OET interlinear 1COR 7:21

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ἐκλήθης & σοι & δύνασαι

˱you˲_/were/_called & ˱to˲_you & ˱you˲_/are/_being_able

Here Paul addresses each individual person within the Corinthian church. Because of this, you in this verse is always singular.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

δοῦλος ἐκλήθης? μή σοι μελέτω

slave ˱you˲_/were/_called not ˱to˲_you ˱it˲_/let_be/_caring

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 command that follows 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 you were called as a slave, let it not be a concern to you.] or [Some of you were called as slaves. If that is you, let it not be a concern to you.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκλήθης

˱you˲_/were/_called

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 you, 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 you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μή σοι μελέτω

not ˱to˲_you ˱it˲_/let_be/_caring

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 you could rephrase the imperative. Alternate translation: [Do not be concerned about it]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι, μᾶλλον χρῆσαι

if also ˱you˲_/are/_being_able free /to/_become rather resort_to_‹it›

Here Paul uses if to introduce a true possibility. He means that a person might be able to become free, or that person might not. He then specifies the result for if someone is able to become free. 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: [indeed whoever is able to become free should take advantage of it]

χρῆσαι

resort_to_‹it›

Alternate translation: [use the opportunity that you have]