OET interlinear 1COR 8:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

περὶ

concerning

Here Paul repeats about from 8:1 to let his readers know that he is going to speak directly about things sacrificed to idols again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the repetition of the phrase from 8:1 by clarifying that Paul is returning to the topic he introduced there. Alternate translation: [returning to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς βρώσεως & τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

the food & ˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak about eating meat sacrificed to idols. If your language does not use this form to express that meaning, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: [eating things sacrificed to idols]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

Here, the things sacrificed to idols refers to meat that has been offered to an idol. Translate this phrase the same way you did in 8:1. Alternate translation: [of meat from animals sacrificed to idols]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων

˱of˲_the idol_sacrificed_‹things›

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 what is sacrificed rather than focusing on the person doing the “sacrificing.” If you must state who does the action, you can use a vague or indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [of the things that people have sacrificed to idols]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ, καὶ ὅτι οὐδεὶς Θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς

˱we˲_/have/_known that nothing_‹is› /an/_idol in /the/_world and that_‹there_is› not_one God except ¬not/lest one

Here Paul could be: (1) expressing his own view about an idol and God. Alternate translation: We know that an idol in the world indeed is nothing and that there is indeed no God except one] (2) quoting what the Corinthians said in their letter so that he can respond to it, much like he did in [6:12–13; 7:1. If you chose this option in 8:1, you should also choose it here. Alternate translation: [you wrote, ‘we know that an idol in the world is nothing’ and, ‘there is no God except one’]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ

nothing_‹is› /an/_idol in /the/_world

Here Paul says that an idol is nothing in order to emphasize that idols are not really gods. He is not saying that images or statues do not exist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express nothing by clarifying that Paul is speaking about how an idol does not have the power or existence of the true God. Alternate translation: [an idol in the world is not really a god]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

οὐδεὶς Θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς

not_one God except ¬not/lest one

If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [there is only one God]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εἰ μὴ εἷς

except ¬not/lest one

Here Paul does not directly quote from the Old Testament, but he uses words that would make any reader who is familiar with the Old Testament think about Deuteronomy 6:4, where it is written that “the Lord is one.” If your readers would not make this connection, you could include a footnote or a brief reference to Deuteronomy. Alternate translation: [except one, as Moses wrote in the Scriptures]