OET interlinear 1COR 7:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε

˱with˲_/a/_price ˱you_all˲_/were/_bought

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 bought, rather than focusing on the person doing the “buying.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: “God bought you with a price”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε

˱with˲_/a/_price ˱you_all˲_/were/_bought

Here Paul speaks as if the Corinthians were slaves whom God had bought with a price from someone else. Paul is speaking of what we often call “redemption.” The price is Christ’s death on the cross, which “redeems” believers from sin and evil powers. This is an important biblical metaphor so, if possible preserve the metaphor or express it as an analogy. Alternate translation: “you were bought with a price, which is the Messiah’s death”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων

not /be/_becoming slaves ˱of˲_people

Here Paul uses slaves as a description of anyone who follows and obeys someone else. Paul wants the Corinthians, whether they are slaves or “freedmen” in social and economic terms, to only obey and serve God, not men. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express slaves by clarifying that Paul has “serving” and “obeying” in mind. Alternate translation: “do not obey men” or “do not serve mere humans”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνθρώπων

˱of˲_people

Although men is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express men with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “of people”