Romans 8:8

New Living Translation

That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Those who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

Revised Standard Version
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
So then they yt are geven to the flesshe canot please God.

Hebrew Names Version
Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

International Standard Version
Indeed, those who are under the control of the flesh cannot please God.

New American Standard Bible
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

New Century Version
Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

Update Bible Version
and those that are in the flesh can't please God.

Webster's Bible Translation
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

English Standard Version
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

World English Bible
Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Weymouth's New Testament
And those whose hearts are absorbed in earthly things cannot please God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei that ben in fleisch, moun not plese to God.

English Revised Version
and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Berean Standard Bible
Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.

Contemporary English Version
If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.

Amplified Bible
and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

American Standard Version
and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Bible in Basic English
So that those who are in the flesh are not able to give pleasure to God.

Complete Jewish Bible
Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God.

Darby Translation
and they that are in flesh cannot please God.

Etheridge Translation
and they who are in the flesh cannot please Aloha.

Murdock Translation
And they who are in the flesh cannot Please God.

King James Version (1611)
So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please God.

New Life Bible
Those who do what their sinful old selves want to do cannot please God.

New Revised Standard
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
So then they that are in the flesh, can not please God.

George Lamsa Translation
So then, they who are in the flesh cannot please God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
They, moreover, who in flesh have their being, cannot please, God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So then, they that are in the fleshe, can not please God.

Good News Translation
Those who obey their human nature cannot please God.

Christian Standard Bible®
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

King James Version
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Lexham English Bible
and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

Literal Translation
And those being in the flesh are not able to please God.

Young's Literal Translation
for neither is it able; and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for the that are fleshlye, they can not please God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
so that they who are in a carnal state, cannot be acceptable to the divine being. as for you,

New English Translation
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

New King James Version
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
An enemy of God can never please him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Legacy Standard Bible
and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

Contextual Overview

¹ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. ⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. ⁸ That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. ⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they that: Romans 8:9, Romans 7:5, John 3:3, John 3:5, John 3:6

please: Matthew 3:17, John 8:29, 1 Corinthians 7:32, Philippians 4:18, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Hebrews 11:5, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 13:16, Hebrews 13:21, 1 John 3:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 8:21 - the imagination Deuteronomy 1:43 - but rebelled Job 14:4 - Who can bring Job 15:13 - turnest Isaiah 53:10 - when thou shalt make his soul Matthew 15:19 - out Mark 7:21 - out John 5:44 - can John 6:44 - man John 8:23 - Ye are from John 8:43 - ye cannot John 15:24 - hated Romans 1:28 - as they did Romans 1:30 - haters Ephesians 2:3 - fulfilling Ephesians 4:18 - alienated Colossians 1:21 - sometime 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 8:10
After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again.

Genesis 8:11
This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.

Genesis 8:12
He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.

Song of Solomon 1:15

Young Man

How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.

Song of Solomon 2:14

Young Man

My dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely.

Matthew 10:16
"Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So then they that are in the flesh,.... They that are in the flesh are the same who are said to be after it, Romans 8:5, and are there described. Such

cannot please God; men, whilst unregenerate, and as such, cannot please God; for though the persons of God's elect are wellpleasing to him always, as considered in Christ, in whom they are loved with an everlasting love, and were chosen in him, and all provisions grace and glory made for them in him; yet as considered in themselves, and whilst in the flesh, do not please him; for they are straying from him, are alienated from his life, are destitute of all grace, and particularly faith, without which it is impossible to please him; are filthy and unclean, and hence, whilst such have no enjoyment of him, or communion with him; wherefore he sends his Spirit to work in them that which is wellpleasing in his sight: but this is not to be understood so much of persons, and their non-acceptableness to God, as of the inability of unregenerate men to obtain the good will of God, or make their peace with him; which they have no inclination to, being enmity against him; and were they inclined to it, know not how to go about it; nor can they draw nigh to God to treat with him about terms of peace; nor can they do that which can procure peace; Christ is the only person that can, make peace, and has done it: or rather, of the impotency of natural men to do anything which pleasing in the sight of God. There are many things which are pleasing to him, such as prayer, praise, giving of alms, keeping his commandments, and walking in his ways; but these unregenerate men cannot do in any acceptable manner to God; for they are without the Spirit, without Christ, without faith; and in all they do have no view to the glory of God: they have neither grace, nor strength, nor right principles, nor right ends.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So then - It follows; it leads to this conclusion.

They that are in the flesh - They who are unrenewed sinners; who are following supremely the desires of the flesh; Romans 7:18. Those are meant here who follow fleshly appetites and desires, and who are not led by the Spirit of God.

Cannot please God - That is, while they are thus in the flesh; while they thus pursue the desires of their corrupt nature, they cannot please God. But this affirms nothing respecting their ability to turn from this course, and to pursue a different mode of life. That is a different question. A child may be obstinate, proud, and disobedient; and while in this state, it may be affirmed of him that he cannot please his parent. But whether he might not cease to be obstinate, and become obedient, is a very different inquiry; and the two subjects should never be be confounded. It follows from this,

1. That those who are unrenewed are totally depraved, since in this state they cannot please God.

(2)That none of their actions while in this state can be acceptable to him, since he is pleased only with those who are spiritually minded.

(3)That those who are in this state should turn from it without delay; as it is desirable that every man should please God.

(4)That if the sinner does not turn from his course, he will be ruined.

With his present character he can never please him; neither in health nor sickness; neither in life nor death; neither on earth nor in hell. He is engaged in hostility against God; and if he does not himself forsake it, it will be endless, and involve his soul in all the evils of a personal, and direct, and eternal warfare with the Lord Almighty.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 8:8. So then — Because this carnal mind is enmity against God, they that are in the flesh-who are under the power of the workings of this carnal mind, (which every soul is that has not received redemption in the blood of the Lamb,)-

Cannot please God. — Because of the rebellious workings of this principle of rebellion and hatred. And, if they cannot please God, they must be displeasing to him; and consequently in the broad road to final perdition.