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InterlinearVerse GENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOBJOSJDGRUTH1 SAM2 SAMPSAAMOSHOS1 KI2 KI1 CHR2 CHRPROVECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNA (JNA)NAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALLAOGESLESESGDNG2 PSTOBJDTWISSIRBARLJEPAZSUSBELMAN1 MAC2 MAC3 MAC4 MACYHN (JHN)MARKMATLUKEACTsYAC (JAM)GAL1 TH2 TH1 COR2 CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1 TIMTIT1 PET2 PET2 TIMHEBYUD (JUD)1 YHN (1 JHN)2 YHN (2 JHN)3 YHN (3 JHN)REV

1 Cor C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16

1 Cor 4 V1V2V3V4V5V6V7V8V10V11V12V13V14V15V16V17V18V19V20V21

OET interlinear 1 COR 4:9

 1 COR 4:9 ©

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. δοκῶ
    2. dokeō
    3. I am supposing
    4. -
    5. 13800
    6. VIPA1··S
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ supposing
    8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ supposing
    9. -
    10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
    11. 114409
    1. Γάρ
    2. gar
    3. For/Because
    4. -
    5. 10630
    6. C·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 114410
    1. ὅτι
    2. hoti
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 37540
    6. C·······
    7. that
    8. that
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 114411
    1. ho
    2. the
    3. -
    4. 35880
    5. E····NMS
    6. ¬the
    7. ¬the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114412
    1. Θεός
    2. theos
    3. god
    4. -
    5. 23160
    6. N····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 114413
    1. ἡμάς
    2. egō
    3. us
    4. -
    5. 14730
    6. R···1A·P
    7. us
    8. us
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114414
    1. τούς
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····AMP
    7. ¬the
    8. ¬the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114415
    1. ἀποστόλους
    2. apostolos
    3. ambassadors
    4. -
    5. 6520
    6. N····AMP
    7. ambassadors
    8. ambassadors
    9. -
    10. Y59; F114423; F114439; F114439; F114446; F114454; F114456; F114458; F114460; F114462; F114464; F114465; F114467; F114470; F114471; F114472; F114473; F114475; F114480
    11. 114416
    1. ἐσχάτους
    2. esχatos
    3. last
    4. -
    5. 20780
    6. S····AMP
    7. last
    8. last
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114417
    1. ἀπέδειξεν
    2. apodeiknuō
    3. demonstrated
    4. -
    5. 5840
    6. VIAA3··S
    7. demonstrated
    8. demonstrated
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114418
    1. ὡς
    2. hōs
    3. as
    4. -
    5. 56130
    6. C·······
    7. as
    8. as
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114419
    1. ἐπιθανατίους
    2. epithanatios
    3. sentenced to death
    4. sentenced death
    5. 19350
    6. S····AMP
    7. sentenced_to_death
    8. sentenced_to_death
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114420
    1. ὅτι
    2. hoti
    3. because
    4. -
    5. 37540
    6. C·······
    7. because
    8. because
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114421
    1. θέατρον
    2. theatron
    3. +a theatre
    4. -
    5. 23020
    6. N····NNS
    7. ˓a˒ theatre
    8. ˓a˒ theatre
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114422
    1. ἐγενήθημεν
    2. ginomai
    3. we were become
    4. we become
    5. 10960
    6. VIAP1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓were˒ become
    8. ˱we˲ ˓were˒ become
    9. -
    10. Y59; R114416
    11. 114423
    1. τῷ
    2. ho
    3. to the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····DMS
    7. ˱to˲ the
    8. ˱to˲ the
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114424
    1. κόσμῳ
    2. kosmos
    3. world
    4. world
    5. 28890
    6. N····DMS
    7. world
    8. world
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114425
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. both
    4. -
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. both
    8. both
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114426
    1. ἀγγέλοις
    2. aŋgelos
    3. to messengers
    4. messengers
    5. 320
    6. N····DMP
    7. ˱to˲ messengers
    8. ˱to˲ angels
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114427
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. and
    4. and
    5. 25320
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114428
    1. ἀνθρώποις
    2. anthrōpos
    3. to humans
    4. -
    5. 4440
    6. N····DMP
    7. ˱to˲ humans
    8. ˱to˲ humans
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 114429

OET (OET-LV)For/Because I_am_supposing the god us the ambassadors last demonstrated, as sentenced_to_death, because a_theatre we_were_become to_the world, both to_messengers and to_humans.

OET (OET-RV)because it seems that God has exhibited us missionaries last of all, as if sentenced to death—because we have become a spectacle to the world—both to God’s messengers and to men.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–21: The Corinthians should respect Paul as a servant of Christ

Paul continued to talk about how the Corinthian believers should think about their Christian leaders, especially himself. He said that Christian leaders are servants of Christ and should be judged only by Christ. Some Corinthian believers were saying that they did not have to listen to Paul’s teaching. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect and obey him as their spiritual father.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect him and Apollos

Paul and Apollos deserved respect as Christ’s servants

Paragraph 4:6–13

In this paragraph Paul rebuked the Corinthians for talking proudly about their abilities. Since all their abilities came from God, they had no reason to talk proudly about them. Paul talked about Apollos and himself to contrast the suffering that true workers of Christ were enduring with the proud, boastful attitudes of the Corinthians.

