OET interlinear 1 COR 7:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἐγώ, οὐχ ὁ Κύριος

I not the Lord

Here, I, not the Lord is the opposite of what Paul said in [7:10](../07/10.md). Paul wishes to clarify that he is the authority behind this command. Of course, the Lord made him an apostle and gave him authority, but he wants the Corinthians to know that he is speaking out of that authority here, and he is not referring to what the Lord said while he was on earth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate I, not the Lord either by identifying that it is Paul alone who gives the command, or by clarifying that the Lord did not say anything about this topic. Alternate translation: [I alone] or [on my own authority, since the Lord did not speak about this topic]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον, καὶ αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ’ αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἀφιέτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῖς Δέ λοιποῖς λέγω ἐγώ οὐχ ὁ Κύριος εἰ τὶς ἀδελφός γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον καί αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτοῦ μή ἀφιέτω αὐτήν)

Here Paul uses if to introduce a true possibility. He means that a brother might have an unbelieving wife, and she might agree to live with him, or this situation might not happen. He then specifies the result if this situation does happen. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statement by introducing it with a word such as “whenever” or by using a relative clause. Alternate translation: [but let any brother who has an unbelieving wife who agrees to live with him not divorce]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οἰκεῖν μετ’ αὐτοῦ

˓to_be˒_dwelling with him

Here, to live with him refers to staying married. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express to live with him with a comparable idiom that refers to staying married. Alternate translation: [to stay with him] or [to remain married to him]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῖς Δέ λοιποῖς λέγω ἐγώ οὐχ ὁ Κύριος εἰ τὶς ἀδελφός γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον καί αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτοῦ μή ἀφιέτω αὐτήν)

Here Paul uses a third-person imperative. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea using a word such as “must” or “should.” Alternate translation: [he must not divorce her]