1 COR 13:3 Interlinear View

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. Κἄν
2. kan
3. And if
4. -
5. 25790
6. C·······
7. and_if
8. and_if
9. S
10. Y59
11. 118451
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 118452
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. -
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. -
11. 118453
1. ψωμίσω
2. psōmizō
3. I may give away
4. -
5. 55950
6. VSAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_away
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_away
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118454
1. παντᾶ
2. pas
3. all
4. -
5. 39560
6. E····ANP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118455
1. τά
2. ho
3. the things
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118456
1. ὑπάρχοντα
2. huparχō
3. possessing
4. -
5. 52250
6. VPPA·ANP
7. possessing
8. possessing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118457
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. my
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118458
1. κἄν
2. kan
3. -
4. -
5. 25790
6. C·······
7. and_if
8. and_if
9. -
10. -
11. 118459
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118460
1. ἄν
2. an
3. -
4. -
5. 3020
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. -
11. 118461
1. ἐάν
2. ean
3. -
4. -
5. 14370
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. -
11. 118462
1. παραδῶ
2. paradidōmi
3. I may give over
4. -
5. 38600
6. VSAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_over
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_over
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118463
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118464
1. σῶμα
2. sōma
3. body
4. body
5. 49830
6. N····ANS
7. body
8. body
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118465
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118466
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118467
1. καυχήσωμαι
2. kauχaomai
3. I may boast
4. boast
5. 27440
6. VSAM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ boast
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ boast
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118468
1. καυθήσωμαι
2. kaiō
3. -
4. -
5. 25450
6. VSAM3··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ burned
8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ burned
9. -
10. -
11. 118469
1. καυθήσομαι
2. kaiō
3. -
4. -
5. 25450
6. VIFP1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ burned
8. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ burned
9. -
10. R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118470
1. ἀγάπην
2. agapē
3. love
4. love
5. 260
6. N····AFS
7. love
8. love
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118471
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. but
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118472
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. didn't
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118473
1. ἔχω
2. eχō
3. I may be having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VSPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ having
8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ having
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118474
1. οὐθέν
2. oudeis
3. nothing
4. -
5. 37620
6. R····ANS
7. nothing
8. nothing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118475
1. ὠφελοῦμαι
2. ōfeleō
3. I am being benefitted
4. -
5. 56230
6. VIPP1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am_being˒ benefitted
8. ˱I˲ ˓am_being˒ benefited
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118476

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–13 Love endures forever

In this section Paul talked about the importance of love. He described how a person who loves will behave toward others. He concluded that love is more important than any of the spiritual gifts. One day all the spiritual gifts will cease, but love will never cease.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Love

Paul urged believers to act in love

The way of love

Paragraph 13:1–3

In this paragraph Paul said that love is more important than the spiritual gifts. Without love the spiritual gifts are worthless.

Each verse in this paragraph has the same structure. Each has some conditions, followed by the words “but do not have love,” followed by the thing that will result if the conditions are true.

13:3a–d

In Greek, this verse starts with a conjunction that the BSB does not translate. Some English versions translate it as “And.” It introduces examples of how personal sacrifices are worthless without love.

If…and…but…I gain…: The BSB introduces two conditions with the words If and and. It introduces “have not love” with the word but. The BSB does not use a conjunction to introduce the result. Think about the conjunctions that will be clear in your language.

Here is another way to translate these conjunctions:

if…and if…but…then I gain…

13:3a

If I give all I possess to the poor

I may give all my belongings to poor people,
Somebody may give everything they have to others,

If I give all I possess to the poor: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as I give all I possess to the poor is more literally “I distribute all my belongings.” The BSB added the words the poor to make the meaning clear.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I give away everything I have

I give all I have to poor people

I give all my possessions to help/feed poor people

13:3b

and exult in the surrender of my body,

and allow people to kill me by burning my body.
and they may be willing to be burnt to death for Christ.

and: In Greek, this phrase starts with two conjunctions. The BSB translates them as and. Some English versions translate them as “and if.” These conjunctions introduce a second personal sacrifice that a person might make.

exult in the surrender of my body: There is a textual issue here.

Some Greek manuscripts say “surrender my body to the flames.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I allow my body to be burned

I allow them to kill me by burning my body

I am willing to be burnt to death for Christ (NIV84, RSV, NJB, ESV, GNT, GW, REB, KJV)

Some Greek manuscripts say “surrender my body that I may boast.” For example:
give over my body to hardship, that I may boast (NIV11) (BSB, NIV11, NRSV, NLT, NET)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is supported by many ancient manuscripts, and many English versions and commentaries. It is the second reading of the UBS Greek text.The 4th edition of the UBS Greek New Testament chooses the reading “that I may boast.” However, they give it a rating of “C,” indicating that “the Committee had difficulty in deciding which variant to place in the text.”

13:3c

but have not love,

But if I do not love other people,
But if that person does not have a heart of love,

but have not love: This phrase is the same as in 13:1b and 13:2d. It is the third and final time that Paul said this phrase. Consider whether in your language it is good style to vary the words or use the same phrase.

13:3d

I gain nothing.

there is no benefit for me.
they will not receive a reward.

