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1 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16

1 Cor 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31

OET interlinear 1 COR 1:21

← 1 COR 1:21 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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

    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. ἐπειδή
    2. epeidē
    3. since
    4. since
    5. 18940
    6. C·······
    7. since
    8. since
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113366
    1. Γάρ
    2. gar
    3. For/Because
    4. Because
    5. 10630
    6. C·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113367
    1. ἐν
    2. en
    3. in
    4. -
    5. 17220
    6. P·······
    7. in
    8. in
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113368
    1. τῇ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····DFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113369
    1. σοφίᾳ
    2. sofia
    3. wisdom
    4. -
    5. 46780
    6. N····DFS
    7. wisdom
    8. wisdom
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113370
    1. τοῦ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113371
    1. κόσμου
    2. kosmos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 28890
    6. N····GMS
    7. world
    8. world
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 113372
    1. Θεοῦ
    2. theos
    3. of god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ god
    8. ˱of˲ God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113373
    1. οὐκ
    2. ou
    3. not
    4. didn't
    5. 37560
    6. D·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113374
    1. ἔγνω
    2. ginōskō
    3. knew
    4. -
    5. 10970
    6. VIAA3··S
    7. knew
    8. knew
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113375
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113376
    1. κόσμος
    2. kosmos
    3. world
    4. world
    5. 28890
    6. N····NMS
    7. world
    8. world
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113377
    1. διά
    2. dia
    3. by
    4. -
    5. 12230
    6. P·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113378
    1. τῆς
    2. ho
    3. its
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GFS
    7. its
    8. its
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113379
    1. σοφίας
    2. sofia
    3. wisdom
    4. -
    5. 46780
    6. N····GFS
    7. wisdom
    8. wisdom
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113380
    1. τόν
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····AMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113381
    1. Θεόν
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····AMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113382
    1. εὐδόκησεν
    2. eudokeō
    3. took pleasure
    4. pleased
    5. 21060
    6. VIAA3··S
    7. took_pleasure
    8. took_pleasure
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113383
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113384
    1. Θεός
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113385
    1. διά
    2. dia
    3. through
    4. -
    5. 12230
    6. P·······
    7. through
    8. through
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113386
    1. τῆς
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113387
    1. μωρίας
    2. mōria
    3. foolishness
    4. ‘foolish
    5. 34720
    6. N····GFS
    7. foolishness
    8. foolishness
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113388
    1. τοῦ
    2. ho
    3. of the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····GNS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113389
    1. κηρύγματος
    2. kērugma
    3. proclamation
    4. -
    5. 27820
    6. N····GNS
    7. proclamation
    8. proclamation
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113390
    1. σῶσαι
    2. sōzō
    3. to save
    4. save
    5. 49820
    6. VNAA····
    7. ˓to˒ save
    8. ˓to˒ save
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113391
    1. τούς
    2. ho
    3. the ones
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. R····AMP
    7. the ‹ones›
    8. the ‹ones›
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113392
    1. πιστεύοντας
    2. pisteuō
    3. believing
    4. believe
    5. 41000
    6. VPPA·AMP
    7. believing
    8. believing
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113393

OET (OET-LV) For/Because since in the wisdom the of_god, not knew the world by its wisdom the god, took_pleasure the god through the foolishness of_the proclamation to_save the ones believing.

OET (OET-RV) Because since the world, in God’s wisdom, didn’t know about God through their wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the ‘foolish’ message that was preached.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

In this section Paul wrote about a serious problem in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian believers were dividing up into competing groups. They were following whichever human leader they admired the most. Paul tried to solve this problem by reminding the Corinthians of the message of the cross. He wanted them to stop following human wisdom and to follow God’s wisdom.

Paragraph 1:20–25

In this paragraph Paul talked more about foolishness and wisdom. The gospel message expresses God’s power and wisdom. For different reasons, both Jewish people and Greek people may reject it. However, to those who believe the message/gospel, it brings salvation from sin and death.

1:21a

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him,

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces an explanation of verse 1:20. In 1:20 Paul said that God has shown that wise people’s ideas are of no value in knowing God. In 1:21–25, Paul explained that God proved that the wisdom of people who do not know God/him is really only foolishness.

since: The conjunction since introduces a contrast between the methods God could have chosen to save people. God chose the method “wise” people did not expect. God did not choose to save people by letting them know him through their own wisdom (1:21a), instead he chose to save them through the foolish gospel message (1:21b).

Another way to translate this is:

For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. (GNT)

in the wisdom of God: The phrase in the wisdom of God means “it was God’s wise plan.” In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as a verb phrase. For example:

since God wisely decided

as God in his wisdom ordained (REB)

the world through its wisdom did not know Him: This clause indicates human failure. People did not find a way to know God through their own wisdom. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the world was unable to recognize God though wisdom (NJB)

the world failed to find him/God by its wisdom (REB)

the world: The word world here refers to the world as a system opposed to God. In some languages this figure of speech may not be natural. It may be necessary to explicitly indicate “people.” For example:

the people of this world

through its wisdom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as through its wisdom is literally “through wisdom” (as in the RSV). Some English versions have added a word to indicate that Paul referred here to human wisdom. He did not mean the wisdom of God here. For example:

through its wisdom… (NIV)

their own wisdom (GNT)

through human wisdom (NLT)

did not know Him: The phrase did not know Him indicates that people of the world were unable to know God personally or fully.

