OET interlinear 1COR 7:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

μὴ ἐπισπάσθω & μὴ περιτεμνέσθω

not ˱him˲_/let_be/_uncircumcised & not ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_circumcised

Here Paul is speaking of male circumcision only. Therefore, the masculine words in this verse should be retained in translation if possible.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη? μὴ ἐπισπάσθω

/having_been/_circumcised anyone /was/_called not ˱him˲_/let_be/_uncircumcised

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to identify people who fit into the situation he describes. If someone answered “yes” to this question, then the following command applies to them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question with a different way to identify to whom the command applies. Alternate translation: “If anyone was called, having been circumcised, let him not be uncircumcised.” or “Some of you were called, having been circumcised. If that is you, do not be uncircumcised.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τις ἐκλήθη & κέκληταί τις

anyone /was/_called & /has_been/_called anyone

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 called rather than focusing on the person doing the “calling.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: “Did God call anyone … Did God call anyone”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

περιτετμημένος

/having_been/_circumcised

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 circumcised rather than focusing on the person doing the “circumcising.” If you must state who does the action, you can use an indefinite or vague subject. Alternate translation: “someone having circumcised them”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

μὴ ἐπισπάσθω

not ˱him˲_/let_be/_uncircumcised

To be uncircumcised refers to a physical procedure by which one could make one’s penis appear to have a foreskin, even though one had been circumcised. If your language has a word for this procedure, you could use it here. If your language does not have such a word, you can use a phrase that identifies this procedure. Alternate translation: “Let him not hide his circumcision” or “Let him not undo his circumcision”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μὴ ἐπισπάσθω & μὴ περιτεμνέσθω

not ˱him˲_/let_be/_uncircumcised & not ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_circumcised

In this verse, Paul uses two third-person imperatives. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use them here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the ideas using a word such as “should” or “must.” Alternate translation: “He must not be uncircumcised … he must not be circumcised”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ ἐπισπάσθω & μὴ περιτεμνέσθω

not ˱him˲_/let_be/_uncircumcised & not ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_circumcised

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 the person who is uncircumcised or circumcised rather than the person doing the “uncircumcising” or “circumcising.” If you must state who does the action, you can use an indefinite or vague subject. Alternate translation: “Let someone not uncircumcise him … Let someone not circumcise him”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ κέκληταί τις? μὴ περιτεμνέσθω

in uncircumcision /has_been/_called anyone not ˱him˲_/let_be_being/_circumcised

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to identify people who fit into the situation he describes. If someone answered “yes” to this question, then the following command applies to them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question with a different way to identify to whom the command applies. Alternate translation: “If anyone was called in uncircumcision, let him not be circumcised.” or “Some of you were called in uncircumcision. If that is you, do not be circumcised.”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ

in uncircumcision

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind uncircumcision, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “uncircumcised.” Alternate translation: “while uncircumcised”