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1 Cor 11 V1 V2 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V34

OET interlinear 1 COR 11:3

◄ ← 1 COR 11:3 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. θέλω
    2. thelō
    3. I am wanting
    4. -
    5. 23090
    6. VIPA1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ wanting
    8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ wanting
    9. -
    10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
    11. 117327
    1. Δέ
    2. de
    3. But
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. but
    8. but
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 117328
    1. ὑμᾶς
    2. su
    3. you all
    4. -
    5. 47710
    6. R···2A·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y59; R116997
    11. 117329
    1. εἰδέναι
    2. eidō
    3. to have known
    4. -
    5. 14920
    6. VNEA····
    7. ˓to_have˒ known
    8. ˓to_have˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117330
    1. ὅτι
    2. hoti
    3. that
    4. -
    5. 37540
    6. C·······
    7. that
    8. that
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117331
    1. παντός
    2. pas
    3. of every
    4. every
    5. 39560
    6. E····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ every
    8. ˱of˲ every
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117332
    1. ἀνδρός
    2. anēr
    3. man
    4. -
    5. 4350
    6. N····GMS
    7. man
    8. man
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117333
    1. ἡ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117334
    1. κεφαλή
    2. kefalē
    3. head
    4. -
    5. 27760
    6. N····NFS
    7. head
    8. head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117335
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117336
    1. Χριστός
    2. χristos
    3. chosen one messiah
    4. -
    5. 55470
    6. N····NMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah
    8. Messiah
    9. WN
    10. Y59; Person=Jesus
    11. 117337
    1. ἐστίν
    2. eimi
    3. is
    4. -
    5. 15100
    6. VIPA3··S
    7. is
    8. is
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117338
    1. κεφαλή
    2. kefalē
    3. +the head
    4. -
    5. 27760
    6. N····NFS
    7. ˓the˒ head
    8. ˓the˒ head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117339
    1. δέ
    2. de
    3. and
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117340
    1. γυναικός
    2. gunē
    3. of +the woman is
    4. -
    5. 11350
    6. N····GFS
    7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ woman ‹is›
    8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ woman ‹is›
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117341
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117342
    1. ἀνήρ
    2. anēr
    3. man
    4. -
    5. 4350
    6. N····NMS
    7. man
    8. man
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117343
    1. κεφαλή
    2. kefalē
    3. +the head
    4. -
    5. 27760
    6. N····NFS
    7. ˓the˒ head
    8. ˓the˒ head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117344
    1. δέ
    2. de
    3. and
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117345
    1. τοῦ
    2. ho
    3. of the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117346
    1. Χριστοῦ
    2. χristos
    3. chosen one messiah is
    4. -
    5. 55470
    6. N····GMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah ‹is›
    8. Messiah ‹is›
    9. WN
    10. Y59; Person=Jesus
    11. 117347
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117348
    1. Θεός
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. God
    5. 23160
    6. N····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 117349
    1. Χριστός
    2. χristos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 55470
    6. N····NMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah
    8. Messiah
    9. WN
    10. Person=Jesus
    11. 117350

OET (OET-LV) But I_am_wanting you_all to_have_known that of_every man the head the chosen_one/messiah is, and the_head of_the_woman is the man, and the_head of_the chosen_one/messiah is the god.

OET (OET-RV) but I want you all to know that the messiah is the head of every man, and the man is the head of his wife, and God is the head of the messiah.[fn]

11:3 The translators expect that this talk of ‘the head’ is referring to authority, but because our modern society has become more sensitive to these issues, we decided to keep it literal here, thus letting our readers decide for themselves what Paul probably meant. (Having done that, our readers can also consider for themselves whether this might have been a cultural necessity in and around Corinth, or whether it has widespread application to all cultures.)

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:2–16: Men and women should dress appropriately to worship God

In this section Paul wrote about how men and women should dress during public worship. He wanted the women to cover their heads and the men to remain bare-headed. This was appropriate and proper and the custom of the other churches.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Wear appropriate clothing in public worship

Covering the head in worship

Paragraph 11:3–6

In this paragraph Paul taught that Christ is our head. Because of this, men should pray with their heads uncovered, and women should pray with their heads covered.

11:3a

But I want you to understand that

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But can be understood in two different ways:

  1. It introduces a contrast to Paul’s praise in the preceding verse. For example:

    But I want you to understand (GNT) (BSB, GNT, RSV, NJB, KJV, ESV, GW, NET, NASB, NCV, NLT, REB)

  2. It introduces a transition to a new topic. For example:

    Now I want you to realize (NIV) (NIV, CEV)

It is recommended you follow option (1) as do the majority of English versions.

