to the plants
Farmland that produces crops is spoken of as if it gives birth to them. Alternate Translation: "that produces plants"
Heb 6:7
the land that receives a blessing from God
Rain and crops are seen as proof that God has helped the farmland. The farmland is spoken of as if it were a person who could receive God's blessing.
Heb 6:19
hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain
Confidence is spoken of as if it were a person who could go into the most holy place of the temple.
Heb 7:17
For scripture witnesses about him
This speaks about scripture as if it were a person who could witness about something. Alternate Translation: "For God witnesses about him through the scriptures" or "For this is what was written about him in the scripture"
Heb 7:19
the law made nothing perfect
The law is spoken of as if it were a person who could act. Alternate Translation: "no one could become perfect by obeying the law"
Heb 11:29
they were swallowed up
The water is spoken of as if it were an animal. Alternate Translation: "the Egyptians drowned in the water"
Heb 12:4
You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin
Here "sin" is spoken of as if it were a person whom someone fights in a battle. Alternate Translation: "You have not yet had to endure attacks of sinners"
Heb 12:5
the encouragement that instructs you
Old Testament scripture is spoken of as if it were a person who could encourage others. Alternate Translation: "what God has instructed you in the scriptures to encourage you"
Heb 12:11
who have been trained by it
who have been trained by discipline. The discipline or correction done by the Lord is spoken of as if it were the Lord himself. This can be stated in active form. Alternate Translation: "whom God has trained by disciplining them"
Heb 12:24
the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood
The blood of Jesus and the blood of Abel are spoken of as if they were people calling out. Alternate Translation: "the sprinkled blood of Jesus that says better things than the blood of Abel"
Jas 1:4
Let endurance complete its work
Here endurance is spoken of as if it were a person at work. Alternate Translation: "Learn to endure any hardship"
Jas 1:14
each person is tempted by his own desire
A person's desire is spoken of as if it were someone else who was tempting him to sin.
Jas 1:14
which drags him away and entices him
Evil desire continues to be spoken of as if it were a person who could drag away someone else.
Jas 1:15
Then after the desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and after the sin is full grown, it gives birth to death
Desire continues to be spoken of as a person, this time clearly as a woman who becomes pregnant with a child. The child is identified as sin. Sin is another female baby that grows up, becomes pregnant, and gives birth to death. This chain of metaphors is a picture of someone who ends up dying both spiritually and physically because of his evil desires and his sin.
Jas 2:9
convicted by the law as lawbreakers
Here the law is spoken of as if it were a human judge. Alternate Translation: "guilty of breaking God's law"
Jas 2:13
Mercy triumphs over
Mercy is better than or "Mercy defeats." Here mercy and justice are spoken of as if they were persons.
Jas 4:1
Do they not come from your desires that fight among your members?
James speaks of desires as they were enemies who waged war against the believers. In reality, of course, it is the people who have these desires who fight among themselves. Alternate Translation: "They come from your desires for evil things, by which you end up harming each other"
Jas 4:4
friendship with the world
Here the world's value system is spoken of as if it were a person that others could be friends with.
Jas 5:3
their rust will be a witness against you. It
James wrote of their valuable things being ruined as if they were a person in a courtroom accusing the wicked of their crimes. Alternate Translation: "and when God judges you, your ruined treasures will be like someone who accuses you in court. Their corrosion" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] )
Jas 5:4
the pay of the laborers is crying out—the pay that you have withheld from those who harvested your fields
The money that should have been paid is spoken of as a person who is shouting because of the injustice done to him. Alternate Translation: "the fact that you did not pay those you hired to work in your fields shows that you have done wrong"
1Pe 3:20
when the patience of God was waiting
The word "patience" is a metonym for God himself. Peter writes of God's patience as if it is a person. Alternate Translation: "when God was waiting patiently"
1Pe 4:8
for love covers a multitude of sins
Peter describes "love" as if it were a person who places a cover over the sins of others. Possible meanings are 1) "for a person who loves will not try to find out if another person has sinned" or 2) "for a person who loves will forgive the sins of other people, even if those sins are many"
2Pe 2:3
their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep
Peter speaks of "condemnation" and "destruction" as if they are persons who act. The two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize how soon the false teachers will be condemned.
2Pe 3:10
the day of the Lord will come as a thief
Peter speaks of the day when God will judge everyone as if it were a thief who will unexpectedly and take people by surprise.
2Pe 3:13
where righteousness will dwell
Peter speaks of "righteousness" as if it were a person. This is a metonym for people who are righteous. Alternate Translation: "where righteous people will dwell" or "where people will live righteously"
1Jn 3:15
no murderer has eternal life residing in him
Eternal life is something God gives believers after they die, but it is also the power God gives believers in this life to help them to stop sinning and to do what please him. Here eternal life is spoken of as if it were a person that could live in someone. Alternate Translation: "a murderer does not have the power of spiritual life"
1Jn 4:18
Instead, perfect love throws out fear
Here "love" is described as a person with the power to remove fear. God's love is perfect. Alternate Translation: "But when our love is complete, we are no longer afraid"
3Jn 1:12
by the truth itself
the truth itself speaks well of him. Here "truth" is described as a person speaking. Alternate Translation: "everyone who knows the truth knows he is a good person"
Rev 9:6
death will flee from them
John speaks of death as if it were a person or animal that could run away. Alternate Translation: "they will not be able to die" or "they will not die"
Rev 12:16
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon was pouring out of his mouth
The earth is spoken of as if it were a living thing, and a hole in the earth is spoken of as if it were a mouth that could drink up the water. Alternate Translation: "A hole in the ground opened up and the water went down into the hole"
Rev 14:8
her immoral passion
Babylon is spoken of as if it were a prostitute who has caused other people to sin along with her. This may well have a double meaning: literal sexual immorality and also the worship of false gods.
Rev 14:13
their deeds will follow them
These deeds are spoken of as if they were alive and able to follow those who did them. Possible meanings are 1) "others will know the good deeds these people have done" or 2) "God will reward them for their deeds"
Rev 16:8
it was given permission to scorch the people
John speaks about the sun as if it were a person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate Translation: "and caused the sun to severely burn the people"
Rev 18:1
General Information:
The pronouns "she" and "her" refer to the city of Babylon, which is spoken of as if it were a prostitute.
Rev 18:3
her immoral passion
Babylon is spoken of as if it were a prostitute who has caused other people to sin along with her. This may well have a double meaning: literal sexual immorality and also the worship of false gods.
Rev 18:4
General Information:
The pronouns "she" and "her" refer to the city of Babylon, which is spoken of as if it were a prostitute.
Rev 19:5
a voice came out from the throne
Here John speaks of the "voice" as if it were a person. Alternate Translation: "someone spoke from the throne"
Rev 20:6
Over these the second death has no power
Here John describes "death" as a person with power. Alternate Translation: "These people will not experience the second death"
Rev 20:9
fire came down from heaven and devoured them
Here John speaks of fire as if it were alive. Alternate Translation: "God sent fire from heaven to burn them up"
Rev 20:11
The earth and the heaven fled away from his presence, but there was no place for them to go
John describes heaven and earth as if they were people who were trying to escape God's judgment. This means that God completely destroyed the old heaven and earth.
Rev 20:13
The sea gave up the dead ... Death and Hades gave up the dead
Here John speaks of the sea, death, and Hades as if they were living persons.
Rev 21:9
the bride, the wife of the Lamb
The angel speaks of Jerusalem as if it were a woman who is about to marry her groom, the Lamb. Jerusalem is metonymy for those who believers who will inhabit it.