OET interlinear 1COR 14:28

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

ἐὰν

if

Much like in 14:27, Paul is speaking as if an interpreter not being present was a hypothetical possibility, but he knows that sometimes this is true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can express the idea with a word that refers to a situation rather than to a possibility. Alternate translation: “whenever”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διερμηνευτής

/an/_interpreter

Here, much like in 14:26–27, interpreter refers specifically to someone who can interpret a tongue. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state explicitly that the interpreter is the person who “interprets” the tongue. Alternate translation: “an interpreter for the tongue”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

μὴ ᾖ διερμηνευτής

not may_be /an/_interpreter

Just as in 14:27, the interpreter could be someone who speaks in tongues or some other person. If possible, you should translate an interpreter in such a way that it could refer to one of the people speaking in a tongue or to someone else. Alternate translation: “no one can interpret”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

σιγάτω & ἑαυτῷ & λαλείτω

˱him˲_/let_be/_keeping_silent & ˱to˲_himself & ˱him˲_/let_be/_speaking

Although him and himself are masculine, Paul is using them to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express him and himself with non gendered words or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “let him or her be silent … let him or speak to himself or herself”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

σιγάτω & λαλείτω

˱him˲_/let_be/_keeping_silent & ˱him˲_/let_be/_speaking

Here Paul uses two third-person imperatives. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use them here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the ideas using a word such as “should” or “must.” Alternate translation: “he needs to be silent … he needs to speak”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σιγάτω & λαλείτω

˱him˲_/let_be/_keeping_silent & ˱him˲_/let_be/_speaking

Here, let him be silent and let him speak refer specifically to speaking in “tongues.” They do not refer in general to any speaking in church. If your readers would not infer this information, you could state it more explicitly. Alternate translation: “let him not speak the tongue … let him speak the tongue”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ

in /the/_assembly

Here, just as in 14:19, in the church is a spatial metaphor that speaks of the church as if it were a place in which people could gather. Paul speaks in this way to indicate the situation which he is discussing: a gathering of believers that meets to worship God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express in the church by clarifying that the church refers to a gathering of believers for worship. Alternate translation: “in the gathering of believers” or “during the worship service”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἑαυτῷ & καὶ τῷ Θεῷ

˱to˲_himself & and ¬the ˱to˲_God

Here, to himself and to God could refer to: (1) how the person should keep the “tongue” between himself and God. In other words, the only people who experience the “tongue” are the person speaking it and God. This would mean that the person speaking the “tongue” says words in their head or very quietly. Alternate translation: “in his mind to God” or “quietly to God” (2) how the person should speak the “tongue” after the meeting is over and “he” is by himself. In this way, only the person who speaks the “tongue” and God hear it. Alternate translation: “to God when he is by himself”