4:9

In this verse Paul compared himself and the other apostles to prisoners about to die in an arena. These prisoners entered the arena last, behind the more important people. They were forced to fight until they died. Other people watched this for amusement. The apostles were like these prisoners in two ways: first, they were in the worst possible place, and second, everyone could watch their suffering. Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings. (GNT)

But it seems to me that God has put us apostles in last place, like those sentenced to die. We are like a show for the whole world to see—angels and people. (NCV)

It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. (CEV)

4:9a

For it seems to me that

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces Paul’s basis for saying that he wished he and the other apostles were reigning like kings.

it seems to me: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as it seems to me here introduces how Paul perceived things. Paul began to tell his emotional reaction to how the Corinthians were acting. It may be natural to translate this as:

It feels as though

I think that (RSV)

4:9b

God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession,

God has displayed us apostles: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as displayed means to show or cause others to see something. Here is another way to translate this:

exhibited (RSV)

at the end of the procession: The Greek word that the BSB translates as at the end of the procession is literally “last.” This can refer to being last in line or last in place. In either case, it figuratively refers to being last in importance, lowest in rank. Paul was saying that the apostles were in the worst possible place. They were certainly not kings. Try to translate this with an expression that implies being both last in place or time and last in importance. For example:

last of all (RSV)

4:9c

like prisoners appointed for death.

like prisoners appointed for death: The Greek word that the BSB translates as prisoners appointed for death is an adjective indicating that these people were about to die. In this context, it describes criminals or prisoners of war who were going to be put to death. The phrase like prisoners appointed for death is a simile comparing the apostles to these condemned prisoners. Other ways to translate this verse part include:

as though sentenced to death (NRSV)

We are like prisoners on their way to death. (CEV)

We(excl) are like the people who will be killed.

4:9d

We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

In the Greek this verse part connects to the previous verse part with a conjunction that the RSV translates as “because.” In this context it introduces the basis for what Paul had just said. The apostles were like men condemned to die in the arena because, or in the sense that, the whole world watched them as they suffered.

We have become a spectacle: The Greek word that the BSB translates as spectacle refers to a display or theatrical show. The NCV translates this as a simile:

We are like a show (NCV)

We have become: The context of 4:9b makes it clear that God was the one who caused the apostles to be a spectacle or show. So it is also possible to translate this as:

God made us

to the whole world, to angels as well as to men: The Greek word that the BSB translates as world refers here to the whole created order, including both the realm of angels and the realm of humans.The KJV translates this phrase as though there were three separate entities: “unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” This is not followed by most other English versions. The BSB, NIV, NJB, GNT, and RSV/NRSV all understand the world/universe to consist of two groups: angels and men. At first reading the RSV and NRSV appear ambiguous (“to the world, to angels and to men/mortals”), but the absence of a comma after the word angels shows that angels and men together form the world. Had the RSV and NRSV intended to refer to three separate entities, they would have said “to the world, to angels, and to men.” Elsewhere they consistently use a serial comma for such phrases: see 5:11, 14:26, and 2 Cor 6:6–7.

General Comment on 4:9a-d

The GNT translates 4:9a-d as one sentence in order to make it clear that the “spectacle” consisted of a public death:

For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings. (GNT)

Consider how to best make it clear that the “spectacle” consisted of people being publicly put to death.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γάρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: δοκῶ Γάρ ὁ Θεός ἡμάς τούς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις)

Here, For introduces evidence that Paul and the other apostles are not “reigning” right now. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this connection by using a contrast word such as “rather” or use a word or phrase that indicates that this sentence provides evidence that Paul is not “reigning.” Alternate translation: [Rather,] or [you could tell we are not reigning, since]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

δοκῶ

˱I˲_˓am˒_supposing

Here, I think introduces Paul’s own opinion of what he and other apostles are meant to do and experience. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind I thinkby using a word or phrase that introduces a person’s interpretation or opinion. Alternate translation: [in my opinion,] or [it seems to me that]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμᾶς & ἐγενήθημεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: δοκῶ Γάρ ὁ Θεός ἡμάς τούς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις)

Here, we and us refer to Paul and his fellow apostles. It does not include the Corinthians.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν, ὡς ἐπιθανατίους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: δοκῶ Γάρ ὁ Θεός ἡμάς τούς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις)

Here Paul uses a metaphor that identifies himself and other apostles as those who receive public humiliation and are put to death. The metaphor itself could: (1) refer to a Roman gladiatorial contest. The apostles, then, would be exhibited in the arena as part of the last event. As those who are sentenced to death, they would then die in this last event. Alternate translation: [has exhibited us apostles in the last event of the gladiatorial games, in which we are destined to die] (2) refer to a victory parade. The apostles, then, would be exhibited at the end of the parade, or last. As the last prisoners, they are sentenced to death, and will be killed soon after the parade ends. Alternate translation: [has exhibited us apostles at the end of the victory parade, in the place where prisoners who are sentenced to death march] (3) be a figure of speech that your readers would misunderstand. If this is the case, you could express the idea in nonfigurative language. Alternate translation: [has chosen us apostles to be humiliated, and we are destined to die]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