1:21b

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe: This text explains what God did since people could not come to know him through their own wisdom. Another way to translate this is:

Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. (GNT)

God was pleased: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as God was pleased here means that God decided to save believers. This phrase also implies that God actually did what he had decided to do.

through the foolishness of what was preached: This is a figure of speech called irony. Paul meant the opposite of the literal meaning of these words. He was not saying that the message he and the other apostles preached was really foolishness. He meant that people who were not saved by the message thought it was foolish.

the foolishness of what was preached: This phrase also does not mean that people thought that the way or manner in which Paul preached was foolish. Rather, people thought that the content, the message itself, was foolish.

Translate this in a way that makes the meaning clear in your language. For example:

we preached what others call nonsense/folly

the message that sounds foolish (NCV)

the nonsense of the Good News we speak… (GW)

what was preached: Although this clause is passive, in some languages it may be more natural to translate it as active. For example, the GW says:

the Good News we speak

General Comment on 1:21a-b

Notice that in 1:21a-b there are two things that God decided. (a) God decided not to let people of this world use their own wisdom to learn about him, and (b) God decided to save only those people who believe the foolish message that was preached. Be sure to show the connection between them. For example:

God was wise and decided not to let people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him.

Instead God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. (CEV)

For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπειδή Γάρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διά τῆς σοφίας τόν Θεόν εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεός διά τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τούς πιστεύοντας)

Here, For introduces an explanation of how God has turned the wisdom of the world into foolishness ([1:20](../01/20.md)). You could use a word that introduces an explanation in your language or a short phrase that identifies that this verse explains the previous verse. Alternate translation: [That is,]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἐπειδὴ & οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν Θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπειδή Γάρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διά τῆς σοφίας τόν Θεόν εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεός διά τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τούς πιστεύοντας)

Here, since introduces the reason for the second half of the verse, which , begins with God was pleased. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit or break the two pieces into two sentences and use a transition word that indicates result. Alternate translation: [because … the world did not know God through wisdom, therefore God was pleased]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ

in the wisdom ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak of wisdom that God uses when he makes decisions or acts. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form by adding “plans” or “thinking” and translating wisdom with an adjective such as “wise.” Alternate translation: [in God’s wise plan] or [in God’s wise thinking]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ὁ κόσμος

the world

Here Paul uses the world to refer to the humans that are part of the the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of this word by translating the world with a word or phrase that refers to people who do not believe in Christ, or you could use a phrase like “people of the world.” Alternate translation: [the people of the world]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος

its the foolishness ˱of˲_the proclamation

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak of preaching that is characterized by foolishness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form by translating foolishness as an adjective describing the preaching or the content of the preaching. Alternate translation: [the foolish preaching] or [the foolish message that we preach]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

τῆς μωρίας

its the foolishness

Paul describes the preaching as foolishness. He does not actually think his message is foolish. Instead, he speaks from the perspective of the world and its wisdom, because the message is foolish to the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this way of speaking with an expression that indicates that Paul is using irony or speaking from another person’s perspective. Alternate translation: [the so-called foolishness]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

1:21 Human wisdom alone does not bring people to the true knowledge of God; that comes only through the message of the cross, which the world considers foolish, but which saves those who believe (cp. Matt 11:25).

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. For/Because
    2. Because
    3. 10630
    4. S
    5. gar
    6. C-·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113367
    1. since
    2. since
    3. 18940
    5. epeidē
    6. C-·······
    7. since
    8. since
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113366
    1. in
    2. -
    3. 17220
    5. en
    6. P-·······
    7. in
    8. in
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113368
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····DFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113369
    1. wisdom
    2. -
    3. 46780
    5. sofia
    6. N-····DFS
    7. wisdom
    8. wisdom
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113370
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113371
    1. of god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····GMS
    7. ˱of˲ god
    8. ˱of˲ God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113373
    1. not
    2. didn't
    3. 37560
    5. ou
    6. D-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113374
    1. knew
    2. -
    3. 10970
    5. ginōskō
    6. V-IAA3··S
    7. knew
    8. knew
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113375
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113376
    1. world
    2. world
    3. 28890
    5. kosmos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. world
    8. world
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113377
    1. by
    2. -
    3. 12230
    5. dia
    6. P-·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113378
    1. its
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GFS
    7. its
    8. its
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113379
    1. wisdom
    2. -
    3. 46780
    5. sofia
    6. N-····GFS
    7. wisdom
    8. wisdom
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113380
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····AMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113381
    1. god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····AMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113382
    1. took pleasure
    2. pleased
    3. 21060
    5. eudokeō
    6. V-IAA3··S
    7. took_pleasure
    8. took_pleasure
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113383
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113384
    1. god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 113385
    1. through
    2. -
    3. 12230
    5. dia
    6. P-·······
    7. through
    8. through
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113386
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GFS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113387
    1. foolishness
    2. ‘foolish
    3. 34720
    5. mōria
    6. N-····GFS
    7. foolishness
    8. foolishness
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113388
    1. of the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····GNS
    7. ˱of˲ the
    8. ˱of˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113389
    1. proclamation
    2. -
    3. 27820
    5. kērugma
    6. N-····GNS
    7. proclamation
    8. proclamation
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113390
    1. to save
    2. save
    3. 49820
    5. sōzō
    6. V-NAA····
    7. ˓to˒ save
    8. ˓to˒ save
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113391
    1. the ones
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. R-····AMP
    7. the ‹ones›
    8. the ‹ones›
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113392
    1. believing
    2. believe
    3. 41000
    5. pisteuō
    6. V-PPA·AMP
    7. believing
    8. believing
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113393

OET (OET-LV) For/Because since in the wisdom the of_god, not knew the world by its wisdom the god, took_pleasure the god through the foolishness of_the proclamation to_save the ones believing.

OET (OET-RV) Because since the world, in God’s wisdom, didn’t know about God through their wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the ‘foolish’ message that was preached.

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.

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← 1 COR 1:21 ↑ → ► ║ ©