OET interlinear 1COR 14:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα

rather but in_order_that

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous clause (I desire). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause. Alternate translation: “but I desire even more that” or “but even more, I desire that”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ προφητεύων & ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις

the_‹one› prophesying & the_‹one› speaking ˱in˲_tongues

Here, just as in 14:4, Paul is speaking of people “prophesying” and people “speaking in tongues” in general, not of two particular people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: “anyone who prophesies … anyone who speaks in tongues”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μείζων

greater_‹is›

Here, greater indicates that the one prophesying does something that is more important and helpful than the one speaking in tongues. It does not mean that God cares about the person prophesying more than the person speaking in tongues. If you readers would misunderstand greater, you could state explicitly how or in what way the person is greater. Alternate translation: “does something more useful” or “does what is more valuable”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ

besides except ¬not/lest ˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting in_order_that the assembly building /may/_receive

The ULT puts these clauses in parentheses because they give a qualification of what Paul has said about how the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues. In this clause, Paul clarifies that he is only speaking about tongues without interpretation. Further, if someone does interpret the tongues, then that can lead to building up, just like prophecy. Use a form in your language that would indicate a qualification or a parenthesis. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: “That is true except for when he interprets, so that the church receives building up”

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ

besides except ¬not/lest ˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting in_order_that the assembly building /may/_receive

If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. If you use this alternate translation, you may need to remove the parentheses. Alternate translation: “and does not interpret, because it is only when he interprets that the church receives building up”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

διερμηνεύῃ

˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting

Here, he could refer back specifically to the one speaking in tongues, but it does not have to do so. The word he could refer to anyone who can interpret, not just the person who is speaking in tongues. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind that he refers to anyone more clearly. Alternate translation: “he or somebody else would interpret”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

διερμηνεύῃ

˱he˲_/may_be/_interpreting

Although he is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express he with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “he or she would interpret”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οἰκοδομὴν

building

Paul here speaks as if believers were a building that one “builds up.” With this metaphor, he emphasizes that the one speaking in tongues and also “interprets” helps other believers become stronger and more mature, just like the one who builds a house makes it strong and complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. See how you translated this metaphor in 14:3. Alternate translation: “growth” or “edification”