ἐσχάτους

last

Here, last of all could identify: (1) the time when the apostles are exhibited, which would be as the last event held in the arena. Alternate translation: [at the end] (2) the place where the apostles are exhibited, which would be at the end of the victory parade. Alternate translation: [last in line]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώποις

˓a˒_theatre ˱we˲_˓were˒_become ˱to˲_the world (Some words not found in SR-GNT: δοκῶ Γάρ ὁ Θεός ἡμάς τούς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις)

Here Paul speaks as if he and other apostles were part of a gladiatorial game or a theatrical show. He speaks in this way to show that the humiliation and death he and other apostles suffer happens in public, with everyone watching to see what happens. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [we live in full view of the world—both of angels and of men] or [we undergo these things publicly, before the world—both angels and men]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώποις

˱to˲_the world (Some words not found in SR-GNT: δοκῶ Γάρ ὁ Θεός ἡμάς τούς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις)

This structure could mean that: (1) Paul wants to define the world as angels and men. Alternate translation: [to the world, that is, both to angels and to men] (2) Paul is listing three different things. Alternate translation: [to the world, to angels, and to men.]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνθρώποις

˱to˲_humans

Although men is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether men or women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express men with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [to men and women] or [to people]

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. -
    3. 10630
    4. S
    5. gar
    6. C-·······
    7. for
    8. for
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 114410
    1. I am supposing
    2. -
    3. 13800
    4. dokeō
    5. V-IPA1··S
    6. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ supposing
    7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ supposing
    8. -
    9. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
    10. 114409
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    4. ho
    5. E-····NMS
    6. ¬the
    7. ¬the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114412
    1. god
    2. -
    3. 23160
    4. GN
    5. theos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. god
    8. God
    9. GN
    10. Y59; Person=God
    11. 114413
    1. us
    2. -
    3. 14730
    4. egō
    5. R-···1A·P
    6. us
    7. us
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114414
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    4. ho
    5. E-····AMP
    6. ¬the
    7. ¬the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114415
    1. ambassadors
    2. -
    3. 6520
    4. apostolos
    5. N-····AMP
    6. ambassadors
    7. ambassadors
    8. -
    9. Y59; F114423; F114439; F114439; F114446; F114454; F114456; F114458; F114460; F114462; F114464; F114465; F114467; F114470; F114471; F114472; F114473; F114475; F114480
    10. 114416
    1. last
    2. -
    3. 20780
    4. esχatos
    5. S-····AMP
    6. last
    7. last
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114417
    1. demonstrated
    2. -
    3. 5840
    4. apodeiknuō
    5. V-IAA3··S
    6. demonstrated
    7. demonstrated
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114418
    1. as
    2. -
    3. 56130
    4. hōs
    5. C-·······
    6. as
    7. as
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114419
    1. sentenced to death
    2. sentenced death
    3. 19350
    4. epithanatios
    5. S-····AMP
    6. sentenced_to_death
    7. sentenced_to_death
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114420
    1. because
    2. -
    3. 37540
    4. hoti
    5. C-·······
    6. because
    7. because
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114421
    1. +a theatre
    2. -
    3. 23020
    4. theatron
    5. N-····NNS
    6. ˓a˒ theatre
    7. ˓a˒ theatre
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114422
    1. we were become
    2. we become
    3. 10960
    4. ginomai
    5. V-IAP1··P
    6. ˱we˲ ˓were˒ become
    7. ˱we˲ ˓were˒ become
    8. -
    9. Y59; R114416
    10. 114423
    1. to the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    4. ho
    5. E-····DMS
    6. ˱to˲ the
    7. ˱to˲ the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114424
    1. world
    2. world
    3. 28890
    4. kosmos
    5. N-····DMS
    6. world
    7. world
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114425
    1. both
    2. -
    3. 25320
    4. kai
    5. C-·······
    6. both
    7. both
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114426
    1. to messengers
    2. messengers
    3. 320
    4. aŋgelos
    5. N-····DMP
    6. ˱to˲ messengers
    7. ˱to˲ angels
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114427
    1. and
    2. and
    3. 25320
    4. kai
    5. C-·······
    6. and
    7. and
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114428
    1. to humans
    2. -
    3. 4440
    4. anthrōpos
    5. N-····DMP
    6. ˱to˲ humans
    7. ˱to˲ humans
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 114429

OET (OET-LV)For/Because I_am_supposing the god us the ambassadors last demonstrated, as sentenced_to_death, because a_theatre we_were_become to_the world, both to_messengers and to_humans.

OET (OET-RV)because it seems that God has exhibited us missionaries last of all, as if sentenced to death—because we have become a spectacle to the world—both to God’s messengers and to men.

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 4:9 ©