1 COR 9:4 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. Don't
5. 33610
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116315
1. οὐκ
2. ou
3. not
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116316
1. ἔχομεν
2. eχō
3. we are having
4. we
5. 21920
6. VIPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ having
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ having
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul; R116345; Person=Barnabas
11. 116317
1. ἐξουσίαν
2. exousia
3. right
4. right
5. 18490
6. N····AFS
7. right
8. right
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116318
1. φαγεῖν
2. esthiō
3. to eat
4. eat
5. 20680
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ eat
8. ˓to˒ eat
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul; R116345; Person=Barnabas
11. 116319
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. and
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 116320
1. πεῖν
2. pinō
3. to drink
4. drink
5. 40950
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ drink
8. ˓to˒ drink
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul; R116345; Person=Barnabas
11. 116321

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.

In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul’s rights as an apostle

Paul's example of not using his rights

Paragraph 9:3–7

In this paragraph Paul discussed his right to receive food and drink from the people he served. He used three examples from everyday life to illustrate his argument.

9:4

Have we no right to food and to drink?

We^(excl) surely have the right to receive food and drink, don’t we?
When we apostles preach to you^(plur) we have the right to receive material help from you.

Have we no right to food and to drink?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a strong statement. He expected them to respond, “Yes.” He said that he and his fellow workers had the right to receive food and drink. Because they served others, it was right that they receive food from them for their work.

Here are some ways to translate this strong statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Do we not have the right to eat and drink? (NCV)
Use a rhetorical question with its own response. For example:
Do we not have the right to food and drink? Of course we do.
Use a statement. For example:
Barnabas and I have the right to our food and drink (CEV)

Have we no right…?: A right is an opportunity to act in a way that is fair and just. Sometimes a right is guaranteed by the law. However, Paul talked about things that were proper for him and Barnabas because the other apostles did them.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it is right that we^(excl) should receive food and drink

it is appropriate that others should give us^(excl) food and drink

we: There are two ways to interpret the pronoun we:

It refers to Paul and his fellow workers such as Barnabas. For example:
we (NIV) (NIV, RSV, NET, GW, ESV, NJB, NASB, CEV, NLT, NABRE, NCV, KJV)
It refers to Paul alone. For example:
I (GNT) (GNT, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is followed by most English versions. Some languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive we. If this is the case, you should use the exclusive we. Paul did not include his readers.

to food and to drink: There is some implied information here. The words food and drink refer also to lodging and other necessities. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to financial support (NET)

to live in your homes and share your meals (NLT)

to food and other necessities

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καί πεῖν)

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “yes, you do.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong affirmation. Alternate translation: [We most definitely have the right to eat and to drink.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

μὴ οὐκ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καί πεῖν)

The Greek words translated certainly not are two negative words. In Paul’s culture, two negative words made the statement even more negative. English speakers would misunderstand two negatives, so the ULT expresses the idea with one strong negative. If your language can use two negatives as Paul’s culture did, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in this way, you can translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [by no means]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἔχομεν

˱we˲_˓are˒_having

Here, we refers to Paul and Barnabas (See: [9:6](../09/06.md)). It does not include the Corinthians.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καί πεῖν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind right, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase such as “are able to” or “can require.” Alternate translation: [Are we certainly not able]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν

˓to˒_eat (Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καί πεῖν)

Here, to eat and to drink refers not primarily to the physical process of “eating” and “drinking.” Rather, the phrase refers primarily to what is needed to eat and to drink, that is, food and drink. Paul is saying that he and Barnabas have the right to receive food and drink so that they can eat and drink. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express to eat and to drink by clarifying that Paul refers to “food” and “drink.” Alternate translation: [to food to eat and beverages to drink]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν

˓to˒_eat (Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καί πεῖν)

Although Paul does not explicitly say this, he implies that we have the right to receive the food and drink from the Corinthians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what Paul is saying by clarifying that the food to eat and the beverages to drink would have come from the Corinthians in support of Paul’s work. Alternate translation: [to be supported by you so that we can eat and drink]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:4

SR Greek word order

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

Paragraph 9:3–7

9:4

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:4

SR Greek word order

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

Paragraph 9:3–7

9:4

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:4