OET interlinear 1 COR 14:29

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Προφῆται δέ δύο ἤ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν καί οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν)

Here, But introduces similar instructions about a new topic (prophecy). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express But with a word or phrase that introduces a related topic. Alternate translation: [In the same way,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

προφῆται & δύο ἢ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Προφῆται δέ δύο ἤ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν καί οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν)

Paul does not explicitly state in what situation two or three prophets should speak. He does not mean that only two or three prophets can ever speak. He could be speaking about: (1) each time the believers gathered to worship God. Alternate translation: [let two or three prophets speak every time you gather together] (2) the periods between when the others evaluate. In this case, two or three prophets can speak before the evaluation happens. Alternate translation: [let two or three prophets speak consecutively]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

δύο ἢ τρεῖς

two (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Προφῆται δέ δύο ἤ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν καί οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν)

Here, two or three does not restrict the number of prophets to only those two numbers. Rather, Paul uses two or three to give a general idea of how many prophets should speak when believers gather for worship. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate two or three by including a word or phrase that indicates that Paul is giving examples or rough estimates. Alternate translation: [roughly two or three]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

προφῆται & δύο ἢ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν, καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Προφῆται δέ δύο ἤ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν καί οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν)

In this verse, 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: [two or three prophets must speak, and the others must evaluate]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

οἱ ἄλλοι

the others

Here, the others could refer to: (1) all the believers who are not prophesying. Alternate translation: [the rest of the believers] (2) all the prophets who are not prophesying. Alternate translation: [the other prophets]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν

the others ˓let_be˒_distinguishing

Here Paul does not state what the others are supposed to evaluate. He implies that it is what the prophets speak. If your readers would not make this inference, you could refer to what the prophets speak explicitly. Alternate translation: [let the others evaluate what they say]