OET interlinear 1COR 8:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐκ ἐν πᾶσιν ἡ γνῶσις

not in all_‹is› ¬the knowledge

Here Paul speaks as if everyone were a container in which knowledge could be stored, but some people do not have knowledge stored in them. He speaks in this way to show that not everyone understands what he has just said about how God the Father and Jesus are the only God and Lord. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea that knowledge is not in someone with a comparable phrase. Alternate translation: “not everyone knows this”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τῇ συνηθείᾳ & τοῦ εἰδώλου

¬the ˱by˲_custom & ˱of˲_the idol

The Corinthians would have understood the custom of the idols to refer to regular practices associated with worshiping idols, including eating meat sacrificed to idols. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the custom of the idols, by refer to worshiping idols “regularly.” Alternate translation: “regularly involved in worshiping idols”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ συνηθείᾳ & τοῦ εἰδώλου

¬the ˱by˲_custom & ˱of˲_the idol

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind custom, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “used to” or “accustomed.” Alternate translation: “accustomed to idols”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἕως ἄρτι

until now

Here, now refers to the time since these people became believers. Paul means that these people worshiped idols until they became Christians, not until the time he writes this letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express until now by clarifying that Paul is referring to when these people first believed in Jesus. Alternate translation: “until they believed in Jesus”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

εἰδωλόθυτον

/an/_idol_sacrificed_‹thing›

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: “meat from animals sacrificed to idols”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

εἰδωλόθυτον

/an/_idol_sacrificed_‹thing›

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: “things that people have sacrificed to idols”

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ὡς εἰδωλόθυτον ἐσθίουσιν

as /an/_idol_sacrificed_‹thing› /are/_eating_‹food›

This phrase could refer to: (1) whenever the people that Paul is talking about eat things as sacrificed to idols. Alternate translation: “happen to eat things sacrificed to idols” (2) how the people that Paul is talking about think that the things as sacrificed to idols actually belong to another god. Alternate translation: “eat meat as if it were sacrificed to idols that were real”

Note 8 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

ἡ συνείδησις αὐτῶν

¬the the conscience ˱of˲_them

The word conscience is a singular noun that refers to all their consciences. If your language does not use singular nouns in that way, you can use a different expression. Alternate translation: “each of their consciences”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀσθενὴς οὖσα

weak being

Here, being weak identifies a conscience that easily leads a person to feel guilty. A weak conscience condemns some things that are probably acceptable before God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express being weak with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “being sensitive” or “which often condemns them”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ συνείδησις αὐτῶν ἀσθενὴς οὖσα μολύνεται

¬the the conscience ˱of˲_them weak being /is_being/_defiled

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 their conscience, which is defiled, rather than focusing on who or what does the “defiling.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that the things as sacrificed to idols or “they” do it. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: “their conscience being weak, they defile it”