OET interlinear 1COR 7:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω

if & the unbeliever /is_being/_separated ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_separated

Here Paul uses if to introduce a true possibility. He means that the unbeliever might depart, or he or she might not. He then specifies the result for if the unbeliever departs. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statement by using a relative clause. Alternate translation: [whichever unbeliever departs, let him go]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

εἰ & ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω

if & the unbeliever /is_being/_separated ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_separated

Here, departs refers to ending the marriage, that is, leaving the spouse. The phrase let him go refers to allowing the spouse to break the marriage or leave. If these words would not refer to breaking a marriage or getting divorced in your language, you could use a comparable expression. Alternate translation: [if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let him divorce you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ὁ ἄπιστος & χωριζέσθω

the unbeliever & ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_separated

Although him is masculine, Paul is using it to refer back to the unbeliever, which could refer to either a man or a woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express him with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [the unbeliever … let him or her go]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ὁ ἄπιστος & ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ

the unbeliever & the brother or the sister

Here Paul is speaking of unbelievers, brothers, and sisters in general and not of just one unbeliever, brother, or sister. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express these words with a comparable way to refer generically to unbelievers, brothers, and sisters. Alternate translation: [one of the unbelievers … the brother or the sister involved]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

χωριζέσθω

˱him˲_/let_be_being/_separated

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 “should” or “allow.” Alternate translation: [allow him to go]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ

not /has_been/_enslaved the brother or the sister

Here, bound could refer to: (1) the marriage with an unbelieving spouse. Paul is saying that the brother or the sister does not need to try to preserve the marriage. They are not bound to the unbeliever but can accept the divorce. Alternate translation: the brother or the sister is not bound to the unbeliever] (2) the rules that Paul laid out for staying with a spouse in [7:10–13. Paul is saying that the brother or the sister does not have to follow those rules about staying with a spouse, and perhaps he is even saying that they can marry someone else. Alternate translation: [the brother or the sister is not bound to remain unmarried]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ

the the brother or the sister

Here Paul uses brother and sister to identify the people involved as believers of both genders. The people he refers to are brother and sister of the Corinthian believers, not of the unbeliever. Rather, the brother or the sister is married to the unbeliever. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the brother or the sister with a word or phrase that refers to believing husbands and wives. Alternate translation: [the believing husband or wife]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ

not /has_been/_enslaved the brother or the sister

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are not bound rather than focusing on what does the “binding.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “the marriage” does not bind the brother or sister. Alternate translation: [the brother or the sister is free]

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

(Occurrence 2) δὲ

but

Here, but introduces how Paul wants the Corinthians to act in general. Whether their spouse leaves or not, they should act in peace. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind butby using a word or phrase that introduces a general principle. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a period before it. Alternate translation: [In every case,]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰρήνῃ

peace

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind peace, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “peaceful” or an adverb such as “peaceably.” Alternate translation: [act peaceably]