I gain nothing: The phrase I gain nothing means that people who act without love will gain no reward from their good deeds. God will not reward them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there is no benefit for me

I will not receive a reward.

General Comment on 13:3a-d

In some languages it may be natural to break up this long sentence into two, as the GW has done:

I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me. (GW)

General Comment on 13:1–3

In this paragraph Paul wrote in the first person. He used himself as an example of any Christian. In some languages it may be natural to use “somebody” or “we” rather than “I” in order to show that Paul spoke of a general situation. For example:

If someone speaks in the tongues of men and of angels but has no love, he is a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if he has the gift of prophecy…

If we^(incl) speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have no love, we^(incl) are like noisy gongs or clanging cymbals. And if we^(incl) have the gift of prophecy…

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

κἂν ψωμίσω πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντά μου, καὶ ἐὰν παραδῶ τὸ σῶμά μου, ἵνα καυχήσωμαι, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐδὲν ὠφελοῦμαι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἄν ψωμίσω παντᾶ τά ὑπάρχοντα μού καί παραδῶ τό σῶμα μού ἵνα καυχήσωμαι ἀγάπην δέ μή ἔχω οὐθέν ὠφελοῦμαι)

Here, just as in [13:1–2](../13/01.md), Paul is using a hypothetical situation to teach the Corinthians. He wants them to imagine that he could give away all his possessions and that he could hand over his body so that he might boast but that he did not have love. He uses himself in this hypothetical situation so that he does not offend the Corinthians by using them as an example of people without love. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a hypothetical situation. Alternate translation: [And suppose that I gave away all my possessions, and suppose that I handed over my body so that I might boast, but also suppose that I did not have love. In that case, I would gain nothing]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

παραδῶ τὸ σῶμά μου

˱I˲_˓may˒_give_over (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἄν ψωμίσω παντᾶ τά ὑπάρχοντα μού καί παραδῶ τό σῶμα μού ἵνα καυχήσωμαι ἀγάπην δέ μή ἔχω οὐθέν ὠφελοῦμαι)

Here, hand over my body refers to willingly accepting bodily suffering and even death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind hand over my bodymore explicitly. Alternate translation: [I allow others to hurt my body]

Note 3 topic: translate-textvariants

καυχήσωμαι

˱I˲_˓may˒_boast

In Paul’s language, I might boast and “I might be burned” look and sound very similar. While many later manuscripts have “I might be burned” here, the earliest manuscripts have I might boast. Unless there is a good reason to translate “I might be burned,” it is best to follow the ULT here and translate I might boast.

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἵνα καυχήσωμαι

in_order_that ˱I˲_˓may˒_boast

Here, so that could introduce: (1) a result that comes from “handing over one’s body.” Alternate translation: [that I might then boast] (2) a purpose of “handing over one’s body.” Alternate translation: [in order that I might boast]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀγάπην & μὴ ἔχω

love & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κἄν ψωμίσω παντᾶ τά ὑπάρχοντα μού καί παραδῶ τό σῶμα μού ἵνα καυχήσωμαι ἀγάπην δέ μή ἔχω οὐθέν ὠφελοῦμαι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind love, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “love.” Alternate translation: [I do not love people]

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. And if
2. -
3. 25790
4. S
5. kan
6. C-·······
7. and_if
8. and_if
9. S
10. Y59
11. 118451
1. I may give away
2. -
3. 55950
5. psōmizō
6. V-SAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_away
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_away
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118454
1. all
2. -
3. 39560
5. pas
6. E-····ANP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118455
1. the things
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118456
1. possessing
2. -
3. 52250
5. huparχō
6. V-PPA·ANP
7. possessing
8. possessing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118457
1. of me
2. my
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118458
1. and
2. and
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118460
1. I may give over
2. -
3. 38600
5. paradidōmi
6. V-SAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_over
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ give_over
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118463
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118464
1. body
2. body
3. 49830
5. sōma
6. N-····ANS
7. body
8. body
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118465
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118466
1. in order that
2. -
3. 24430
5. hina
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118467
1. I may boast
2. boast
3. 27440
5. kauχaomai
6. V-SAM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ boast
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ boast
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118468
1. but
2. but
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118472
1. love
2. love
3. 260
5. agapē
6. N-····AFS
7. love
8. love
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118471
1. not
2. didn't
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118473
1. I may be having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-SPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ having
8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ having
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118474
1. nothing
2. -
3. 37620
5. oudeis
6. R-····ANS
7. nothing
8. nothing
9. -
10. Y59
11. 118475
1. I am being benefitted
2. -
3. 56230
5. ōfeleō
6. V-IPP1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am_being˒ benefitted
8. ˱I˲ ˓am_being˒ benefited
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 118476

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.

OET interlinear 1 COR 13:3

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

Section 13:1–13 Love endures forever

Paragraph 13:1–3

13:3a–d

13:3a

13:3b

13:3c

13:3d

General Comment on 13:3a-d

General Comment on 13:1–3

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 13:3

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

Section 13:1–13 Love endures forever

Paragraph 13:1–3

13:3a–d

13:3a

13:3b

13:3c

13:3d

General Comment on 13:3a-d

General Comment on 13:1–3

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 13:3