I want you to understand: The phrase I want you to understand introduces something that Paul wanted his readers to understand. He implied that he thought they did not yet understand it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I want you to realize (NIV)

I want you to know clearly

11:3b-d

head: The word “head” is used three times in this verse. It is a figure of speech which refers to a person who is prominent in some way.Thiselton says that “head” has “several nuances,” and is “a polymorphous concept” (p. 820). Paul “deliberately introduced a word that was polymorphous…Neither ‘headship,’ nor ‘order,’ nor ‘equality’ alone conveys the complexity of Paul’s theology. Again, multiple meaning holds the key.” (p. 822). Garland, p. 516, writes that the best option is to understand “head” as “that which is prominent, foremost, uppermost pre-eminent. To be ‘head’ of a group of people simply means to occupy the position at the top or front.” There are three ways to interpret the word “head”:

  1. Paul referred to someone who is in a position of authority.For the view that Paul was talking about authority, see Grudem, “Does KEFALE Mean ‘Source’ or ‘Authority Over’ in Greek Literature?” Trinity Journal 6 (1985): 38–59. This could be translated as:

    Christ is the leader of every man

  2. Paul referred to someone who is the source of the other person.See the following commentators for the view that Paul was talking about source or origin: Fee, p. 503, Barrett, p. 248. This could be translated as:

    Christ is the source of every man

    Every man comes from Christ

  3. Paul referred to someone who is first in order, responsibility, role, or honor.This is Thiselton’s preferred emphasis; p. 821. See also Witherington, pp. 236–38 for a similarly nuanced position. This could be translated as:

    Christ is first before every man

The commentaries do not agree as to which of these concepts was uppermost in Paul’s mind. It is recommended that you use the word “head” in your language. This is especially valuable if “head” can be interpreted as having more than one of the above meanings.

Here are some ways to translate this concept:

Christ is the head of every man

Christ is like the head of every man

If a literal rendering as “head” is not meaningful in your language, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). More commentaries accept this interpretation than the others, and translations in many minority languages around the world have found this acceptable.

In some languages there may be a different figure of speech that can substitute for “head” which maintains some of the meanings that Paul intended.

11:3b

the head of every man is Christ,

the head of every man is Christ: The word head is used as a figure of speech to refer to someone who is prominent in some way. See the discussion above at 11:3b-d about the meaning of head. There are three ways to translate this figure of speech:

man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as man (here and in the rest of this section) means “male person.” It does not include women.

Christ himself was a man, so it may be natural to translate this as:

Christ is the head of all other men

11:3c

and the head of the woman is man,

and the head of the woman is man: The word head is used as a figure of speech to refer to someone who is prominent in some way. It has the same meaning as it did in 3b, and you should translate it in the same way. See the discussion at 11:3b-d about the meaning of head.

Here are some ways to translate this figure of speech:

woman…man: There are two ways to interpret the words woman and man in this statement:

  1. Paul referred to women and men in general. For example:

    the head of woman is man (NJB) (BSB, NJB, KJV, NASB, REB, NET, CEV, NCV, NIV)

  2. Paul referred to wives and husbands. For example:

    the head of a woman is her husband (GNT) (GNT, ESV, RSV, GW, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is followed by most English versions and by most commentaries. The Greek words that the BSB translates as woman and man are in the singular. However, in verses 3–15 they are general statements that apply to all women and all men. Use a form in your language that is understood as a general statement.In Paul’s culture, a woman’s position or status in society was lower than that of a man. You should translate the words woman and man the same way throughout verses 3–15.

Here are some ways to translate these words:

all females…all males

women…men

all women…all men

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

the leaders of men are women

men are in a position above women

11:3d

and the head of Christ is God.

and the head of Christ is God: The word head is used as a figure of speech. It has the same meaning as in the two previous examples. You should translate it in the same way. Paul said that God is in a position of prominence with regard to Christ.

Here are some ways to translate this figure of speech:

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Δέ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντός ἀνδρός ἡ κεφαλή ὁ Χριστός ἐστίν κεφαλή δέ γυναικός ὁ ἀνήρ κεφαλή δέ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός)

Here, Now could introduce: (1) a new topic or a new focus on a specific issue. Alternate translation: [Particularly,] (2) a contrast with [11:2](../11/02.md), which would imply that here the Corinthians are not “holding firmly to the traditions.” Alternate translation: [However,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἡ κεφαλὴ ὁ Χριστός ἐστιν, κεφαλὴ δὲ γυναικὸς ὁ ἀνήρ, κεφαλὴ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Δέ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντός ἀνδρός ἡ κεφαλή ὁ Χριστός ἐστίν κεφαλή δέ γυναικός ὁ ἀνήρ κεφαλή δέ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός)

Here Paul speaks as if someone could be the head of someone else. This is an important metaphor that Paul uses in many places, and it might contain elements of both of the possibilities in this note, so preserve the metaphor if possible. This figure of speech could refer to how the head: (1) functions as the source of life and existence for the body. The person who is identified as the head would function as the source of life and existence for the other person, and the other person is connected to the head. Alternate translation: [Christ is the source of every man, and the man is the source of a woman, and God is the source of Christ] (2) functions as the leader or director of the body. The person who is identified as the head would function as the authority over or leader of the other person. Alternate translation: [Christ has authority over every man, and the man has authority over a woman, and God has authority over Christ]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

