OET interlinear 1COR 14:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς & ἐὰν

thus also you_all & if

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. The Corinthians would have inferred that Paul meant they would be like instruments that do not make clear sounds. If your readers would not infer that information, and if your language requires more words to make a complete thought, you could supply them. Alternate translation: “You are like those instruments. Unless”

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς διὰ τῆς γλώσσης, ἐὰν μὴ εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε

thus also you_all through the tongue if not easily_recognized speech ˱you_all˲_/may/_give

Here, tongue could refer to: (1) the human body part that people use to speak words. In this case, with your tongue modifies give intelligible speech. Alternate translation: “In the same way also you, unless you use your tongue to give intelligible speech” (2) the unknown language that some of the Corinthians were speaking. In this case, with your tongue modifies the first you. Alternate translation: “You act in the same way when you speak in a tongue. Unless you give intelligible speech”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε

easily_recognized speech ˱you_all˲_/may/_give

Here, to give intelligible speech refers to making words that other people understand. If your language does not use give for speech or words, you can use a comparable expression. Alternate translation: “you speak intelligible words” or “you talk in intelligible language”

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

εὔσημον λόγον

easily_recognized speech

Here, intelligible speech refers to words and sentences that other people can understand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express intelligible speech with a comparable expression that identifies language that can be understood. Alternate translation: “understandable speech” or “words that others can comprehend”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον?

how /will_be_being/_known what_‹is› /being/_spoken

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “it will not be understood.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong negation. Alternate translation: “the thing being spoken will never be understood.”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον

/will_be_being/_known what_‹is› /being/_spoken

If your language does not use the passive form in these ways, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses passive forms here to avoid stating who is speaking and who is understanding, which makes his question more general. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that “you” are speaking and some other person is understanding. Alternate translation: “someone understand what you are speaking”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες

into /the/_air speaking

Here, speaking into the air is a way to say that the speech or words have no effect. In other words, no people but only the air hears the speech. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express speaking into the air with a comparable expression that describes words that have no effect or meaning. Alternate translation: “speaking empty words” or “talking to nothing”