παντὸς ἀνδρὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Δέ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντός ἀνδρός ἡ κεφαλή ὁ Χριστός ἐστίν κεφαλή δέ γυναικός ὁ ἀνήρ κεφαλή δέ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός)

Here, every man could refer to: (1) male people. Paul is not saying that Christ is not the head of female people, but he is claiming that he is the head of male people. Alternate translation: [of every male person] (2) people in general, even though the word is masculine. Alternate translation: [of every person]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γυναικὸς ὁ ἀνήρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Δέ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντός ἀνδρός ἡ κεφαλή ὁ Χριστός ἐστίν κεφαλή δέ γυναικός ὁ ἀνήρ κεφαλή δέ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός)

Here, man and woman could refer to: (1) a man and woman who are married to each other. Alternate translation: [the husband is … of his wife] (2) any people who are male and female. Alternate translation: [the male person is … of a female person]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

κεφαλὴ δὲ γυναικὸς ὁ ἀνήρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: θέλω Δέ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντός ἀνδρός ἡ κεφαλή ὁ Χριστός ἐστίν κεφαλή δέ γυναικός ὁ ἀνήρ κεφαλή δέ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεός)

Paul is speaking of “men” and “women” in general, not of one particular man and woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: [and each man is the head of his woman] or [and each man is the head of each woman]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

11:3 The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God: The NLT gives the literal reading head, which is a metaphor for either source or authority. The immediate context and Paul’s overall teaching both favor understanding head in this context as meaning authority (see Gen 3:16; Eph 5:21-23; Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. But
    2. -
    3. 11610
    4. S
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. but
    8. but
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 117328
    1. I am wanting
    2. -
    3. 23090
    5. thelō
    6. V-IPA1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ wanting
    8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ wanting
    9. -
    10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
    11. 117327
    1. you all
    2. -
    3. 47710
    5. su
    6. R-···2A·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y59; R116997
    11. 117329
    1. to have known
    2. -
    3. 14920
    5. eidō
    6. V-NEA····
    7. ˓to_have˒ known
    8. ˓to_have˒ known
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117330
    1. that
    2. -
    3. 37540
    5. hoti
    6. C-·······
    7. that
    8. that
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117331
    1. of every
    2. every
    3. 39560
    5. pas
    6. E-····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ every
    8. ˱of˲ every
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117332
    1. man
    2. -
    3. 4350
    5. anēr
    6. N-····GMS
    7. man
    8. man
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117333
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117334
    1. head
    2. -
    3. 27760
    5. kefalē
    6. N-····NFS
    7. head
    8. head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117335
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117336
    1. chosen one messiah
    2. -
    3. 55470
    4. WN
    5. χristos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah
    8. Messiah
    9. WN
    10. Y59; Person=Jesus
    11. 117337
    1. is
    2. -
    3. 15100
    5. eimi
    6. V-IPA3··S
    7. is
    8. is
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117338
    1. and
    2. -
    3. 11610
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117340
    1. +the head
    2. -
    3. 27760
    5. kefalē
    6. N-····NFS
    7. ˓the˒ head
    8. ˓the˒ head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117339
    1. of +the woman is
    2. -
    3. 11350
    5. gunē
    6. N-····GFS
    7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ woman ‹is›
    8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ woman ‹is›
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117341
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117342
    1. man
    2. -
    3. 4350
    5. anēr
    6. N-····NMS
    7. man
    8. man
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117343
    1. and
    2. -
    3. 11610
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117345
    1. +the head
    2. -
    3. 27760
    5. kefalē
    6. N-····NFS
    7. ˓the˒ head
    8. ˓the˒ head
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117344
    1. of the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117346
    1. chosen one messiah is
    2. -
    3. 55470
    4. WN
    5. χristos
    6. N-····GMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah ‹is›
    8. Messiah ‹is›
    9. WN
    10. Y59; Person=Jesus
    11. 117347
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 117348
    1. god
    2. God
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 117349

OET (OET-LV) But I_am_wanting you_all to_have_known that of_every man the head the chosen_one/messiah is, and the_head of_the_woman is the man, and the_head of_the chosen_one/messiah is the god.

OET (OET-RV) but I want you all to know that the messiah is the head of every man, and the man is the head of his wife, and God is the head of the messiah.[fn]

11:3 The translators expect that this talk of ‘the head’ is referring to authority, but because our modern society has become more sensitive to these issues, we decided to keep it literal here, thus letting our readers decide for themselves what Paul probably meant. (Having done that, our readers can also consider for themselves whether this might have been a cultural necessity in and around Corinth, or whether it has widespread application to all cultures.)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

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